Exhibit 10.1
                                 RIDGESTONE BANK
                          SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

       THIS  AGREEMENT  is made this 20th day of October,  1998,  by and between
Ridgestone Bank, a state, commercial bank located in Brookfield,  Wisconsin (the
"Company") and Paul Menzel (the "Executive").

                                  INTRODUCTION

       To encourage  the  Executive  to remain an employee of the  Company,  the
Company is willing to provide salary continuation benefits to the Executive. The
Company will pay the benefits from its general assets.

                                    AGREEMENT

       The Executive and the Company agree as follows:

                                    Article 1
                                   Definitions

     1.1 Definitions.  Whenever used in this Agreement,  the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings specified:

          1.1.1  ""Cause"  means  (i)  the  willful  and  continued  failure  by
     Executive  to  substantially  perform  Executive's  duties with the Company
     (other  than  a  failure  resulting  from  Executive's  incapacity  due  to
     Disability or physical or mental illness) after a written

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demand for  substantial  performance  is  delivered to Executive by the Company,
which demand  specifically  identifies the manner in which the Company  believes
that Executive has not  substantially  performed  Executive's  duties;  (ii) any
willful act of  misconduct  by  Executive  which is  injurious  to the  Company,
monetarily  or  otherwise;  (iii)  criminal  conviction of Executive for any act
involving dishonesty,  breach of trust or a violation of the banking laws of the
State of Wisconsin or the United State;  (iv)  criminal  conviction of Executive
for the  commission  of any  felony;  or (v) final  action by a bank  regulatory
agency  prohibiting  Executive from  participating  in the affairs of Ridgestone
Bank. For purposes of this definition,  no act, or failure to act on Executive's
part shall be deemed  "willful"  unless done or admitted to be done by Executive
not in good faith and without  reasonable belief that the action or omission was
in the best interest of the Company.

          1.1.2  "Change  of  Control"  means  the date  that,  as a result of a
     transaction or series of  transactions  (i) any person (other than a member
     of Executive's immediate family) acting in concert,  becomes the beneficial
     owner,  directly or indirectly,  of securities of the Company  representing
     25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities
     of the Company;  (ii) the Company is combined (by merger,  share  exchange,
     consolidation,  or otherwise)  with another  entity and as a result of such
     combination less than 75% of the outstanding securities of the surviving or
     resulting corporation are owned in the aggregate by the former shareholders
     of the Company; or (iii) the Company sells,  leases, or otherwise transfers
     all or substantially  all of the properties or assets of the Company not in
     the ordinary  course of business to another  person or entity.  Executive's
     immediate family is Executives children and spouse.

          1.1.3 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          1.1.4  "Disability"  means,  if the  Executive is covered by a Company
     sponsored  disability  policy,  total  disability as defined in such policy
     without regard to any waiting

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period. In the event there is no such disability  policy,  Disability shall mean
Executive's  inability,  as a  result  of  physical  or  mental  incapacity,  to
substantially  perform  Executive's  duties with the Company for a period of six
(6)  consecutive  months.  Any  question  as to  the  existence  of  Executive's
Disability upon which Executive and the company cannot agree shall be determined
by a qualified  independent  physician  mutually  agreeable to Executive and the
Company or, if the  parties are unable to agree upon a physician  within 10 days
after notice from the Company or Executive to the other  suggesting a physician,
by a physician  designated by the then president of the medical  society for the
county in which Executive maintains his principal residence, upon the request of
either  party.  Costs  of any  such  medical  examination  shall  be paid by the
Company.

          1.1.5 "Early  Termination"  means the Termination of Employment before
     Normal Retirement Age for reasons other than death, Disability, Termination
     for Cause or following a Change of Control.

          1.1.6 "Early  Termination Date" means the month, day and year in which
     Early Termination occurs.

          1.1.7 "Normal Retirement Age" means the Executive's 70th birthday.

          1.1.8  "Normal   Retirement  Date"  means  the  later  of  the  Normal
     Retirement Age or Termination of Employment.

          1.1.9 "Plan Year" means a  twelve-month  period  commencing on January
     and ending on December of each year.  The initial Plan Year shall  commence
     on the effective date of this Agreement.

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          1.1.10  "Termination of Employment" means that the Executive ceases to
     be employed by the Company for any reason  whatsoever  other than by reason
     of a leave of absence  which is approved by the  Company.  For  purposes of
     this  Agreement,  if there is a dispute over the  employment  status of the
     Executive or the date of the  Executive's  Termination of  Employment,  the
     Company shall have the sole and absolute right to decide the dispute.

