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                                                                    Exhibit 10.5

                  EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND BUY-SELL AGREEMENT

     This EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND BUY-SELL AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as
of August 10, 1999, by and between Placer Capital Co., a California corporation
("Capital Co."), Placer Capital Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ("Placer LLC"), Ronald W. Bachli ("Bachli) and Richard W. Decker, Jr.
("Decker").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Amended and
Restated Plan of Acquisition and Merger entered into as of May 11, 1999 ("Merger
Agreement") by and among Capital Co., Belvedere Capital Partners LLC, a
California limited liability company ("Belvedere"), in its individual capacity
and as General Partner and on behalf of the California Community Financial
Institutions Fund Limited Partnership, a California limited partnership (the
"California Fund"), PC Merger Co., a California corporation, and Placer Savings
Bank, a California corporation ("Placer"), Capital Co. has agreed to acquire
direct control of 100% of the outstanding voting securities of Placer ( the
"Placer Acquisition").

     WHEREAS, Capital Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the California Fund.

     WHEREAS, Decker and Bachli (collectively, in such capacity, the "Placer LLC
Members") are the sole members of Placer LLC and are members and the sole
managers of Belvedere.

     WHEREAS, Decker and Bachli (collectively in such capacity, the
"Administrative Trustees") are the administrative trustees of the Trust
(described below).

     WHEREAS, Capital Co. plans to fund part of its obligations under the Merger
Agreement with respect to the Placer Acquisition as follows:

          (a) Placer LLC will enter into a credit arrangement with U.S. Bank
     National Association ("U.S. Bank") for a term loan credit facility not to
     exceed $22 million (the "U.S. Bank Loan").

          (b) Placer LLC will use approximately $18.5 million of the proceeds of
     the U.S. Bank Loan to purchase approximately $18.5 million in trust
     preferred securities ("TPS") from Placer Trust, a Delaware statutory
     business trust (the "Trust") which will be formed for the exclusive purpose
     of issuing and selling the TPS and certain trust common securities which
     will be acquired by Capital Co. The Trust will use the proceeds from the
     sale of the TPS to acquire a like amount of subordinated debentures from
     Capital Co. Capital Co. (the "Notes") will use a portion of the the
     proceeds from the sale of the Notes to fund $18.5 million of its


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      obligations under the Merger Agreement with respect to the Placer
      Acquisition.

          (c) Placer LLC will use the balance of the proceeds of the U.S. Bank
     Loan in the approximate amount of $3.5 million to purchase approximately
     $3.5 million of noncumulative preferred stock ("Capital Co. Preferred
     Stock") to be issued by Capital Co. to Placer LLC. Capital Co. will use the
     proceeds from the sale of such Capital Co. Preferred Stock to fund $3.5
     million of its obligations under the Merger Agreement with respect to the
     Placer Acquisition.

For purposes of this Agreement: (i) the transactions contemplated under clause
(a) above shall be referred to in this Agreement as the "U.S. Bank Loan
Transactions"; (ii) the transactions contemplated under clause (b) above shall
be referred to in this Agreement as the "TPS Transactions"; and (iii) the
transactions contemplated under clause (c) above shall be referred to in this
Agreement as the "Capital Co. Preferred Stock Transactions";

      WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to Placer LLC entering into the U.S.
Bank Loan Transactions, the TPS Transactions and the Capital Co. Preferred Stock
Transactions, Placer LLC and each of the Placer LLC Members have required that
Capital Co. execute and deliver this Agreement which contains the provisions set
forth in Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof; and

      WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to Capital Co. entering into the
Agreement and agreeing to the provisions of Section 1 hereof, Capital Co. has
required that Placer LLC and each of the Placer LLC Members execute and deliver
this Agreement which contains the provisions set forth in Sections 4 and 5
hereof;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
set forth in this Agreement, Capital Co., Placer LLC, each of the Placer LLC
Members and each of the Administrative Trustees hereby agree as follows:

