<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                        GATEWAY FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.

                        1999 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN

         Gateway Financial Holdings, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Corporation"), does herein set forth the terms of the its 1999 Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan") which was adopted by the Corporation's Board of
Directors (the "Board") and the Corporation's shareholders.

         1.       PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purpose of this Plan is to provide
for the grant of Incentive Stock Options (an "Option" or "Options") qualifying
for the tax treatment afforded by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, to eligible officers and employees of the Corporation
("Eligible Employees") who wish to invest in the Corporation's common stock, no
par value (the "Common Stock"). The Corporation believes that participation in
the ownership of the Corporation by Eligible Employees will be to the mutual
benefit of the Corporation and Eligible Employees. The existence of this Plan
will make it possible for the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries to attract
capable individuals to employment in key employee positions.

         2.       ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. (a) This Plan shall be
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee"). The
Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members of the Board, all of whom
shall qualify as disinterested persons as provided in Section 16(b), and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board
and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, which may remove members from, add
members to, or fill vacancies in the Committee.

                  (b)      The Committee shall decide to whom Options shall be
granted under this Plan, the number of shares as to which Options shall be
granted, the Option Price (as hereinafter defined) for such shares and such
additional terms and conditions for such Options as the Committee deems
appropriate. Also, the Committee shall determine when Limited Stock Appreciation
rights (as hereinafter described) shall be available in place of outstanding
Options. The Committee shall interpret the Plan and prescribe, amend and rescind
any rules and regulations regarding the Plan. All interpretations and
constructions of the Plan by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.

                  (c)      A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum
and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present, or acts approved unanimously in writing by the Committee,
shall be considered as valid actions by the Committee.

                  (d)      The Committee may designate any officers or employees
of the Corporation to assist in the administration of this Plan. The Committee
may authorize such individuals to execute documents on its behalf and may
delegate to them such other ministerial and limited discretionary duties as the
Committee may deem fit.

         3.       SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The number of
shares of Common Stock that shall be available initially for Options under this
Plan is two hundred seventy three thousand two hundred and seventy six
(273,276), subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 14 hereof. Common
Stock subject to Options which expire or terminate prior to exercise of the
Options shall lapse and such shares shall again be available for future grants
of Options under this Plan.

         4.       ELIGIBILITY. Options under this Plan may be granted to any
Eligible Employee as determined by the Committee. An individual may hold more
than one Option under this or other plans adopted by the Corporation.

         5.       GRANT OF OPTIONS. (a) The Committee may authorize the grant of
Options to certain current officers and employees of the Corporation. Such
Options shall be granted based upon the past service and the continued
participation of those individuals in the management of the Corporation.

                  (b)      Upon the forfeiture of an Option for whatever reason
prior to the expiration of the Option Period (as defined in Paragraph 9 hereof)
the shares of Common Stock covered by a forfeited Option shall be available for
the granting of additional Options to Eligible Employees during the remaining
term of this Plan upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the
Committee. The number of additional Options to be granted to specific Eligible
Employees during the term of this Plan shall be determined by the Committee as
provided in Subparagraph 2(b) hereof.


<PAGE>

         6.       OPTION PRICE. (a) The price per share of each Option granted
under this Plan (the "Option Price") shall be determined by the Committee as of
the effective date of grant of such Option. In no event shall the Option Price
be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. If an Optionee (as hereinafter defined) at the time that an Option is
granted owns stock possessing more than ten (10%) of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, then the Option Price per
share of each Option granted under this Plan shall be no less than 110% of the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and such Option shall
not be exercisable more than five (5) years from the date of grant. An Option
shall be considered as granted on the date that the Committee acts to grant such
Option or such later date as the Committee shall specify in an Option Agreement
(as hereafter defined).

                  (b)      The fair market value of a share of Common Stock
shall be determined as follows:

                  (i)      If on the date as of which such determination is
being made, the Common Stock is admitted to trading on a securities exchange or
exchanges for which actual sale prices are regularly reported, or actual sale
prices are otherwise regularly published, the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock shall be deemed to be equal to the mean of the closing sale price
as reported on each of the five (5) trading days immediately preceding the date
as of which such determination is made; provided, however, that, if a closing
sale price is not reported for each of the five (5) trading days immediately
preceding the date as of which such determination is made, then the fair market
value shall be equal to the mean of the closing sale prices on those trading
days for which such price is available.

                  (ii)     If on the date as of which such determination is
made, quotations for the Common Stock are regularly listed on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Nasdaq system or another comparable system,
the fair market value of a share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be equal to
the mean of the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such Common
Stock quoted on such system on each of the five (5) trading days preceding the
date as of which such determination is made. If a closing bid and asked price is
not available for each of the five (5) trading days, then the fair market value
shall be equal to the mean of the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
those trading days during the five-day period for which such prices are
available.

