<PAGE>
 
                         RICHMOND COUNTY SAVINGS BANK
                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of March 22, 1999, by and
among Richmond County Savings Bank (the "Institution"), a New York State
chartered savings institution, with its principal administrative office at 1214
Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, New York, 10310, Richmond County Financial
Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, the
holding company for the Institution (the "Holding Company"), and Michael A.
Nilan ("Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Institution wishes to assure itself of the services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Institution on
a full-time basis for said period.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

1.   POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

     During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
Senior Vice President of the Institution. Executive shall render administrative
and management services to the Institution such as are customarily performed by
persons situated in a similar capacity.

2.   TERMS AND DUTIES.

     (a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be
deemed to have commenced as of the date first above written and shall continue
for a period of thirty-six (36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on
the first anniversary date of this Agreement and continuing on each anniversary
date thereafter, the board of directors of the Institution (the "Board") may
extend the Agreement for an additional year such that the remaining term of the
Agreement shall be three (3) years, unless Executive elects not to extend the
term of this Agreement by giving written notice in accordance with Section 8 of
this Agreement. The Board will review the Agreement and Executive's performance
annually for purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement and the
rationale and results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board's
meeting. The Board shall give notice to Executive as soon as possible after such
review as to whether the Agreement is to be extended.
<PAGE>
 
     (b) During the period of Executive's employment hereunder, except for
periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and
reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his
business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
duties hereunder, including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Institution and participation in community and
civic organizations; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as
evidenced by a resolution of the Board, from time to time, Executive may serve,
or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices
or positions in, companies or organizations, which, in the Board's judgment,
will not present any conflict of interest with the Institution, or materially
affect the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive's employment
with the Institution may be terminated by the Institution or Executive during
the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

3.   COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

     (a) The Institution shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of
$150,000 per year ("Base Salary").  Base Salary shall include any amounts of
compensation deferred by Executive under any qualified or non-qualified plan
maintained by the Institution.  Such Base Salary shall be payable bi-weekly.
During the period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed
at least annually; the first such review will be made no later than one year
from the date of this Agreement.  Such review shall be conducted by the Board or
by a Committee of the Board delegated such responsibility by the Board.  The
Committee or the Board may increase Executive's Base Salary.  Any increase in
Base Salary shall become the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement.  In
addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Institution shall
also provide Executive, at no premium cost to Executive, with all such other
benefits as are provided uniformly to full-time employees of the Institution.

     (b) In exchange for Executive's agreement not to compete with the
Institution set forth in Section 10(a) hereof, Executive shall, in addition to
other compensation provided in this Agreement, be entitled to additional
compensation equal to $200,000.  Such additional compensation for the agreement
not to compete with the Institution shall be payable in a single lump sum upon
execution of this Agreement.

     (c) Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits under
any employee benefit plan, including, but not limited to, any cash incentive or
bonus plan established for similarly situated employees, retirement plans,
supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, stock or
option plans, health-and-accident plans, medical coverage or any other employee
benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Institution in the future to
its key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the
terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Executive shall be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in
any plan or arrangement of the Institution in which Executive is eligible to
participate.  
<PAGE>
 
Nothing paid to Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to
be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is entitled under this
Agreement.

     (d) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3 and other compensation provided for by paragraph (c) of this Section
3, the Institution shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations
under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form
and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.   PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.

     (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined)
during Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions of
this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of Termination"
shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the termination by
the Institution or the Holding Company of Executive's full-time employment
hereunder for any reason other than a termination governed by Section 5(a)
hereof or Termination for Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof; (ii)
Executive's resignation from the Institution's employ upon any of the following:
(A) unless consented to by Executive, failure to elect or reelect or to appoint
or reappoint Executive as Senior Vice President, (B) a material change in
Executive's function, duties, or responsibilities, which change would cause
Executive's position to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or
scope from the position and attributes thereof described in Section 1, above,
unless consented to by Executive, (C) a reduction in salary or benefits and
perquisites to Executive from those being provided as of the effective date of
this Agreement, unless such reduction is due to any modification or amendment to
any benefit plan or program which is effective for all participants or is
consented to by Executive, or (D) a liquidation or dissolution of the
Institution or Holding Company, or (E) breach of this Agreement by the
Institution. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B),
(C), (D) or (E), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his
employment under this Agreement by resignation upon not less than sixty (60)
days prior written notice given within six full months after the event giving
rise to said right to elect.

