Employment Agreement



 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 KS BANK, INC. 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 THIS AGREEMENT entered into as
of January 12, 2004, by and between KS Bank, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as the “Bank”) and Harold T. Keen (hereinafter referred to as the “Officer”) and is joined in by KS Bancorp, Inc., the parent holding company of the Bank
(hereinafter referred to as the “Holding Company”). 
  
 WHEREAS, the Officer has heretofore been employed by the Savings Bank as its President and Chief Executive Officer; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Bank is a state-chartered stock savings bank and the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Holding Company; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Bank desires to retain the services of the Officer as President
and Chief Executive Officer; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the services of the
Officer, his experience and knowledge of the affairs of the Bank, and his reputation and contacts in the industry are extremely valuable to the Bank; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to attract and retain such well-qualified executives and it is in the best interest of the Bank and of the Officer to secure the
continued services of the Officer notwithstanding any change in control of the Bank or the Holding Company; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Bank considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital management to be part of its overall corporate strategy and to be
essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of the Bank, the Holding Company and the stockholders of the Holding Company; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to set forth the terms and conditions of the Officer’s employment relationship with
the Bank. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the
premises and mutual promises, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth and other good valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereby do agree as follows: 
  
 1. Employment. The Bank hereby agrees to employ the Officer and the
Officer hereby agrees to accept employment, upon the terms and conditions stated herein, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. The Officer shall render such administrative and management services to the Bank as are customarily
performed by persons situated in a similar executive capacity. The Officer shall promote the business of the Bank and perform such other duties as shall, from time to time, be reasonably prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Bank (the
“Board”). 







 2. Compensation. The Bank shall pay the Officer during the term of this Agreement, as compensation
for all services rendered by him to the Bank, a base salary at the rate of $175,000 per annum, payable in cash not less frequently than monthly; provided that the rate of such salary shall be reviewed by the Board not less often than annually. Such
rate of salary, or increased rate of salary, as the case may be, may be further increased from time to time in such amounts as the Board, in its discretion, may decide. In determining salary increases, the Board shall compensate the Officer for
increases in the cost of living and may also provide for performance or merit increases. Participation in incentive compensation, deferred compensation, discretionary bonus, profit-sharing, retirement, stock option and other employee benefit plans
that the Bank or the Holding Company have adopted or may from time to time adopt, and participation in any fringe benefits, shall not reduce the salary payable to the Officer under this Section. The Officer will be entitled to such customary fringe
benefits, vacation and sick leave as are consistent with the normal practices and established policies of the Bank. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in Paragraph 10), the Officer’s rate of salary shall be increased not less than
six percent (6%) annually during the term of this Agreement. 
  
 3. Discretionary Bonuses. During the term of this Agreement, the Officer shall be entitled in an equitable manner with all other key management personnel of the Bank, to such discretionary bonuses as may be authorized, declared and
paid by the Board to the Bank’s key management employees. No other compensation provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the Officer’s right to such discretionary bonuses when and as declared by the Board.

  
 4. Participation in Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans;
Fringe Benefits. The Officer shall be entitled to participate in any plan relating to deferred compensation, stock options, stock purchases, pension, thrift, profit sharing, group life insurance, medical coverage, disability coverage, education,
or other retirement or employee benefits that the Bank or the Holding Company have adopted, or may, from time to time adopt, for benefit of their executive employees and for employees generally, subject to the eligibility rules of such plans.

  
 The Officer shall also be entitled to participate in any other
fringe benefits which are now or may be or become applicable to the Officer or the Bank’s other executive employees, including the payment of reasonable expenses for attending annual and periodic meetings of trade associations, and any other
benefits which are commensurate with the duties and responsibilities to be performed by the Officer under this Agreement. Additionally, the Officer shall be entitled to such vacation and sick leave as shall be established under uniform employee
policies promulgated by the Board. The Bank shall reimburse the Officer for all out-of-pocket reasonable and necessary business expenses which the Officer may incur in connection with his services on behalf of the Bank. 
  
 5. Term. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall be
for the period commencing upon the effective date of this Agreement and ending three (3) calendar 
  

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 years from the effective date of this Agreement. On each anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, the term of
this Agreement shall automatically be extended for an additional one year period beyond the then effective expiration date unless written notice from the Bank or the Officer is received 90 days prior to an anniversary date advising the other party
that this Agreement shall not be further extended; provided that the Board shall review the Officer’s performance annually and make a specific determination pursuant to such review to renew this Agreement prior to the 90 day notice period.