                  (iii)    If no such quotations are available, the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be the average of the
closing bid and asked prices furnished by a professional securities dealer
making a market in the Common Stock, as selected by the Committee, for the
trading date first preceding the date as of which such determination is made.

         If the Committee determines that the price as determined above does not
represent the fair market value of a share of Common Stock, the Committee may
then consider such other factors as it deems appropriate and then fix the fair
market value for the purposes of this Plan.

         7.       PAYMENT OF OPTION PRICE. Payment for shares subject to an
Option may be made either in cash or, with the approval of the Committee, in
other stock of the Corporation owned by the person to whom such Option was
granted or such other person as may be entitled to exercise such Option (the
"Optionee"). Any shares of the Corporation's stock that are delivered in payment
of the aggregate Option Price shall be valued at their fair market value, as
determined by the Committee, on the date of the exercise of such Option.

         8.       TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF GRANT OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted
pursuant to this Plan shall be evidenced by a written Incentive Stock Option
Agreement (the "Option Agreement") with each Eligible Employee to whom an Option
is granted. The Option Agreement shall be in such form as the Committee shall
adopt and may contain such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.

         9.       OPTION PERIOD. Each Option Agreement shall set forth a period
during which such Option may be exercised (the "Option Period"); provided,
however, that the Option Period shall not exceed ten (10) years after the date
of grant of such Option as specified in the Option Agreement.

         10.      LIMITATIONS ON GRANT OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no person shall be granted an
Option under this Plan which would cause such person's "annual vesting amount"
to exceed $100,000. With respect to any calendar year, a person's "annual
vesting amount" is the aggregate fair market value of stock subject to incentive
stock options which are first exercisable during such calendar year. The
aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which incentive stock
options are first exercisable during


                                       2
<PAGE>

any calendar year shall be determined by taking into account all incentive stock
options granted to such person under all incentive stock options plans of the
Corporation or of any of its parent or subsidiary corporations.

         11.      EXERCISE OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. (a) An Option shall be
exercised by written notice to the Committee signed by an Optionee or by such
other person as may be entitled to exercise such Option. The written notice
shall state the number of shares with respect to which an Option is being
exercised and shall either be accompanied by the payment of the aggregate Option
Price for such shares or shall fix a date (not more than ten (10) business days
from the date of such notice) by which the payment of the aggregate Option Price
will be made. An Optionee shall not exercise an Option to purchase less than 100
shares, unless the Committee otherwise approves, or unless the partial exercise
is for the remaining share available under such Option.

                  (b)      A certificate or certificates for the shares of
Common Stock purchased by the exercise of an Option shall be issued in the
regular course of business subsequent to the exercise of such Option and the
payment therefore. During the Option Period, no person entitled to exercise any
Option granted under this Plan shall have any of the rights or privileges of a
shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
such Option, until certificates representing such shares shall have been issued
and delivered and the individual's name entered as a shareholder of record on
the books of the Corporation for such shares.

         12.      EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR
                  DEATH.

                  (a)      In the event of the termination of employment of an
Optionee either by reason of (i) being Discharged for Cause or (ii) voluntary
separation on the part of such Optionee for a reason other than retirement or
disability, any Option or Options granted to the Optionee under this Plan, to
the extent not previously exercised or surrendered by the Optionee or expired,
shall immediately terminate. "Discharged for Cause" shall include termination at
the sole discretion of the Board because of such Optionee's personal dishonesty,
incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal
profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any
law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses), a
final cease and desist order, or material breach of any provision of any
employment agreement that such Optionee may have with the Corporation.

                  (b)      In the event of the termination of employment of an
Optionee as a result of such Optionee's retirement, such Optionee shall have the
right to exercise any Option or Options granted to the Optionee under this Plan,
to the extent that they have not previously been exercised or surrendered by the
Optionee or expired, for a period of three (3) months after the date of
retirement, but in no event may any Option be exercised later than the end of
the Option Period provided in such Option Agreement in accordance with Paragraph
9 hereof. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, or in any Option
Agreement, upon retirement, any Option then held by an Optionee shall be
exercisable immediately in full. For purposes of this Plan, the term
"retirement" shall mean (i) termination of an Optionee's employment under
conditions which would constitute retirement under any tax qualified retirement
plan maintained by the Corporation or (ii) attaining age 65.