     (b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Institution shall be obligated to pay
Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to: (i) the
amount of the remaining payments that Executive would have earned if he had
continued his employment with the Institution during the remaining term of this
Agreement at Executive's Base Salary at the Date of Termination; and (ii) the
amount equal to the annual contributions or payments that would have been made
on Executive's behalf to any employee benefit plans of the Institution or the
Holding Company or for any benefit or perquisite which would have been provided
to Executive during the remaining term of this Agreement based on contributions
or payments made (on an annualized basis) at the Date of Termination; provided,
                                                                      -------- 
however, that any payments pursuant to this subsection and subsection 4(c) below
-------                                                                         
shall not, in the aggregate, exceed three times Executive's average annual
compensation for the five most recent taxable years that Executive has been
employed by the Institution or such lesser number of years in the event that
Executive shall 
<PAGE>
 
have been employed by the Institution for less than five years. In the event the
Institution is not in compliance with its minimum capital requirements or if
such payments pursuant to this subsection (b) would cause the Institution's
capital to be reduced below its minimum regulatory capital requirements, such
payments shall be deferred until such time as the Institution or successor
thereto is in capital compliance. At the election of Executive, which election
is to be made prior to an Event of Termination, such payments shall be made (a)
in a lump sum as of Executive's Date of Termination, (b) on a bi-weekly basis in
approximately equal installments during the remaining term of the Agreement or
(c) on an annual basis in approximately equal installments during the remaining
term of the Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive
obtains other employment following termination of employment.

     (c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Institution will
cause to be continued life, medical, dental and long-term or other disability
coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Institution
or the Holding Company for Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost
to Executive, except to the extent such coverage may be changed in its
application to all Institution or Holding Company employees. Such coverage
shall cease upon the expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement.

5.   CHANGE IN CONTROL.

     (a) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
Institution or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would
be required to be reported in response to Item 1 of the current report on Form
8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); or (ii)
results in a Change in Control of the Institution or the Holding Company within
the meaning of the Change in Bank Control Act and the Rules and Regulations
promulgated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") at 12 C.F.R. 
Section 303.4(a), with respect to the Institution, and the Rules and Regulations
promulgated by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") (or its predecessor
agency), with respect to the Holding Company, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement; or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed
to have occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as the term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of voting securities of the Institution or the Holding Company
representing 20% or more of the Institution's or the Holding Company's
outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any
voting securities of the Institution purchased by the Holding Company and any
voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Institution or
the Holding Company, or (B) individuals who constitute the Board on the date
hereof (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of
the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Holding Company's stockholders was approved by the same Nominating
Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this
clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board, or (C)
a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all the assets of the Institution or the Holding Company or similar transaction
occurs 
<PAGE>
 
in which the Institution or the Holding Company is not the resulting entity, or
(D) a proxy statement has been distributed soliciting proxies from stockholders
of the Holding Company, by someone other than the current management of the
Holding Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization,
merger or consolidation of the Holding Company or the Institution or similar
transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding
shares of the class of securities then subject to such plan or transaction are
exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the
Institution or the Holding Company, or (E) a tender offer is made for 20% or
more of the voting securities of the Institution or the Holding Company then
outstanding.

     (b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the
Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5
upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement due to: (1) Executive's dismissal or (2) Executive's voluntary
resignation following any demotion, loss of title, office or significant
authority or responsibility, reduction in annual compensation or benefits or
relocation of his principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from its
location immediately prior to the Change in Control; unless such termination is
because of his death, disability, retirement or termination for Cause.

     (c) Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the
Institution shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his
beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to
the greater of: (i) the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or
(ii) three (3) times Executive's average Base Salary for the five (5) most
recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the Institution or such
lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by
the Institution for less than five (5) years. However, any payment under this
                                              -------                        
provision and subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed three (3) times Executive's
average annual compensation. In the event the Institution is not in compliance
with its minimum capital requirements or if such payments would cause the
Institution's capital to be reduced below its minimum regulatory capital
requirements, such payments shall be deferred until such time as the Institution
or successor thereto is in capital compliance. At the election of Executive,
which election is to be made prior to a Change in Control, such payment shall be
made: (a) in a lump sum as of Executive's Date of Termination, (b) on a bi-
weekly basis in approximately equal installments over a period of thirty-six
(36) months following Executive's termination, or (c) on an annual basis in
approximately equal installments over a period of thirty-six (36) months
following Executive's termination. Such payments shall not be reduced in the
event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment.