     1.   REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES BY CAPITAL CO. Capital Co. shall reimburse
(a) Placer LLC, each of the Placer LLC Members, the Trust and each of the
Administrative Trustees for any and all costs, expenses, fees, taxes (including
without limitation federal, state, or local taxes (including without limitation
franchise taxes), penalties, and estimated tax payments), charges or impositions
paid or incurred by or imposed upon any of such parties arising from or relating
to:

          (a) the formation, operation, administration or termination of Placer
     LLC, including without limitation, any legal or accounting fees incurred by
     Placer LLC or any of the Placer LLC Members;

          (b) (i) loan fees payable by Placer LLC to U.S. Bank, any legal fees
     payable by Placer LLC to U.S. Bank's counsel or Placer LLC's counsel with
     respect to the negotiation, documentation or closing of the U.S. Bank Loan,
     and (ii) other closing costs payable by Placer LLC with respect to the U.S.
     Bank Loan, but


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     excluding from any of the foregoing principal payments with respect to the
     U.S. Bank Loan;

          (c) (i) the Trust's purchase and holding of the Notes, (ii) the LLC's
     purchase and holding of the TPS, (iii) the TPS Transactions, including
     without limitation any tax liabilities incurred by Placer LLC, the Trust,
     either Placer LLC Member or either Administrative Trustee, (iv) the
     formation, operation, administration or termination of the Trust; and

          (d) Placer LLC's purchase and holding of the Capital Co. Preferred
     Stock or any of the Capital Co. Preferred Stock Transactions contemplated
     with respect thereto, including, without limitation, any tax liabilities
     incurred by Placer LLC or any of the Placer LLC Members.

     2.   INTEREST ADVANCES. Capital Co. shall, from time to time during any
period that Placer LLC remains obligated pursuant to the U.S. Bank Loan, advance
to Placer LLC the amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between (i)
interest due and payable (or about to become due an payable) by Placer LLC to
U.S. Bank with respect to the U.S. Bank Loan and (ii) funds available to Placer
LLC to pay such interest, including funds derived from distributions made
pursuant to the TPS or the Capital Co. Preferred Stock; provided, however, that
in no event shall Capital Co. be obligated to make any such advance at any time
that Capital Co. has deferred the payment of interest in respect of the Notes.

     3.   MECHANICS. Any amounts reimbursed, advanced or otherwise payable by
Capital Co. under Sections 1 or 2 to Placer LLC, the Trust, either Placer LLC
Member or either Administrative Trustee, shall be made such that, on an after
tax basis, Placer LLC, the Trust, the Placer LLC Members or the Administrative
Trustees, as appropriate, incur no net out of pocket cost (it being the intent
of the parties to reimburse Placer LLC and the Placer LLC Members for any taxes
incurred on any reimbursements or other payments made under this Agreement).
Capital Co. shall pay to Placer LLC, the Trust, either Placer LLC Member or
either Administrative Trustee, any amounts to be reimbursed or advance by
Capital Co. pursuant to Sections 1 or 2 hereof not later than 5 days after
Capital Co.'s receipt of a statement in reasonable detail setting forth the
amounts to be so reimbursed by Capital Co. together with supporting information
reasonably acceptable to Capital Co. demonstrating that (i) such amounts have
been paid or are due and payable by Placer LLC, the Trust, either Placer LLC
Member or either Administrative Trustee; and (ii) such amounts are subject to
reimbursement, advance or are otherwise payable by Capital Co. pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 1 or 2.