          1.1.11  "Unforeseeable  Financial  Emergency" means a severe financial
     hardship  to the  Executive  resulting  from  (i) a sudden  and  unexpected
     illness or accident of the  Executive or a dependent (as defined in section
     152 of the Code) of the Executive;  (ii) loss of the  Executive's  property
     due to casualty;  or (iii) other similar  extraordinary  and  unforeseeable
     circumstances  arising  as a result of events  beyond  the  control  of the
     Executive.

                              Article 2 Termination
                                    Benefits

     2.1 Normal Retirement  Benefit.  Upon Termination of Employment on or after
the Normal Retirement Age for reasons other than death, the Company shall pay to
the  Executive  the benefit  described  in this Section 2.1 in lieu of any other
benefit under this Agreement.

          2.1.1 Amount of Benefit.  The annual benefit under this Section 2.1 is
     $120,100 (One hundred and twenty thousand and one hundred dollars).

          2.1.2  Payment of Benefit.  The  Company  shall pay the benefit to the
     Executive in 12 equal monthly  installments  on the first day of each month
     commencing with the month following the Executive's  Normal Retirement Date
     and  continuing for the life of the  Executive,  but in any event,  until a
     total of 179 additional monthly payments have been made to the Executive or
     to the Executive's beneficiary.

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          2.1.3 Benefit  Increases.  Commencing on the first  anniversary of the
     first benefit payment, and continuing on each subsequent  anniversary,  the
     Company's  Board of  Directors,  in its sole  discretion,  may increase the
     benefit,  however, any increase shall require the recalculation of Schedule
     A.

     2.2 Early Termination  Benefit.  Upon Early Termination,  the Company shall
pay to the  Executive  the benefit  described in this Section 2.2 in lieu of any
other benefit under this Agreement.

          2.2.1  Amount of Benefit.  The benefit  under this  Section 2.2 is the
     annual  benefit  amount set forth in  Schedule  A for the Plan Year  ending
     immediately prior to the Early Termination Date.

          2.2.2 Payment of Benefit.  The Company shall pay the annual benefit to
     the Executive in 12 equal monthly  installments payable on the first day of
     each month  commencing with the month  following the Normal  Retirement Age
     and continuing for 179 additional months.

          2.2.3 Benefit Increases. Benefit payments may be increased as provided
     in Section 2.1.3.

     2.3  Disability  Benefit.  If the Executive  terminates  employment  due to
Disability  prior  to  Normal  Retirement  Age,  the  Company  shall  pay to the
Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.3 in lieu of any other benefit
under this Agreement.

          2.3.1  Amount of Benefit.  The benefit  under this  Section 2.3 is the
     annual  benefit  amount set forth in  Schedule  A for the Plan Year  ending
     immediately  prior to the  date in  which  the  Termination  of  Employment
     occurs.

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          2.3.2  Payment of Benefit.  The Company  shall pay the annual  benefit
     amount to the  Executive in 12 equal  monthly  installments  payable on the
     first day of each month commencing with the month following the Termination
     of Employment and continuing for 179 additional months.

          2.3.3 Benefit Increases. Benefit payments may be increased as provided
     in Section 2.1.3

     2.4  Change of  Control  Benefit.  In the  event  that  Company  terminates
Executive's  employment  (other than for Cause) within twelve months following a
Change of Control,  the Company shall pay to the Executive the benefit described
in this Section 2.4 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.

          2.4.1 Amount of Benefit.  The annual benefit under this Section 2.4 is
     the amount set forth in Schedule A at Termination of Employment.

          2.4.2  Payment of Benefit.  The Company  shall pay the annual  benefit
     amount to the  Executive in 12 equal  monthly  installments  payable on the
     first day of each month commencing with the month following the Termination
     of Employment and continuing for 179 additional months.

          2.4.3 Benefit Increases. Benefit payments may be increased as provided
     in Section 2.1.3.

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                                    Article 3
                                 Death Benefits

     3.1 Death During Active Service.  If the Executive dies while in the active
service of the Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive's beneficiary the
benefit  described in the Split Dollar  Agreement of even date herewith  between
the Company and the Executive;  provided, however, the Company shall not pay any
benefit  under  this  Section  3.1  if the  Executive  has  received  any of the
Termination Benefits under Article 2.

     3.2 Death During  Benefit  Period.  If the Executive dies after the benefit
payments  have  commenced  under this  Agreement  but before  receiving all such
payments,  the  Company  shall pay the  remaining  benefits  to the  Executive's
beneficiary  at the same time and in the same  amounts they would have been paid
to the Executive had the Executive survived.

