<PAGE>

APPENDIX A

                   AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


     1.       Purpose of Plan

                  The purpose of this 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to
provide additional incentive to officers, other key employees, and directors of,
and important consultants to, American Business Financial Services, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each present or future parent or
subsidiary corporation of the Company, by encouraging them to invest in shares
of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share ("Common Stock"), and
thereby acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and an increased personal
interest in the Company's continued success and progress.

     2.       Aggregate Number of Shares

                  500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock shall be the
aggregate number of shares which may be issued under this Plan. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the
Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of
assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee (defined in Section
4(a)), deems in its sole discretion to be similar circumstances, the aggregate
number and kind of shares which may be issued under this Plan shall be
appropriately adjusted in a manner determined in the sole discretion of the
Committee. Reacquired shares of the Company's Common Stock, as well as unissued
shares, may be used for the purpose of this Plan. Common Stock of the Company
subject to options which have terminated unexercised, either in whole or in
part, shall be available for future options granted under this Plan.

     3.       Class of Persons Eligible to Receive Options

                  All officers and key employees of the Company and of any
present or future Company parent or subsidiary corporation are eligible to
receive an option or options under this Plan. All directors of, and important
consultants to, the Company and of any present or future Company parent or
subsidiary corporation are also eligible to receive an option or options under
this Plan. The individuals who shall, in fact, receive an option or options
shall be selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, except as otherwise
specified in Section 4 hereof. No individual may receive options under this Plan
for more than 90% of the total number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
authorized for issuance under this Plan.


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<PAGE>



     4.       Administration of Plan

                  1. This Plan shall be administered either by the Company's
Board of Directors or a Compensation Committee appointed by the Company's Board
of Directors. The Compensation Committee shall consist of a minimum of two and a
maximum of five members of the Board of Directors, each of whom shall be a
"Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any future corresponding rule,
except that the failure of the Compensation Committee for any reason to be
composed solely of Non-Employee Directors shall not prevent an option from being
considered granted under this Plan. The term "Committee," as used herein, shall
refer to either the Company's Board of Directors or such Compensation Committee,
depending upon who is administering the Plan. The Committee shall, in addition
to its other authority and subject to the provisions of this Plan, determine
which individuals shall in fact be granted an option or options, whether the
option shall be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option (as
such terms are defined in Section 5(a)), the number of shares to be subject to
each of the options, the time or times at which the options shall be granted,
the rate of option exercisability, and, subject to Section 5 hereof, the price
at which each of the options is exercisable and the duration of the option.

                  2. The Committee shall adopt such rules for the conduct of its
business and administration of this Plan as it considers desirable. A majority
of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. The
vote or written consent of a majority of the members of the Committee on a
particular matter shall constitute the act of the Committee on such matter. The
Committee shall have the right to construe the Plan and the options issued
pursuant to it, to correct defects and omissions and to reconcile
inconsistencies to the extent necessary to effectuate the Plan and the options
issued pursuant to it, and such action shall be final, binding and conclusive
upon all parties concerned. No member of the Committee or the Board of Directors
shall be liable for any act or omission (whether or not negligent) taken or
omitted in good faith, or for the exercise of an authority or discretion granted
in connection with the Plan to a Committee or the Board of Directors, or for the
acts or omissions of any other members of a Committee or the Board of Directors.
Subject to the numerical limitations on Committee membership set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof, the Board of Directors may at any time appoint additional
members of the Committee and may at any time remove any member of the Committee
with or without cause. Vacancies in the Committee, however caused, may be filled
by the Board of Directors, if it so desires.

     5.       Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Stock Options

                  1. Options issued pursuant to this Plan may be either
Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof or Non-Qualified
Stock Options granted pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof, as determined by the
Committee. An "Incentive Stock Option" is an option which satisfies all of the
requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code") and the regulations thereunder, and a "Non-Qualified Stock Option"
is an option which either does not satisfy all of those requirements or the
terms of the option provide that it

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option. The Committee may grant both
an Incentive Stock Option and a Non-Qualified Stock Option to the same person,
or more than one of each type of option to the same person. The option price for
options issued under this Plan shall be equal at least to the fair market value
(as defined below) of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the grant of the
option. The fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on any particular
date shall mean the last reported sale price of a share of the Company's Common
Stock on any stock exchange on which such stock is then listed or admitted to
trading, or on the NASDAQ Stock Market, on such date, or if no sale took place
on such day, the last such date on which a sale took place, or if the Common
Stock is not then quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market, or listed or admitted to
trading on any stock exchange, the average of the bid and asked prices in the
over-the-counter market on such date, or if none of the foregoing, a price
determined in good faith by the Committee to equal the fair market value per
share of the Common Stock.

                  2. Subject to the authority of the Committee set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof, Incentive Stock Options issued pursuant to this Plan shall
be issued substantially in the form set forth in Appendix I hereof, which form
is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof, and shall contain
substantially the terms and conditions set forth therein. Incentive Stock
Options shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date
such options are granted, unless terminated earlier under the terms of the
option, except that options granted to individuals described in Section
422(b)(6) of the Code shall conform to the provisions of Section 422(c)(5) of
the Code. At the time of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option hereunder, the
Committee may, in its discretion, amend or supplement any of the option terms
contained in Appendix I for any particular optionee, provided that the option as
amended or supplemented satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the Code
and the regulations thereunder. Each of the options granted pursuant to this
Section 5(b) is intended, if possible, to be an "Incentive Stock Option" as that
term is defined in Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. In
the event this Plan or any option granted pursuant to this Section 5(b) is in
any way inconsistent with the applicable legal requirements of the Code or the
regulations thereunder for an Incentive Stock Option, this Plan and such option
shall be deemed automatically amended as of the date hereof to conform to such
legal requirements, if such conformity may be achieved by amendment. If such
conformity may not be achieved by amendment, such option shall be deemed to be a
Non-Qualified Stock Option.