                  (c)      In the event of the termination of employment of an
Optionee by reason of such Optionee's disability, such Optionee shall have the
right to exercise any Options held by the Optionee, to the extent that they
previously have not been exercised or surrendered by the Optionee or expired,
notwithstanding any limitations placed on the exercise of such Options by this
Plan or an Option Agreement, immediately in full and at any time within twelve
(12) months after the last date on which such Optionee provides services as an
officer or an employee of the Corporation before being disabled, but in no event
may any Option be exercised later than the end of the Option Period provided in
the Option Agreement in accordance with Paragraph 9 hereof. For purposes of this
Plan, the term "disability" shall be defined in the same manner as such term is
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  (d)      In the event that an Optionee should die while
employed by the Corporation, or within three (3) months after retirement, any
Option or Options granted to the Optionee under this Plan and not previously
exercised or surrendered by the Optionee or expired shall vest and shall be
exercisable, according to their respective terms, by the personal representative
of such Optionee or by any person or persons who acquired such Options by
bequest or inheritance from such Optionee, notwithstanding any limitations
placed on the exercise of such Options by this Plan or any Option Agreement,
immediately in full and at any time within twelve (12) months after the date of
death of such Optionee, but in no event may any Option be exercised later than
the end of the Option Period provided in such Option Agreement in accordance
with Paragraph 9 hereof. Any references herein to an Optionee


                                       3
<PAGE>

shall be deemed to include any person entitled to exercise an Option under the
terms of this Plan after the death of such Optionee.

         13.      EFFECT OF PLAN ON EMPLOYMENT STATUS.. The fact that the
Committee has granted an Option to an Optionee under this Plan shall not confer
on such Optionee any right to employment with the Corporation, or to a position
as an officer or an employee of the Corporation, nor shall it limit the right of
the Corporation to remove such Optionee from any position held by the Optionee
or to terminate the Optionee's employment at any time.

         14.      ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; DISSOLUTION,
                  LIQUIDATION OR MERGER.

                  (a)      In the event of a change in the number of shares of
the Common Stock outstanding by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, exchange of shares, or other similar
capital adjustment, prior to the termination of an Optionee's rights under this
Plan, equitable proportionate adjustments shall be made by the Committee in (i)
the number and kind of shares which remain available under this Plan and (ii)
the number, kind, and the Option Price of shares subject to unexercised Options
under this Plan. The adjustments to be made shall be determined by the Committee
and shall be consistent with such change or changes in the Corporation's total
number of outstanding shares; provided, however, that no adjustment shall change
the aggregate Option Price for the exercise of Options granted under this Plan.

                  (b)      The grant of Options under this Plan shall not affect
in any way the right or power of the Corporation or its shareholders to make or
authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization, or other change in
the Corporation's capital structure or its business, or any merger of the
Corporation, or to issue bonds, debentures, preferred or other preference stock
ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution
or liquidation of the Corporation, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of
the Corporation's assets or business.

                  (c)      Upon the effective date of the dissolution or
liquidation of the Corporation, or of a reorganization or merger of the
Corporation with one or more other corporations in which the Corporation is not
the surviving corporation, or the transfer of all or substantially all of the
assets or shares of the Corporation to another person or entity, or a tender
offer approved by the Board (any such transaction being hereinafter referred to
as an "Acceleration Event"), this Plan and any Options granted hereunder shall
terminate unless provision is made in writing in connection with such
Acceleration Event for the continuance of this Plan and for the assumption of
Options granted hereunder, or the substitution for such Options of new options
for the shares of the successor corporation, or a parent or a subsidiary
thereof, with such appropriate adjustments, as may be determined or approved by
the Committee or the successor to the Corporation, to the number, kind and
Option Price of shares subject to such substituted options in which event this
Plan and Options granted hereunder, or the new options substituted therefore,
shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided, but any vesting
periods or other restrictions on exercise that would otherwise apply shall no
longer be applicable. Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event in which
provision is not made for the continuance of this Plan and for the assumption of
Options granted hereunder, or the substitution for such Options of new options
for the shares of a successor corporation or a parent or a subsidiary thereof,
each Optionee to whom an Option has been granted under this Plan (or such
person's personal representative, the executor or administrator of such person's
estate, or any person who acquired the right to exercise such Option from such
person by bequest of inheritance) shall be entitled, prior the effective date of
any Acceleration Event, (i) to exercise, in whole or in part, the Optionee's
rights under any Option granted to the Optionee without any regard to any
restrictions on exercise that would otherwise apply, or (ii) to surrender any
such Option to the Corporation in exchange for receipt of cash equivalent to the
amount by which the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock such person
would have received had such person exercised the Option in full immediately
prior to consummation of such Acceleration Event exceeds the applicable
aggregate Option Price. To the extent that a person, pursuant to this
Subparagraph 14(c), has a right to exercise or surrender any Option on account
of a Acceleration Event which such person otherwise would not have had at that
time, such right shall be contingent upon the consummation of the Acceleration
Event.

         15.      LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. (a) In connection with the
grant of any Option under this Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, by
written notice provide an Optionee with the right (herein sometimes referred to
as "Limited Stock Appreciation Rights"), following a "change in control" of the
Corporation and without regard to any restrictions on exercise that would
otherwise apply, to surrender any unexercised portion of such Option as such
Optionee then may have for a cash payment equal to the amount by which the fair
market


                                       4
<PAGE>

value (as determined by the Committee) of the number of shares of Common Stock
then subject to such Option exceeds the aggregate Option Price therefor.