       3.3  Death  Following  Termination  of  Employment  But  Before  Benefits
Commence.  If the Executive is entitled to benefits  under this  Agreement,  but
dies prior to receiving said benefits,  the Company shall pay to the Executive's
beneficiary the same benefits,  in the same manner, that would have been paid to
the  Executive  had the  Executive  survived;  provided  however,  said  benefit
payments will commence upon the Executive's death.

       3.4 Death of  Beneficiary.  In the event of the death of the  beneficiary
prior to receipt of all amounts due under the terms of Section  3.1, 3.2 or 3.3,
the  remaining  benefits  due  shall be paid as a lump sum to the  beneficiary's
estate as soon as practicable following the death of the beneficiary.

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                                    Article 4
                                  Beneficiaries

     4.1 Beneficiary  Designations.  The Executive shall designate a beneficiary
by filing a written  designation  with the Company.  The Executive may revoke or
modify  the  designation  at any  time by  filing  a new  designation.  However,
designations  will only be effective if signed by the  Executive and accepted by
the  Company  during  the  Executive's  lifetime.  The  Executive's  beneficiary
designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the beneficiary predeceases
the  Executive,  or if the  Executive  names a  spouse  as  beneficiary  and the
marriage  is  subsequently  dissolved.  If the  Executive  dies  without a valid
beneficiary designation, all payments shall be made to the Executive's estate.

     4.2  Facility of Payment.  If a benefit is payable to a minor,  to a person
declared incapacitated,  or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of
his or her  property,  the Company may pay such benefit to the  guardian,  legal
representative or person having the care or custody of such minor, incapacitated
person or  incapable  person.  The  Company  may  require  proof of  incapacity,
minority or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the
benefit.  Such  distribution  shall  completely  discharge  the Company from all
liability with respect to such benefit.

                                    Article 5
                              General Limitations

         Notwithstanding  any provision of this  Agreement to the contrary,  the
Company shall not pay any benefit under this Agreement:

     5.1 Excess  Parachute  Payment.  To the extent the benefit  would create an
excise tax under the excess parachute rules of Section 280G of the Code.

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     5.2  Termination  for Cause.  If the  Company  terminates  the  Executive's
employment for Cause.

     5.3  Competition  After  Termination  of  Employment.  No benefits shall be
payable  and all  payments  hereunder  shall  cease if the  Executive  ceases to
receive  severance  payments  from the  Company  as a result of the  Executive's
violation  of  the  noncompetition   provision   contained  in  the  Executive's
employment  agreement  with  the  Company  as in  effect  on  the  date  of  the
Executive's termination of employment with the Company.

     5.4 Suicide or Misstatement.  No benefits shall be payable if the Executive
commits  suicide  within two years after the date of this  Agreement,  or if the
Executive has made any material misstatement of fact on any application for life
insurance purchased by the Company. 

                                   Article 6
                          Claims and Review Procedures

     6.1 Claims  Procedure.  The Company  shall notify any person or entity that
makes a claim against the Agreement (the  "Claimant") in writing,  within ninety
(90)  days  of  Claimant's  written  application  for  benefits,  of  his or her
eligibility or noneligibility  for benefits under the Agreement.  If the Company
determines that the Claimant is not eligible for benefits or full benefits,  the
notice shall set forth (1) the specific reasons for such denial,  (2) a specific
reference to the provisions of the Agreement on which the denial is based, (3) a
description of any additional information or material necessary for the Claimant
to perfect his or her claim,  and a description of why it is needed,  and (4) an
explanation of the  Agreement's  claims review  procedure and other  appropriate
information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to have the claim
reviewed.  If the  Company  determines  that  there  are  special  circumstances
requiring  additional  time to make a  decision,  the Company  shall  notify the
Claimant  of the  special  circumstances  and the  date by which a  decision  is
expected to be made, and may extend the time for up to an additional  ninety-day
period.

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       6.2 Review Procedure. If the Claimant is determined by the Company not to
be eligible for benefits, or if the Claimant believes that he or she is entitled
to greater or different  benefits,  the Claimant  shall have the  opportunity to
have such claim reviewed by the Company by filing a petition for review with the
Company  within  sixty  (60) days  after  receipt  of the  notice  issued by the
Company.  Said  petition  shall state the  specific  reasons  which the Claimant
believes  entitle him or her to benefits  or to greater or  different  benefits.
Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the petition, the Company
shall afford the Claimant (and counsel, if any) an opportunity to present his or
her position to the Company orally or in writing,  and the Claimant (or counsel)
shall have the right to review the pertinent documents. The Company shall notify
the Claimant of its decision in writing  within the  sixty-day  period,  stating
specifically  the basis of its  decision,  written in a manner  calculated to be
understood by the Claimant and the specific provisions of the Agreement on which
the  decision is based.  If,  because of the need for a hearing,  the  sixty-day
period  is not  sufficient,  the  decision  may be  deferred  for up to  another
sixty-day  period at the  election of the Company,  but notice of this  deferral
shall be given to the Claimant.