                  3. Subject to the authority of the Committee set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof, Non-Qualified Stock Options issued to officers and other
key employees pursuant to this Plan shall be issued substantially in the form
set forth in Appendix II hereof, which form is hereby incorporated by reference
and made a part hereof, and shall contain substantially the terms and conditions
set forth therein. Subject to the authority of the Committee set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof, Non-Qualified Stock Options issued to directors and
important consultants pursuant to this Plan shall be issued substantially in the
form set forth in Appendix III hereof, which form is hereby incorporated by
reference and made a part hereof, and shall contain substantially the terms and
conditions set forth therein. Non-Qualified Stock Options shall expire ten years
after the date they are granted, unless terminated earlier under the option
terms. At the time of granting a Non-Qualified Stock Option hereunder, the
Committee may, in its discretion, amend or supplement any of the option terms
contained in Appendix II or Appendix III for any particular optionee.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

                  4. Neither the Company nor any of its current or future
parent, subsidiaries or affiliates, nor their officers, directors, shareholders,
stock option plan committees, employees or agents shall have any liability to
any optionee in the event (i) an option granted pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof
does not qualify as an "Incentive Stock Option" as that term is used in Section
422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder; (ii) any optionee does not
obtain the tax treatment pertaining to an Incentive Stock Option; or (iii) any
option granted pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof is an "Incentive Stock Option."

                  5. Except as otherwise provided in Section 422 of the Code and
regulations thereunder or any successor provision, no Incentive Stock Option
granted pursuant to this Plan shall be transferable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise provided by the Rules and
Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Committee at the time
of grant of a Non-Qualified Stock Option may provide that such stock option is
transferrable to any "family member" of the optionee by gift or qualified
domestic relations order. For purposes of this section, a family member includes
any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, step-parent, grandparent, spouse,
former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, any person sharing the grantee's household (other than a tenant
or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the
beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee)
controls the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons
or the grantee own more than 50% of the voting interests.

     6.       Amendment, Supplement, Suspension and Termination

                  Options shall not be granted pursuant to this Plan after the
expiration of ten years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors reserves the right at any time,
and from time to time, to amend or supplement this Plan, including the forms of
option agreement attached hereto, in any way, or to suspend or terminate it,
effective as of such date, which date may be either before or after the taking
of such action, as may be specified by the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that such action shall not affect options granted under the Plan prior
to the actual date on which such action occurred. If an amendment or supplement
of this Plan is required by the Code or the regulations thereunder to be
approved by the shareholders of the Company in order to permit the granting of
"Incentive Stock Options" (as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code
and regulations thereunder) pursuant to the amended or supplemented Plan, such
amendment or supplement shall also be approved by the shareholders of the
Company in such manner as is prescribed by the Code and the regulations
thereunder. If the Board of Directors voluntarily submits a proposed amendment,
supplement, suspension or termination for shareholder approval, such submission
shall not require any future amendments, supplements, suspensions or
terminations (whether or not relating to the same provision or subject matter)
to be similarly submitted for shareholder approval.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>


     7.       Effectiveness of Plan

                  This Plan shall become effective on the date of its adoption
by the Company's Board of Directors, subject however to approval by the holders
of the Company's Common Stock in the manner as prescribed in the Code and the
regulations thereunder. Options may be granted under this Plan prior to
obtaining shareholder approval, provided such options shall not be exercisable
until shareholder approval is obtained.

     8.       General Conditions

                  1. Nothing contained in this Plan or any option granted
pursuant to this Plan shall confer upon any employee the right to continue in
the employ of the Company or any affiliated or subsidiary corporation or
interfere in any way with the rights of the Company or any affiliated or
subsidiary corporation to terminate his employment in any way.

                  2. Nothing contained in this Plan or any option granted
pursuant to this Plan shall confer upon any director or consultant the right to
continue as a director of, or consultant to, the Company or any affiliated or
subsidiary corporation or interfere in any way with the rights of the Company or
any affiliated or subsidiary corporation, or their respective shareholders, to
terminate the directorship of any such director or the consultancy relationship
of any such consultant.

                  3. Corporate action constituting an offer of stock for sale to
any person under the terms of the options to be granted hereunder shall be
deemed complete as of the date when the Committee authorizes the grant of the
option to the such person, regardless of when the option is actually delivered
to such person or acknowledged or agreed to by him.

                  4. The terms "parent corporation" and "subsidiary corporation"
as used throughout this Plan, and the options granted pursuant to this Plan,
shall (except as otherwise provided in the option form) have the meaning that is
ascribed to that term when contained in Section 422(b) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder, and the Company shall be deemed to be the grantor
corporation for purposes of applying such meaning.

                  5. References in this Plan to the Code shall be deemed to also
refer to the corresponding provisions of any future United States revenue law.

                  6. The use of the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine
gender whenever appropriate.

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<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX I

                             INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION


To:      _____________________________________________________________________
         Name

         _____________________________________________________________________
         Address

Date of Grant: _______________________________________________________________


         You are hereby granted an option, effective as of the date hereof, to
purchase __________ shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), of American Business Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), at a price of $____________ per share pursuant to the Company's
1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         Your option may first be exercised on and after one year from the date
of grant, but not before that time. On and after one year and prior to
__________ years from the date of grant, your option may be exercised for up to
_____% of the total number of shares subject to the option minus the number of
shares previously purchased by exercise of the option (as adjusted as the
Committee in its sole discretion determines for any change in the outstanding
shares of the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock
split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer
of assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Each succeeding year thereafter, your
option may be exercised for up to an additional _____% of the total number of
shares subject to the option minus the number of shares previously purchased by
exercise of the option (as adjusted for any change in the outstanding shares of
the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of
assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Thus, this option is fully exercisable
on and after _____ years after the date of grant, except if terminated earlier
as provided herein. This option shall terminate and is not exercisable after ten
years from the date of its grant (the "Scheduled Termination Date"), except if
terminated earlier as hereafter provided.