  
 6. Loyalty. The Officer shall devote his full efforts
and entire business time to the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. 
  
 The Officer agrees that he will hold in confidence all knowledge or information of a confidential nature with respect to the respective businesses of the
Holding Company, the Bank or of their subsidiaries, if any, received by him during the term of this Agreement and will not disclose or make use of such information without the prior written consent of the Holding Company or the Bank. 
  
 7. Standards. The Officer shall perform his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards expected of employees with comparable positions in comparable organizations and as may be established from time to time by the Board. The Bank will provide the
Officer with the working facilities and staff customary for similar executives and necessary for him to perform his duties. 
  
 8. Termination and Termination Pay. 
  
 (a) The Officer’s employment under this Agreement shall be terminated upon the death of the Officer during the term of this Agreement, in which
event, the Officer’s estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due the Officer through the last day of the calendar month in which his death shall have occurred and for a period of one month thereafter. 
  
 (b) The Officer’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated at
any time by the Officer upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Board. Upon such termination, the Officer shall be entitled to receive compensation through the effective date of such termination. 
  
 (c) The Board may terminate the Officer’s employment at any time, but
any termination by the Board, other than termination for cause, shall not prejudice the Officer’s right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. The Officer shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any
period after termination for “cause.” Termination for “cause” shall include termination because of the Officer’s personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional
failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provisions of this Agreement. 
  

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 9. Additional Regulatory Requirements. 
  
 (a) If the Officer is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or Section 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)), the Bank’s obligations under this Agreement shall be
suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank may, in its discretion, (i) pay the Officer all or part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations
were suspended and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended. 
  
 (b) If the Officer is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section
8(e)(4) of Section 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties
shall not be affected. 
  
 (c) If the Bank is in default as
defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1818(x)(1)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting
parties. 
  
 (d) All obligations under this Agreement shall be
terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank, (i) by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “Corporation”), at the time the Corporation enters
into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1818(c)); or (ii) by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (the
“Commissioner”), at the time the Commissioner approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Commissioner to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the
parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action. 
  
 10. Change in Control. 
  
 (a) In the event of a termination of the Officer’s employment in connection with, or within twenty-four (24) months after, a “Change in Control” (as defined in Subparagraph (d) below) of the Bank or the Holding Company, other
than as a result of Officer’s death or for “cause” (as defined in Paragraph 8), the Officer shall be entitled to receive the amount set forth in Subparagraph (c) below. Said sum shall be payable as provided in Subparagraph (e) below.

  
 (b) The Officer shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events (the “Termination Events”) within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control of the Holding Company or the Bank: 
  
 (i) Officer is assigned any duties and/or responsibilities that are

  

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 inconsistent with his position, duties, responsibilities or status at the time of the Change in Control
or with his reporting responsibilities or titles with the Bank in effect at such time; or 
  
 (ii) Officer’s annual base salary rate is not increased in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 2 of this Agreement; or 
  
 (iii) Officer’s life insurance, medical or hospitalization insurance, disability insurance, stock option plans, stock
purchase plans, deferred compensation plans, management retention plans, retirement plans or similar plans or benefits being provided by the Bank or the Holding Company to the Officer as of the effective date of the Change in Control are reduced in
their level, scope or coverage, or any such insurance, plans or benefits are eliminated, unless such reduction or elimination applies proportionately to all salaried employees of the Bank or the Holding Company who participated in such benefits
prior to such Change in Control; or 
  
 (iv) Officer is
transferred to a location which is more than 40 miles from his current principal work location, without the Officer’s express written consent. 
  
 A Termination Event shall be deemed to have occurred on the date such action or event is implemented or takes effect. 
  
 (c) In the event that the Officer’s employment is terminated as set
forth in Paragraph 10(a) or in the event that the Officer terminates this Agreement following a Termination Event pursuant to this Paragraph 10, the Bank will be obligated to pay or cause to be paid to Officer an amount equal to 2.99 times the
Officer’s “base amount” as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). 
  