                                    Article 7
                           Amendments and Termination

     This  Agreement  may be amended or terminated  only by a written  agreement
signed by the Company and the Executive (or the  Executive's  beneficiary  after
the Executive's death).

                                    Article 8
                                  Miscellaneous

     8.1  Binding  Effect.  This  Agreement  shall  bind the  Executive  and the
Company, and their beneficiaries,  survivors,  executors, successors or assigns,
administrators and transferees.

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     8.2 No Guarantee of Employment.  This Agreement is not an employment policy
or contract.  It does not give the  Executive the right to remain an employee of
the Company,  nor does it interfere  with the  Company's  right to discharge the
Executive.  It also does not require  the  Executive  to remain an employee  nor
interfere with the Executive's right to terminate employment at any time.

     8.3  Non-Transferability.  Benefits  under this  Agreement  cannot be sold,
transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner.

     8.4 Reorganization. The Company shall not merge or consolidate into or with
another  company,  or  reorganize,  or sell  substantially  all of its assets to
another company,  firm, or person unless such succeeding or continuing  company,
firm, or person agrees to assume and  discharge the  obligations  of the Company
under this Agreement.  Upon the occurrence of such event,  the term "Company" as
used in this  Agreement  shall be deemed to refer to the  successor  or survivor
company.

     8.5 Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold any taxes that are required
to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Agreement.

     8.6  Applicable  Law.  The  Agreement  and all  rights  hereunder  shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin,  except to the extent  preempted
by the laws of the United States of America.

     8.7  Unfunded  Arrangement.  The  Executive  and  beneficiary  are  general
unsecured  creditors  of the  Company  for the  payment of  benefits  under this
Agreement.  The benefits  represent  the mere promise by the Company to pay such
benefits.  The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation,
alienation,  sale, transfer,  assignment,  pledge,  encumbrance,  attachment, or
garnishment  by creditors.  Any insurance on the  Executive's  life

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is a general asset of the Company to which the Executive and beneficiary have no
preferred or secured claim.

     8.8 Recovery of Estate Taxes. If the  Executive's  gross estate for federal
estate tax  purposes  includes  any amount  determined  by  reference  to and on
account of this Agreement,  and if the beneficiary is other than the Executive's
estate,  then the  Executive's  estate  shall be  entitled  to recover  from the
beneficiary  receiving such benefit under the terms of the Agreement,  an amount
by which the total estate tax due by the Executive's  estate,  exceeds the total
estate tax which  would have been  payable if the value of such  benefit had not
been included in the Executive's  gross estate. If there is more than one person
receiving such benefit, the right of recovery shall be against each such person.
In the event the  beneficiary  has a liability  hereunder,  the  beneficiary may
petition  the  Company  for a lump sum  payment  in an amount  not to exceed the
beneficiary's liability hereunder.

     8.9 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the entire  agreement
between the Company and the Executive as to the subject matter hereof. No rights
are  granted  to the  Executive  by virtue of this  Agreement  other  than those
specifically  set forth  herein. 

     8.10  Administration.  The Company shall have powers which are necessary to
administer this Agreement, including but not limited to:

          8.10.1 Interpreting the provisions of the Agreement;

          8.10.2  Establishing  and  revising the method of  accounting  for the
     Agreement;

          8.10.3 Maintaining a record of benefit payments; and

          8.10.4  Establishing  rules and  prescribing  any forms  necessary  or
     desirable to administer the Agreement.

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     8.11 Designated  Fiduciary.  For purposes of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, if  applicable,  the Company shall be the named  fiduciary
and plan administrator under the Agreement.  The named fiduciary may delegate to
others certain aspects of the management and operation  responsibilities  of the
plan  including  the  employment of advisors and the  delegation of  ministerial
duties to qualified individuals.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized Company officer
have signed this Agreement.

EXECUTIVE:                      COMPANY:
                                RIDGESTONE BANK

/s/ Paul Menzel                 By  /s/ William R. Hayes
PAUL MENZEL                     Title  Vice President, Cashier and Controller

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