                                      I-1
<PAGE>


         In the event of a "Change of Control" (as defined below) of the
Company, your option may, from and after the date of the Change of Control, and
notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, be exercised for up to 100%
of the total number of shares then subject to the option minus the number of
shares previously purchased upon exercise of the option (as adjusted for stock
dividends, stock splits, combinations of shares and what the Committee deems in
its sole discretion) and your vesting date may accelerate accordingly. A "Change
of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the
following events:

         1. A change within a twelve-month period in the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company; or

         2. Any other event deemed to constitute a "Change of Control" by the
Committee.

         You may exercise your option by giving written notice to the Secretary
of the Company on forms supplied by the Company at its then principal executive
office, accompanied by payment of the option price for the total number of
shares you specify that you wish to purchase. The payment may be in any of the
following forms: (a) cash, which may be evidenced by a check and includes cash
received from a stock brokerage firm in a so-called "cashless exercise"; (b)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) certificates representing shares of Common
Stock of the Company, which will be valued by the Secretary of the Company at
the fair market value per share of the Company's Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with the Plan) on the date of delivery of such certificates to the
Company, accompanied by an assignment of the stock to the Company; or (c)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) any combination of cash and Common Stock of
the Company valued as provided in clause (b). The use of the so-called
"attestation procedure" to exercise a stock option may be permitted by the
Committee. Any assignment of stock shall be in a form and substance satisfactory
to the Secretary of the Company, including guarantees of signature(s) and
payment of all transfer taxes if the Secretary deems such guarantees necessary
or desirable.

         Your option will, to the extent not previously exercised by you,
terminate three months after the date on which your employment by the Company or
a Company subsidiary corporation is terminated (whether such termination be
voluntary or involuntary) other than by reason of disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
and the regulations thereunder, or death (but in no event later than the
Scheduled Termination Date). After the date your employment is terminated, as
aforesaid, you may exercise this option only for the number of shares which you
had a right to purchase and did not purchase on the date your employment
terminated. If you are employed by a Company subsidiary corporation, your
employment shall be deemed to have terminated on the date your employer ceases
to be a Company subsidiary corporation, unless you are on that date transferred
to the Company or another Company subsidiary corporation. Your employment shall
not be deemed to have terminated if you are transferred from the Company to a
Company subsidiary corporation, or vice versa, or from one Company subsidiary
corporation to another Company subsidiary corporation.


                                      I-2
<PAGE>


         If you die while employed by the Company or a Company subsidiary
corporation, your executor or administrator, as the case may be, may, at any
time within one year after the date of your death (but in no event later than
the Scheduled Termination Date), exercise the option as to any shares which you
had a right to purchase and did not purchase during your lifetime. If your
employment with the Company or a Company parent or subsidiary corporation is
terminated by reason of your becoming disabled (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code and the regulations thereunder), you or your legal guardian
or custodian may at any time within one year after the date of such termination
(but in no event later than the Scheduled Termination Date), exercise the option
as to any shares which you had a right to purchase and did not purchase prior to
such termination. Your executor, administrator, guardian or custodian must
present proof of his authority satisfactory to the Company prior to being
allowed to exercise this option.

         In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Common
Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of assets,
reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole discretion to
be similar circumstances, the number and kind of shares subject to this option
and the option price of such shares shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner
to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this option, in
the event of a sale or a proposed sale of the majority of the stock or assets of
the Company or a proposed Change of Control, the Committee shall have the right
to terminate this option upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to you,
subject to your right to exercise such option to the extent vested prior to such
termination.

         This option is not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your lifetime only by you,
including, for this purpose, your legal guardian or custodian in the event of
disability. Until the option price has been paid in full pursuant to due
exercise of this option and the purchased shares are delivered to you, you do
not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company. The Company reserves the
right not to deliver to you the shares purchased by virtue of the exercise of
this option during any period of time in which the Company deems, in its sole
discretion, that such delivery would violate a federal, state, local or
securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this option
is not exercisable until all the following events occur and during the following
periods of time:

         (a) Until the Plan pursuant to which this option is granted is approved
by the shareholders of the Company in the manner prescribed by the Code and the
regulations thereunder;

         (b) Until this option and the optioned shares are approved and/or
registered with such federal, state and local regulatory bodies or agencies and
securities exchanges as the Company may deem necessary or desirable; or

         (c) During any period of time in which the Company deems that the
exercisability of this option, the offer to sell the shares optioned hereunder,
or the sale thereof, may violate a federal, state, local or securities exchange
rule, regulation or law, or may cause the Company to be legally obligated to
issue or sell more shares than the Company is legally entitled to issue or sell.

                                      I-3
<PAGE>


         (d) Until you have paid or made suitable arrangements to pay (which may
include payment through the surrender of Common Stock, unless prohibited by the
Committee) (i) all federal, state and local income tax withholding required to
be withheld by the Company in connection with the option exercise, and (ii) your
portion of other federal, state and local payroll and other taxes due in
connection with the option exercise.

         The following two paragraphs shall be applicable if, on the date of
exercise of this option, the Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to such
exercise has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and under applicable state securities laws, and shall continue to be applicable
for so long as such registration has not occurred:

         (a) The optionee hereby agrees, warrants and represents that he will
acquire the Common Stock to be issued hereunder for his own account for
investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or in connection with, any
resale or other distribution of any of such shares, except as hereafter
permitted. The optionee further agrees that he will not at any time make any
offer, sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of such Common Stock to be
issued hereunder without an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state securities
laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company to the effect that the
proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration. The optionee shall
execute such instruments, representations, acknowledgments and agreements as the
Company may, in its sole discretion, deem advisable to avoid any violation of
federal, state, local or securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

         (b) The certificates for Common Stock to be issued to the optionee
hereunder shall bear the following legend:

                  "The shares represented by this certificate have not been
         registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under
         applicable state securities laws. The shares have been acquired for
         investment and may not be offered, sold, transferred, pledged or
         otherwise disposed of without an effective registration statement under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
         securities laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
         the proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration."

The foregoing legend shall be removed upon registration of the legended shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
laws or upon receipt of any opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
said registration is no longer required.

         The sole purpose of the agreements, warranties, representations and
legend set forth in the two immediately preceding paragraphs is to prevent
violations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws.


                                      I-4
<PAGE>


         It is the intention of the Company and you that this option shall, if
possible, be an "Incentive Stock Option" as that term is used in Section 422 of
the Code and the regulations thereunder. In the event this option is in any way
inconsistent with the legal requirements of the Code or the regulations
thereunder for an "Incentive Stock Option," this option shall be deemed
automatically amended as of the date hereof to conform to such legal
requirements, if such conformity may be achieved by amendment. If such
conformity may not be achieved by amendment, such option shall be deemed to be a
Non-Qualified Stock Option.

         Nothing herein shall modify your status as an at-will employee of the
Company. Further, nothing herein guarantees you employment for any specified
period of time. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your
employment at any time for any reason, or no reason. You recognize that, for
instance, you may terminate your employment or the Company may terminate your
employment prior to the date on which your option becomes vested.