     4.   PAYMENT OF INTEREST OVERAGE AMOUNT TO CAPITAL CO. Placer LLC shall pay
to Capital Co. any Interest Overage Amount (as defined below) received by Placer
LLC in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4. For purposes hereof,
the term "Interest Overage Amount" means, for any relevant period, an amount
equal to the positive difference (if any) between: (i) any interest, dividends
or other similar items (including earnings thereon, if any, but specifically
excluding any


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principal or return of capital payments) payable to Placer LLC with respect to
the TPS, including any deferred interest, the TPS Transactions and the Capital
Co. Preferred Stock and the Capital Co. Preferred Stock Transactions, and (ii)
any interest due and payable by Placer LLC to U.S. Bank with respect to the U.S.
Bank Loan and the U.S. Bank Loan Transactions. Placer LLC shall pay to Capital
Co. any Interest Overage Amount received by Placer LLC for any calendar quarter
within 5 days of the end of such calendar quarter (January 5, April 5, July 5
and October 5). Such payment shall include a statement prepared by Placer LLC in
reasonable detail setting forth Placer LLC's calculation of the Interest Overage
Amount for such calendar quarter. Any Interest Overage Amount payable by Placer
LLC hereunder shall be made such that, on an after tax basis, neither Placer LLC
or the Placer LLC Members incur any net out of pocket cost with respect thereto
(it being the intent of the parties to reimburse Placer LLC and the Placer LLC
Members for any taxes incurred on any Interest Overage Amount received by Placer
LLC).

     5.   CAPITAL CO. OPTION TO PURCHASE PLACER LLC MEMBERS' INTERESTS.

          (a) GRANT OF OPTION. In consideration of Capital Co.'s agreement set
forth in Section 1 above, and other good and valuable consideration, each of the
Placer LLC Members hereby grants to Capital Co. the exclusive option ("Option")
to purchase all of such Placer LLC Member's right, title and interest in and to
Placer LLC ("Placer LLC Member's Interest") in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Section 3.

          (b) TERM OF OPTION. The term of the Option ("Option Term") shall
commence on the date that the U.S. Bank Loan and all obligations of Placer LLC
thereunder have been fully and completed satisfied and discharged and shall
continue for a period of 180 days thereafter.

          (c) EXERCISE OF OPTION. Capital Co. may exercise the Option at any
time during the Option Term by dating executing and delivering written notice to
each Placer LLC Member specifying the date ("Closing Date") during the Option
Term on which Capital Co. shall close the acquisition of such Placer LLC
Member's Interest.

          (d) AGREEMENT TO BUY AND SELL. Each Placer LLC Member agrees to sell
and convey to Capital Co. or its designee and Capital Co., upon exercise of the
Option, agrees to purchase and accept from each of the Placer LLC Members, such
Placer LLC Member's Interest in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and
conditions set forth in this Section 3. Each Placer LLC Member agrees to execute
and deliver to Capital Co. on the Closing Date an assignment agreement, in a
form reasonably acceptable to Capital Co., evidencing the sale and conveyance of
such Placer LLC Member's Interest to Capital Co.

     6.   MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall be to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors, and assigns, and shall be governed by the laws of
the State of California. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
writing executed by the parties hereto. If any provision of this Agreement is
adjudged unlawful by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall


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remain in full force and effect. The headings or titles of the several sections
hereof shall be solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the
meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Capital Co., Placer LLC, Bachli and Decker have
executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

"CAPITAL CO."

Placer Capital Co.,
a California corporation

By:  /s/ Ronald W. Bachli
    ----------------------------------------------------
      Ronald W. Bachli, President

By: /s/ J. Thomas Byrom
   ----------------------------------------------------
      J. Thomas Byrom, Secretary

"PLACER LLC"

Placer Capital Funding LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

By:  /s/ Richard W. Decker, Jr.
    --------------------------------------------------
      Richard W. Decker, Jr., Member

By:  /s/ Ronald W. Bachli
    ----------------------------------------------------
      Ronald W. Bachli, Member

"DECKER"

/s/ Richard W. Decker, Jr.
--------------------------------------------------------
Richard W. Decker, Jr.

"BACHLI"

  /s/ Ronald W. Bachli
 ----------------------------------------------------------
Ronald W. Bachli


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