 (d) For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events: 
  
 (i) a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or 
  
 (ii) such time as any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Holding Company or another
entity under the control of the Holding Company is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 
  

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 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Holding Company or Bank
representing 25 percent or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding Common Stock of the Holding Company or Common Stock of the Bank, as applicable; or 
  
 (iii) individuals who constitute the Board or board of directors of the Holding Company on the date hereof (the
“Incumbent Board” and “Incumbent Holding Company Board,” respectively) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was
approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board or Incumbent Holding Company Board, as applicable, or whose nomination for election by the Bank’s or Holding Company’s shareholders was approved
by the Bank’s or Holding Company’s Board of Directors or Nominating Committee, as applicable, shall be considered as though he or she was a member of the Incumbent Board or Incumbent Holding Company Board, as applicable; or 
  
 (iv) either the Holding Company or the Bank consolidates or merges with or
into another corporation, association or entity other than the Holding Company or another entity under the control of the Holding Company or is otherwise reorganized, where neither the Holding Company nor the Bank nor another entity under the
control of the Holding Company, respectively, is the surviving corporation in such transaction; or 
  
 (v) all or substantially all of the assets of either the Holding Company or the Bank are sold or otherwise transferred to or are acquired by any other
entity or group other than the Holding Company or another entity under the control of the Holding Company. 
  
 Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Paragraph 10, a transaction or event shall not be considered a Change in Control if, prior to the
consummation or occurrence of such transaction or event, Officer and Bank agree in writing that the same shall not be treated as a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement. 
  
 (e) Such amounts payable pursuant to this Paragraph 10 shall be paid in equal monthly payments over the remaining term of
the Agreement. 
  
 (f) Following a Termination Event which gives
rise to Officer’s rights hereunder, the Officer shall have twelve (12) months from the date of occurrence of the Termination Event to 
  

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 terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Paragraph 10. Any such termination shall be deemed to have occurred only upon
delivery to the Bank (or to any successor corporation) of written notice of termination which describes the Change in Control and Termination Event. If Officer does not so terminate this Agreement within such twelve-month period, he shall thereafter
have no further rights hereunder with respect to that Termination Event, but shall retain rights, if any, hereunder with respect to any other Termination Event as to which such period has to expire. 
  
 (g) It is the intent of the parties hereto that all payments made pursuant to
this Agreement be deductible by the Bank for federal income tax purposes and not result in the imposition of an excise tax on the Officer. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, any payments to be made to or for the
benefit of the Officer which are deemed to be “parachute payments” as the term is defined in Section 280G of the Code, shall be modified or reduced to the extent deemed to be necessary by the Board to avoid the imposition of excise taxes
on the Officer under Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction to the Bank under Section 280G(a) of the Code. 
  
 (h) In the event any dispute shall arise between the Officer and the Bank as to the terms or interpretation of this Agreement, including this Section 10,
whether instituted by formal legal proceedings or otherwise, including any action taken by the Officer to enforce the terms of this Section 10 or in defending against any action taken by the Bank, the Bank shall reimburse the Officer for all costs
and expenses incurred in such proceedings or actions, including attorney’s fees, in the event the Officer prevails in any such action. 
  
 11. Successors and Assigns. 
  
 (a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any corporate or other successor of the Bank which shall acquire, directly or
indirectly, by conversion, merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or substantially all of the assets of the Holding Company or the Bank. 
  
 (b) Since the Bank is contracting for the unique and personal skills of the Officer, the Officer shall be precluded from assigning or delegating his
rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the Bank. 
  
 12. Modification; Waiver; Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing, signed by the Officer and on
behalf of the Bank by such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto, at any time, of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be
performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by
both parties, except as herein otherwise provided. 
  

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 13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects whether as to validity,
construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the laws of North Carolina, except to the extent that federal law shall be deemed to apply. 
  
 14. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. 
  

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

			
	 KS BANK, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ R. Harold Hinnant


	 	 	 Chairman of the Board

		
	 	 	 /s/ Harold T. Keen


	 	 	 Harold T. Keen



  
 The foregoing
Agreement is consented and agreed to by KS Bancorp, Inc., the parent holding company of KS Bank, Inc. 
  

					
	 	 	 KS BANCORP, INC.

			
	 /s/ Joy B. Watson, Secretary

	 	 By:
	 	 /s/ R. Harold Hinnant


	 	 	 	 	 Chairman of the Board


  

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