         Any dispute or disagreement between you and the Company with respect to
any portion of this option or its validity, construction, meaning, performance
or your rights hereunder shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or its
successor, as amended from time to time. However, prior to submission to
arbitration you will attempt to resolve any disputes or disagreements with the
Company over this option amicably and informally, in good faith, for a period
not to exceed two weeks. Thereafter, the dispute or disagreement will be
submitted to arbitration. At any time prior to a decision from the arbitrator(s)
being rendered, you and the Company may resolve the dispute by settlement. You
and the Company shall equally share the costs charged by the American
Arbitration Association or its successor, but you and the Company shall
otherwise be solely responsible for your own respective counsel fees and
expenses. The decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be made in writing, setting
forth the award, the reasons for the decision and award and shall be binding and
conclusive on you and the Company. Further, neither you nor the Company shall
appeal any such award. Judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction may be
entered upon the award and may be enforced as such in accordance with the
provisions of the award.

         This option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan in effect on the
date this option is granted, which terms are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms
of this option and the terms of the Plan in effect on the date of this option,
the terms of the Plan shall govern. This option constitutes the entire
understanding between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter
hereof and no amendment, supplement or waiver of this option, in whole or in
part, shall be binding upon the Company unless in writing and signed by the
President of the Company. This option and the performances of the parties
hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.

         In consideration of the grant to you of this option, you hereby agree
to the confidentiality and non-interference provisions set forth in Attachment A
hereto.



                                      I-5
<PAGE>


         Please sign the copy of this option and return it to the Company's
Secretary, thereby indicating your understanding of and agreement with its terms
and conditions, including Attachment A hereto.

                                        AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL
                                        SERVICES, INC.


                                        By:__________________________________

         I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of the foregoing stock option
and the 1999 Stock Option Plan and, having read them hereby signify my
understanding of, and my agreement with, its terms and conditions including
Attachment A hereto. I accept this option in full satisfaction of any previous
written or verbal promises made to me by the Company with respect to option
grants [except for options granted to me pursuant to agreements dated
___________].


                                       ______________________________________
(Date)                                 (Signature)






                                      I-6
<PAGE>


                          Attachment A to Stock Option

                      Confidentiality and Non-Interference.

         (a) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your employment with the Company or
at any time thereafter, except with the express prior written consent of the
Company or pursuant to the lawful order of any judicial or administrative agency
of government, directly or indirectly, disclose, communicate or divulge to any
individual or entity, or use for the benefit of any individual or entity, any
knowledge or information with respect to the conduct or details of the Company's
business which you, acting reasonably, believe or should believe to be of a
confidential nature and the disclosure of which not to be in the Company's
interest.

         (b) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your employment with the Company and
for a period of two years thereafter, except with the express prior written
consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, whether as employee, owner,
partner, consultant, agent, director, officer, shareholder or in any other
capacity, engage in or assist any individual or entity to engage in any act or
action which you, acting reasonably, believe or should believe would be harmful
or inimical to the interests of the Company.

         (c) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, for a period of two years after your
employment with the Company ceases for any reason whatsoever (whether voluntary
or not), except with the express prior written consent of the Company, directly
or indirectly, whether as employee, owner, partner, consultant, agent, director,
officer, shareholder or in any other capacity, for your own account or for the
benefit of any individual or entity, (i) solicit any customer of the Company for
business which would result in such customer terminating their relationship with
the Company; or (ii) solicit or induce any individual or entity which is an
employee of the Company to leave the Company or to otherwise terminate their
relationship with the Company.


                                      I-7
<PAGE>


         (d) The parties agree that any breach by you of any of the covenants or
agreements contained in this Attachment A will result in irreparable injury to
the Company for which money damages could not adequately compensate the Company
and therefore, in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled
(in addition to any other rights and remedies which it may have at law or in
equity) to have an injunction issued by any competent court enjoining and
restraining you and/or any other individual or entity involved therein from
continuing such breach. The existence of any claim or cause of action which you
may have against the Company or any other individual or entity shall not
constitute a defense or bar to the enforcement of such covenants. If the Company
is obliged to resort to the courts for the enforcement of any of the covenants
or agreements contained in this Attachment A, or if such covenants or agreements
are otherwise the subject of litigation between the parties, and the Company
prevails in such enforcement or litigation, then the term of such covenants and
agreements shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period of such
breach, which extension shall commence on the later of (a) the date on which the
original (unextended) term of such covenants and agreements is scheduled to
terminate or (b) the date of the final court order (without further right of
appeal) enforcing such covenant or agreement.

         (e) If any portion of the covenants or agreements contained in this
Attachment A, or the application hereof, is construed to be invalid or
unenforceable, the other portions of such covenant(s) or agreement(s) or the
application thereof shall not be affected and shall be given full force and
effect without regard to the invalid or enforceable portions to the fullest
extent possible. If any covenant or agreement in this Attachment A is held
unenforceable because of the area covered, the duration thereof, or the scope
thereof, then the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce
the area and/or duration and/or limit the scope thereof, and the covenant or
agreement shall then be enforceable in its reduced form.

         (f) For purposes of this Attachment A, the term "the Company" shall
include the Company, any successor to the Company and all present and future
direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company.




                                      I-8
<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX II

                     NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION FOR OFFICERS
                             AND OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES

To:  ___________________________________________________________________________
     Name

     ___________________________________________________________________________
     Address

Date of Grant:__________________________________________________________________


         You are hereby granted an option, effective as of the date hereof, to
purchase __________ shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), of American Business Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), at a price of $_______ per share pursuant to the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         Your option may first be exercised on and after one year from the date
of grant, but not before that time. On and after one year and prior to _____
years from the date of grant, your option may be exercised for up to _______ of
the total number of shares subject to the option minus the number of shares
previously purchased by exercise of the option (as adjusted as the Committee in
its sole discretion determines for any change in the outstanding shares of the
Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of
assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Each succeeding year thereafter, your
option may be exercised for up to an additional ____% of the total number of
shares subject to the option minus the number of shares previously purchased by
exercise of the option (as adjusted for any change in the outstanding shares of
the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of
assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Thus, this option is fully exercisable
on and after_____ years after the date of grant, except if terminated earlier as
provided herein. This option shall terminate and is not exercisable after ten
years from the date of its grant (the "Scheduled Termination Date"), except if
terminated earlier as hereafter provided.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>