                  (b)      When used herein, the phrase "change in control"
refers to (i) the acquisition by any person, group of persons or entity of the
beneficial ownership or power to vote more than twenty (20%) percent of the
Corporation's outstanding stock or (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive
years, a change in the majority of the Board unless the election of each new
Director was approved by at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in
office who were Directors at the beginning of such two (2) year period.

                  (c)      Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised
by written notice to the Corporation as provided in Paragraph 11 hereof at any
time prior to the earlier of (i) the date which is thirty (30) days after the
date of notice of a change in control or (ii) the last day of the Option Period
provided in the Option Agreement, but in no event shall the expiration date be
more than ten (10) years after the date of grant of an Option as specified in
the Option Agreement.

                  (d)      Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised
only when the aggregate market value of Common Stock subject to an Option
exceeds the aggregate Option Price.

         16.      NON-TRANSFERABILITY. Any Option granted under this Plan shall
not be assignable or transferable except, in the case of the death of an
Optionee, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In the event of
the death of an Optionee, the personal representative, the executor or the
administrator of such Optionee's estate, or the person or persons who acquired
by bequest or inheritance the rights to exercise such Option, may exercise or
surrender any Option or portion thereof to the extent not previously exercised
or surrendered by an Optionee or expired, in accordance with the terms of the
Option Agreement, prior to the expiration of the exercise period as specified in
Subparagraph 12(d) hereof.

         17.      TAX WITHHOLDING. The employer of a person granted an Option
under this Plan shall have the right to deduct or otherwise effect a withholding
or payment of any amount required by federal or state laws to be withheld or
paid with respect to the grant, exercise or surrender for cash of any Option or
the sale of stock acquired upon the exercise of an Option in order for the
employer to obtain a tax deduction otherwise available as a consequence of such
grant, exercise, surrender for cash, or sale, as the case may be.

         18.      LISTING AND REGISTRATION OF OPTION SHARES. Any Option granted
under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the
Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, that the listing,
registration, or qualification of the shares of Common Stock covered thereby
upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law or the consent or
approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such Option or the issuance
or purchase of shares thereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole or
in part unless and until such listing, registration, or qualification consent,
or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not
acceptable to the Committee.

         19.      EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION. In connection with this Plan,
no member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any act or omission to
act in such person's capacity as a member of the Committee, nor for any mistake
in judgment made in good faith, unless arising out of, or resulting from, such
person's own bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or criminal acts.
To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Corporation shall
indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee, and each other officer
of employee of the Corporation to whom any duty or power relating to the
administration or interpretation of this Plan may be assigned or delegated, from
and against any and all liabilities (including any amount paid in settlement of
a claim with approval of the Board) and any costs or expense (including
reasonable counsel fees) incurred by such person arising out of, or as a result
of, such person's duties, responsibilities, and obligations under this Plan,
other than such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may arise out of, or result
from, the bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of
such persons.

         20.      AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN. The Board may at any
time and from time to time amend or modify this Plan in any respect; provided,
however, that no amendment or modification shall be made that increases the
total number of shares covered by this Plan or effects any change in the
categories of persons who may receive Options under this Plan or materially
increases the benefits accruing to Optionees under this Plan unless such change
is approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock. Any
amendment or


                                       5
<PAGE>

modification of this Plan shall not materially reduce the benefits under any
Option theretofore granted to an Optionee under this Plan without the consent of
such Optionee or the permitted transferee thereof.

         21.      TERMINATION AND EXPIRATION OF THE PLAN. This Plan may be
abandoned, suspended, or terminated at any time by the Board; provided, however,
that abandonment, suspension, or termination of this Plan shall not affect any
Options then outstanding under this Plan. No Option shall be granted pursuant to
this Plan after ten (10) years from April 22, 1999, the effective date of this
Plan.

         22.      CAPTIONS AND HEADINGS; GENDER AND NUMBER. Captions and
paragraph headings used herein are for convenience only, do not modify or affect
the meaning of any provision herein, are not a part hereof, and shall not serve
as a basis for interpretation or in construction of this Plan. As used herein,
the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, the singular number
the plural, and vice versa, whenever such meanings are appropriate.

         23.      EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN. All costs and expenses
incurred in the operation and administration of this Plan shall be borne by the
Corporation.

         24.      GOVERNING LAW. Without regard to the principles of conflicts
of laws, the laws of the State of North Carolina shall govern and control the
validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Plan.

         25.      INSPECTION OF PLAN. A copy of this Plan, and any amendments
thereto or modification thereof, shall be maintained by the Secretary of the
Corporation and shall be shown to any proper person making inquiry about it.


                                       6