         In the event of a "Change of Control" (as defined below) of the
Company, your option may, from and after the date of the Change of Control, and
notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, be exercised for up to 100%
of the total number of shares then subject to the option minus the number of
shares previously purchased upon exercise of the option (as adjusted for stock
dividends, stock splits, combinations of shares and what the Committee deems in
its sole discretion) and your vesting date may accelerate accordingly. A "Change
of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the
following events:

         1.  A change  within a  twelve-month  period in the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company; or

         2.  Any other event deemed to constitute a "Change of Control" by the
Committee.

         You may exercise your option by giving written notice to the Secretary
of the Company on forms supplied by the Company at its then principal executive
office, accompanied by payment of the option price for the total number of
shares you specify that you wish to purchase. The payment may be in any of the
following forms: (a) cash, which may be evidenced by a check and includes cash
received from a stock brokerage firm in a so-called "cashless exercise"; (b)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) certificates representing shares of Common
Stock of the Company, which will be valued by the Secretary of the Company at
the fair market value per share of the Company's Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with the Plan) on the date of delivery of such certificates to the
Company, accompanied by an assignment of the stock to the Company; or (c)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) any combination of cash and Common Stock of
the Company valued as provided in clause (b). The use of the so-called
"attestation procedure" to exercise a stock option may be permitted by the
Committee. Any assignment of stock shall be in a form and substance satisfactory
to the Secretary of the Company, including guarantees of signature(s) and
payment of all transfer taxes if the Secretary deems such guarantees necessary
or desirable.

         Your option will, to the extent not previously exercised by you,
terminate three months after the date on which your employment by the Company or
a Company subsidiary corporation is terminated (whether such termination be
voluntary or involuntary) other than by reason of disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
and the regulations thereunder, or death (but in no event later than the
Scheduled Termination Date). After the date your employment is terminated, as
aforesaid, you may exercise this option only for the number of shares which you
had a right to purchase and did not purchase on the date your employment
terminated. If you are employed by a Company subsidiary corporation, your
employment shall be deemed to have terminated on the date your employer ceases
to be a Company subsidiary corporation, unless you are on that date transferred
to the Company or another Company subsidiary corporation. Your employment shall
not be deemed to have terminated if you are transferred from the Company to a
Company subsidiary corporation, or vice versa, or from one Company subsidiary
corporation to another Company subsidiary corporation.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>


         If you die while employed by the Company or a Company subsidiary
corporation, your executor or administrator, as the case may be, may, at any
time within one year after the date of your death (but in no event later than
the Scheduled Termination Date), exercise the option as to any shares which you
had a right to purchase and did not purchase during your lifetime. If your
employment with the Company or a Company parent or subsidiary corporation is
terminated by reason of your becoming disabled (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code and the regulations thereunder), you or your legal guardian
or custodian may at any time within one year after the date of such termination
(but in no event later than the Scheduled Termination Date), exercise the option
as to any shares which you had a right to purchase and did not purchase prior to
such termination. Your executor, administrator, guardian or custodian must
present proof of his authority satisfactory to the Company prior to being
allowed to exercise this option.

         In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Common
Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of assets,
reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole discretion to
be similar circumstances, the number and kind of shares subject to this option
and the option price of such shares shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner
to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this option, in
the event of a sale or a proposed sale of the majority of the stock or assets of
the Company or a proposed Change of Control, the Committee shall have the right
to terminate this option upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to you,
subject to your right to exercise such option to the extent vested prior to such
termination.

         Except for transfers to ___________ under the terms set forth in the
Plan, this option is not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your lifetime only by you,
including, for this purpose, your legal guardian or custodian in the event of
disability. Until the option price has been paid in full pursuant to due
exercise of this option and the purchased shares are delivered to you, you do
not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company. The Company reserves the
right not to deliver to you the shares purchased by virtue of the exercise of
this option during any period of time in which the Company deems, in its sole
discretion, that such delivery would violate a federal, state, local or
securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this option
is not exercisable until all the following events occur and during the following
periods of time:

                  (a) Until the Plan pursuant to which this option is granted is
approved by the shareholders of the Company in the manner prescribed by the Code
and the regulations thereunder;

                  (b) Until this option and the optioned shares are approved
and/or registered with such federal, state and local regulatory bodies or
agencies and securities exchanges as the Company may deem necessary or
desirable; or


                                      II-3
<PAGE>


                  (c) During any period of time in which the Company deems that
the exercisability of this option, the offer to sell the shares optioned
hereunder, or the sale thereof, may violate a federal, state, local or
securities exchange rule, regulation or law, or may cause the Company to be
legally obligated to issue or sell more shares than the Company is legally
entitled to issue or sell.

                  (d) Until you have paid or made suitable arrangements to pay
(which may include payment through the surrender of Common Stock, unless
prohibited by the Committee) (i) all federal, state and local income tax
withholding required to be withheld by the Company in connection with the option
exercise and (ii) your portion of other federal, state and local payroll and
other taxes due in connection with the option exercise.

                  The following two paragraphs shall be applicable if, on the
date of exercise of this option, the Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to
such exercise has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and under applicable state securities laws, and shall continue to be
applicable for so long as such registration has not occurred:

                  (a) The optionee hereby agrees, warrants and represents that
he will acquire the Common Stock to be issued hereunder for his own account for
investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or in connection with, any
resale or other distribution of any of such shares, except as hereafter
permitted. The optionee further agrees that he will not at any time make any
offer, sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of such Common Stock to be
issued hereunder without an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state securities
laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company to the effect that the
proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration. The optionee shall
execute such instruments, representations, acknowledgments and agreements as the
Company may, in its sole discretion, deem advisable to avoid any violation of
federal, state, local or securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

                  (b) The certificates for Common Stock to be issued to the
optionee hereunder shall bear the following legend:

                  "The shares represented by this certificate have not been
         registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under
         applicable state securities laws. The shares have been acquired for
         investment and may not be offered, sold, transferred, pledged or
         otherwise disposed of without an effective registration statement under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
         securities laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
         the proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration."

The foregoing legend shall be removed upon registration of the legended shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
laws or upon receipt of any opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
said registration is no longer required.


                                      II-4
<PAGE>


         The sole purpose of the agreements, warranties, representations and
legend set forth in the two immediately preceding paragraphs is to prevent
violations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws.

         It is the intention of the Company and you that this option shall not
be an "Incentive Stock Option" as that term is used in Section 422 of the Code
and the regulations thereunder.

         Nothing herein shall modify your status as an at-will employee of the
Company. Further, nothing herein guarantees you employment for any specified
period of time. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your
employment at any time for any reason, or no reason. You recognize that, for
instance, you may terminate your employment or the Company may terminate your
employment prior to the date on which your option becomes vested.

         Any dispute or disagreement between you and the Company with respect to
any portion of this option or its validity, construction, meaning, performance
or your rights hereunder shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or its
successor, as amended from time to time. However, prior to submission to
arbitration you will attempt to resolve any disputes or disagreements with the
Company over this option amicably and informally, in good faith, for a period
not to exceed two weeks. Thereafter, the dispute or disagreement will be
submitted to arbitration. At any time prior to a decision from the arbitrator(s)
being rendered, you and the Company may resolve the dispute by settlement. You
and the Company shall equally share the costs charged by the American
Arbitration Association or its successor, but you and the Company shall
otherwise be solely responsible for your own respective counsel fees and
expenses. The decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be made in writing, setting
forth the award, the reasons for the decision and award and shall be binding and
conclusive on you and the Company. Further, neither you nor the Company shall
appeal any such award. Judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction may be
entered upon the award and may be enforced as such in accordance with the
provisions of the award.

         This option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan in effect on the
date this option is granted, which terms are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms
of this option and the terms of the Plan in effect on the date of this option,
the terms of the Plan shall govern. This option constitutes the entire
understanding between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter
hereof and no amendment, supplement or waiver of this option, in whole or in
part, shall be binding upon the Company unless in writing and signed by the
President of the Company. This option and the performances of the parties
hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.

         In consideration of the grant to you of this option, you hereby agree
to the confidentiality and non-interference provisions set forth in Attachment A
hereto.


                                      II-5
<PAGE>


         Please sign the copy of this option and return it to the Company's
Secretary, thereby indicating your understanding of and agreement with its terms
and conditions, including Attachment A hereto.

                                                     AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL
                                                     SERVICES, INC.


                                                     By:________________________

         I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of the foregoing stock option
and the 1999 Stock Option Plan and, having read them hereby signify my
understanding of, and my agreement with, its terms and conditions including
Attachment A hereto. I accept this option in full satisfaction of any previously
written or verbal promises made to me by the Company with respect to option
grants [except for options granted to me pursuant to agreements dated
_______________].


                                                     ___________________________
(Date)                                               (Signature)


                                      II-6
<PAGE>


                          Attachment A to Stock Option

                      Confidentiality and Non-Interference.

         (a) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your employment with the Company or
at any time thereafter, except with the express prior written consent of the
Company or pursuant to the lawful order of any judicial or administrative agency
of government, directly or indirectly, disclose, communicate or divulge to any
individual or entity, or use for the benefit of any individual or entity, any
knowledge or information with respect to the conduct or details of the Company's
business which you, acting reasonably, believe or should believe to be of a
confidential nature and the disclosure of which not to be in the Company's
interest.

         (b) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your employment with the Company and
for a period of two years thereafter, except with the express prior written
consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, whether as employee, owner,
partner, consultant, agent, director, officer, shareholder or in any other
capacity, engage in or assist any individual or entity to engage in any act or
action which you, acting reasonably, believe or should believe would be harmful
or inimical to the interests of the Company.

         (c) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, for a period of two years after your
employment with the Company ceases for any reason whatsoever (whether voluntary
or not), except with the express prior written consent of the Company, directly
or indirectly, whether as employee, owner, partner, consultant, agent, director,
officer, shareholder or in any other capacity, for your own account or for the
benefit of any individual or entity, (i) solicit any customer of the Company for
business which would result in such customer terminating their relationship with
the Company; or (ii) solicit or induce any individual or entity which is an
employee of the Company to leave the Company or to otherwise terminate their
relationship with the Company.


                                      II-7
<PAGE>


         (d) The parties agree that any breach by you of any of the covenants or
agreements contained in this Attachment A will result in irreparable injury to
the Company for which money damages could not adequately compensate the Company
and therefore, in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled
(in addition to any other rights and remedies which it may have at law or in
equity) to have an injunction issued by any competent court enjoining and
restraining you and/or any other individual or entity involved therein from
continuing such breach. The existence of any claim or cause of action which you
may have against the Company or any other individual or entity shall not
constitute a defense or bar to the enforcement of such covenants. If the Company
is obliged to resort to the courts for the enforcement of any of the covenants
or agreements contained in this Attachment A, or if such covenants or agreements
are otherwise the subject of litigation between the parties, and the Company
prevails in such enforcement or litigation, then the term of such covenants and
agreements shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period of such
breach, which extension shall commence on the later of (a) the date on which the
original (unextended) term of such covenants and agreements is scheduled to
terminate or (b) the date of the final court order (without further right of
appeal) enforcing such covenant or agreement.

         (e) If any portion of the covenants or agreements contained in this
Attachment A, or the application hereof, is construed to be invalid or
unenforceable, the other portions of such covenant(s) or agreement(s) or the
application thereof shall not be affected and shall be given full force and
effect without regard to the invalid or enforceable portions to the fullest
extent possible. If any covenant or agreement in this Attachment A is held
unenforceable because of the area covered, the duration thereof, or the scope
thereof, then the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce
the area and/or duration and/or limit the scope thereof, and the covenant or
agreement shall then be enforceable in its reduced form.

         (f) For purposes of this Attachment A, the term "the Company" shall
include the Company, any successor to the Company and all present and future
direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company.





                                      II-8



<PAGE>
                                  APPENDIX III

                    NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION FOR DIRECTORS
                            AND IMPORTANT CONSULTANTS


To:      _______________________________________________________________________
         Name

         _______________________________________________________________________
         Address

Date of Grant:__________________________________________________________________


         You are hereby granted an option, effective as of the date hereof, to
purchase __________ shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), of American Business Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), at a price of $_______ per share pursuant to the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         Your option may first be exercised on and after one year from the date
of grant, but not before that time. On and after one year and prior to
______years from the date of grant, your option may be exercised for up to
______% of the total number of shares subject to the option minus the number of
shares previously purchased by exercise of the option (as adjusted as the
Committee in its sole discretion determines for any change in the outstanding
shares of the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock
split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer
of assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Each succeeding year thereafter, your
option may be exercised for up to an additional ______% of the total number of
shares subject to the option minus the number of shares previously purchased by
exercise of the option (as adjusted for any change in the outstanding shares of
the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of
assets, reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole
discretion to be similar circumstances). Thus, this option is fully exercisable
on and after _____ years after the date of grant, except if terminated earlier
as provided herein. This option shall terminate and is not exercisable after ten
years from the date of its grant (the "Scheduled Termination Date"), except if
terminated earlier as hereafter provided.


                                     III-1
<PAGE>


         In the event of a "Change of Control" (as defined below) of the
Company, your option may, from and after the date of the Change of Control, and
notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, be exercised for up to 100%
of the total number of shares then subject to the option minus the number of
shares previously purchased upon exercise of the option (as adjusted for stock
dividends, stock splits, combinations of shares and what the Committee deems in
its sole discretion) and your vesting date may accelerate accordingly. A "Change
of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon the happening of any of the
following events:

         1. A change within a twelve-month period in the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company; or

         2. Any other event deemed to constitute a "Change of Control" by the
Committee.

         You may exercise your option by giving written notice to the Secretary
of the Company on forms supplied by the Company at its then principal executive
office, accompanied by payment of the option price for the total number of
shares you specify that you wish to purchase. The payment may be in any of the
following forms: (a) cash, which may be evidenced by a check and includes cash
received from a stock brokerage firm in a so-called "cashless exercise"; (b)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) certificates representing shares of Common
Stock of the Company, which will be valued by the Secretary of the Company at
the fair market value per share of the Company's Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with the Plan) on the date of delivery of such certificates to the
Company, accompanied by an assignment of the stock to the Company; or (c)
(unless prohibited by the Committee) any combination of cash and Common Stock of
the Company valued as provided in clause (b). The use of the so-called
"attestation procedure" to exercise a stock option may be permitted by the
Committee. Any assignment of stock shall be in a form and substance satisfactory
to the Secretary of the Company, including guarantees of signature(s) and
payment of all transfer taxes if the Secretary deems such guarantees necessary
or desirable.

         Your option will, to the extent not previously exercised by you,
terminate three months after the date on which you cease for any reason to be a
director of, or consultant to, the Company or a subsidiary corporation (whether
by death, disability, resignation, removal, failure to be reappointed, reelected
or otherwise, or the expiration of any consulting arrangement, and regardless of
whether the failure to continue as a director or consultant was for cause or
without cause or otherwise), but in no event later than ten years from the date
this option is granted. After the date you cease to be a director or consultant,
you may exercise this option only for the number of shares which you had a right
to purchase and did not purchase on the date you ceased to be a director or
consultant. If you are a director of a subsidiary corporation, your directorship
shall be deemed to have terminated on the date such company ceases to be a
subsidiary corporation, unless you are also a director of the Company or another
subsidiary corporation, or on that date became a director of the Company or
another subsidiary corporation. Your directorship or consultancy shall not be
deemed to have terminated if you cease being a director of, or consultant to,
the Company or a subsidiary corporation but are or concurrently therewith become
(a) a director of, or consultant to, the Company or another subsidiary
corporation or (b) an employee of the Company or a subsidiary corporation.


                                     III-2
<PAGE>


         In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Common
Stock of the Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, transfer of assets,
reorganization, conversion or what the Committee deems in its sole discretion to
be similar circumstances, the number and kind of shares subject to this option
and the option price of such shares shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner
to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this option, in
the event of a sale or a proposed sale of the majority of the stock or assets of
the Company or a proposed Change of Control, the Committee shall have the right
to terminate this option upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to you,
subject to your right to exercise such option to the extent vested prior to such
termination.

         Except for transfers to __________ under the terms set forth in the
Plan, this option is not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your lifetime only by you,
including, for this purpose, your legal guardian or custodian in the event of
disability. Until the option price has been paid in full pursuant to due
exercise of this option and the purchased shares are delivered to you, you do
not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company. The Company reserves the
right not to deliver to you the shares purchased by virtue of the exercise of
this option during any period of time in which the Company deems, in its sole
discretion, that such delivery would violate a federal, state, local or
securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this option
is not exercisable until all the following events occur and during the following
periods of time:

                  (a) Until the Plan pursuant to which this option is granted is
approved by the shareholders of the Company in the manner prescribed by the Code
and the regulations thereunder;

                  (b) Until this option and the optioned shares are approved
and/or registered with such federal, state and local regulatory bodies or
agencies and securities exchanges as the Company may deem necessary or
desirable; or

                  (c) During any period of time in which the Company deems that
the exercisability of this option, the offer to sell the shares optioned
hereunder, or the sale thereof, may violate a federal, state, local or
securities exchange rule, regulation or law, or may cause the Company to be
legally obligated to issue or sell more shares than the Company is legally
entitled to issue or sell.

                  (d) Until you have paid or made suitable arrangements to pay
(which may include payment through the surrender of Common Stock, unless
prohibited by the Committee) (i) all federal, state and local income tax
withholding required to be withheld by the Company in connection with the option
exercise and (ii) your portion of other federal, state and local payroll and
other taxes due in connection with the option exercise.


                                     III-3
<PAGE>


         The following two paragraphs shall be applicable if, on the date of
exercise of this option, the Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to such
exercise has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and under applicable state securities laws, and shall continue to be applicable
for so long as such registration has not occurred:

                  (a) The optionee hereby agrees, warrants and represents that
he will acquire the Common Stock to be issued hereunder for his own account for
investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or in connection with, any
resale or other distribution of any of such shares, except as hereafter
permitted. The optionee further agrees that he will not at any time make any
offer, sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of such Common Stock to be
issued hereunder without an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state securities
laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company to the effect that the
proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration. The optionee shall
execute such instruments, representations, acknowledgements and agreements as
the Company may, in its sole discretion, deem advisable to avoid any violation
of federal, state, local or securities exchange rule, regulation or law.

                  (b) The certificates for Common Stock to be issued to the
optionee hereunder shall bear the following legend:

                  "The shares represented by this certificate have not been
         registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under
         applicable state securities laws. The shares have been acquired for
         investment and may not be offered, sold, transferred, pledged or
         otherwise disposed of without an effective registration statement under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
         securities laws or an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
         the proposed transaction will be exempt from such registration."

The foregoing legend shall be removed upon registration of the legended shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under any applicable state
laws or upon receipt of any opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that
said registration is no longer required.

         The sole purpose of the agreements, warranties, representations and
legend set forth in the two immediately preceding paragraphs is to prevent
violations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws.

         It is the intention of the Company and you that this option shall not
be an "Incentive Stock Option" as that term is used in Section 422 of the Code
and the regulations thereunder.


                                     III-4
<PAGE>


         Any dispute or disagreement between you and the Company with respect to
any portion of this option or its validity, construction, meaning, performance
or your rights hereunder shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or its
successor, as amended from time to time. However, prior to submission to
arbitration you will attempt to resolve any disputes or disagreements with the
Company over this option amicably and informally, in good faith, for a period
not to exceed two weeks. Thereafter, the dispute or disagreement will be
submitted to arbitration. At any time prior to a decision from the arbitrator(s)
being rendered, you and the Company may resolve the dispute by settlement. You
and the Company shall equally share the costs charged by the American
Arbitration Association or its successor, but you and the Company shall
otherwise be solely responsible for your own respective counsel fees and
expenses. The decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be made in writing, setting
forth the award, the reasons for the decision and award and shall be binding and
conclusive on you and the Company. Further, neither you nor the Company shall
appeal any such award. Judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction may be
entered upon the award and may be enforced as such in accordance with the
provisions of the award.

         This option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan in effect on the
date this option is granted, which terms are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms
of this option and the terms of the Plan in effect on the date of this option,
the terms of the Plan shall govern. This option constitutes the entire
understanding between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter
hereof and no amendment, supplement or waiver of this option, in whole or in
part, shall be binding upon the Company unless in writing and signed by the
President of the Company. This option and the performances of the parties
hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.

         In consideration of the grant to you of this option, you hereby agree
to the confidentiality and non-interference provisions set forth in Attachment A
hereto.

         Please sign the copy of this option and return it to the Company's
Secretary, thereby indicating your understanding of and agreement with its terms
and conditions, including Attachment A hereto.


                                                     AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL
                                                     SERVICES, INC.


                                                     By:________________________

         I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of the foregoing stock option
and the 1999 Stock Option Plan and, having read them hereby signify my
understanding of, and my agreement with, its terms and conditions, including
Attachment A hereto. I accept this option in full satisfaction of any previous
written or verbal promises made to me by the Company with respect to option
grants [except for options granted to me pursuant to agreements dated ________].


                                                     ___________________________
(Date)                                               (Signature)


                                      III-5
<PAGE>


                          Attachment A to Stock Option

                      Confidentiality and Non-Interference.
                      ------------------------------------

         (a) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your term as a director of, or a
consultant to, the Company or at any time thereafter, except with the express
prior written consent of the Company or pursuant to the lawful order of any
judicial or administrative agency of government, directly or indirectly,
disclose, communicate or divulge to any individual or entity, or use for the
benefit of any individual or entity, any knowledge or information with respect
to the conduct or details of the Company's business which you, acting
reasonably, believe or should believe to be of a confidential nature and the
disclosure of which not to be in the Company's interest.

         (b) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, during your term as a director of, or a
consultant to, the Company and for a period of two years thereafter, except with
the express prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly,
whether as employee, owner, partner, consultant, agent, director, officer,
shareholder or in any other capacity, engage in or assist any individual or
entity to engage in any act or action which you, acting reasonably, believe or
should believe would be harmful or inimical to the interests of the Company.

         (c) You covenant and agree that, in consideration of the grant to you
of this stock option, you will not, for a period of two years after your term as
a director of, or a consultant to, the Company ceases for any reason whatsoever
(whether voluntary or not), except with the express prior written consent of the
Company, directly or indirectly, whether as employee, owner, partner,
consultant, agent, director, officer, shareholder or in any other capacity, for
your own account or for the benefit of any individual or entity, (i) solicit any
customer of the Company for business which would result in such customer
terminating their relationship with the Company; or (ii) solicit or induce any
individual or entity which is an employee of the Company to leave the Company or
to otherwise terminate their relationship with the Company.


                                     III-6
<PAGE>


         (d) The parties agree that any breach by you of any of the covenants or
agreements contained in this Attachment A will result in irreparable injury to
the Company for which money damages could not adequately compensate the Company
and therefore, in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled
(in addition to any other rights and remedies which it may have at law or in
equity) to have an injunction issued by any competent court enjoining and
restraining you and/or any other individual or entity involved therein from
continuing such breach. The existence of any claim or cause of action which you
may have against the Company or any other individual or entity shall not
constitute a defense or bar to the enforcement of such covenants. If the Company
is obliged to resort to the courts for the enforcement of any of the covenants
or agreements contained in this Attachment A, or if such covenants or agreements
are otherwise the subject of litigation between the parties, and the Company
prevails in such enforcement or litigation, then the term of such covenants and
agreements shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period of such
breach, which extension shall commence on the later of (a) the date on which the
original (unextended) term of such covenants and agreements is scheduled to
terminate or (b) the date of the final court order (without further right of
appeal) enforcing such covenant or agreement.

         (e) If any portion of the covenants or agreements contained in this
Attachment A, or the application hereof, is construed to be invalid or
unenforceable, the other portions of such covenant(s) or agreement(s) or the
application thereof shall not be affected and shall be given full force and
effect without regard to the invalid or enforceable portions to the fullest
extent possible. If any covenant or agreement in this Attachment A is held
unenforceable because of the area covered, the duration thereof, or the scope
thereof, then the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce
the area and/or duration and/or limit the scope thereof, and the covenant or
agreement shall then be enforceable in its reduced form.

         (f) For purposes of this Attachment A, the term "the Company" shall
include the Company, any successor to the Company and all present and future
direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company.



                                     III-7