     (d) Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the
Institution will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and  long-term or
other disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by
the Institution for Executive prior to his severance at no premium cost to
Executive, except to the extent that such coverage may be changed in its
application for all Institution employees on a non-discriminatory basis.  Such
coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months
following the Date of Termination.
<PAGE>
 
6.   CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS

     Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5, in no event shall the
aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive under said
paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits") constitute an "excess parachute payment"
under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result, Termination Benefits
will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the "Non-Triggering Amount"), the
value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal to three (3)
times Executive's "base amount," as determined in accordance with Section 280G
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The allocation of the
reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits provided by Section 5
shall be determined by Executive.

7.   TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

     The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of: 1)
Executive's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty
involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful
violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar
offenses), final cease and desist order or material breach of any provision of
this Agreement which results in a material loss to the Institution or the
Holding Company; or 2) Executive's conviction of a crime or act involving moral
turpitude or a final judgement rendered against Executive based upon actions of
Executive which involve moral turpitude.  For the purposes of this Section 7, no
act, or the failure to act, on Executive's part shall be "willful" unless done,
or omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
action or omission was in the best interests of the Institution or its
affiliates.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to
have been Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered
to him a Notice of Termination which shall include a copy of a resolution duly
adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members of
the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after
reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with
counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion
of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause
and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.  Executive shall not have the
right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after the Date of
Termination for Cause.  During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of
Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof through the Date of
Termination for Cause, stock options and related limited rights granted to
Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any
unvested awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the
Institution, the Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest.
At the Date of Termination for Cause, such stock options and related limited
rights and any unvested awards shall become null and void and shall not be
exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time subsequent to such
Termination for Cause.

8.   NOTICE.

     (a) Any purported termination by the Institution or by Executive shall be
communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereto.  For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Notice of 
<PAGE>
 
Termination" shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.

     (b) "Date of Termination" shall mean the date specified in the Notice of
Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
 
9.   POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.

     All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year
after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of
Executive's employment with the Institution.  Executive shall, upon reasonable
notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Institution as may
reasonably be required by the Institution in connection with any litigation in
which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.

10.  NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE.

     (a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to
Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Institution for the
remaining term of this Agreement as of the date of such termination in any city,
town or county in which Executive's normal business office is located and the
Institution has an office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to
establish an office, determined as of the effective date of such termination,
except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board.
Executive agrees that during such period and within said cities, towns and
counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve
with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with
the depository, lending or other business activities of the Institution.  The
parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to the
Institution, its business and property in the event of Executive's breach of
this Subsection 10(a) agree that in the event of any such breach by Executive,
the Institution, will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages
available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by Executive,
Executive's partners, agents, servants, employees and all persons acting for or
under the direction of Executive.  Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting the Holding Company or its subsidiaries from pursuing any other
remedies available to the Holding Company or its subsidiaries for such breach or
threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

     (b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Institution and its
affiliates thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special
and unique asset of the business of the Institution.  Executive will not, during
or after the term of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past,
present, planned or considered business activities of the Institution or
affiliates thereof to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any
reason or purpose whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may
<PAGE>
 
disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or economic principles,
concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively derived from the business
plans and activities of the Institution.  Further, Executive may disclose
information regarding the business activities of the Institution to the
Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, the New York Banking
Department, OTS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") pursuant
to a formal regulatory request.  In the event of a breach or threatened breach
by Executive of the provisions of this Section 9, the Institution will be
entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in
part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business
activities of the Institution or its affiliates thereof, or from rendering any
services to any person, firm, corporation or other entity to whom such
knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be
disclosed.  Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Institution from
pursuing any other remedies available to the Institution for such breach or
threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

11.  SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

     All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Institution.  The Holding Company, however,
unconditionally guarantees payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due
hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and benefits due from the
Institution are not timely paid or provided by the Institution, such amounts and
benefits shall be paid or provided by the Holding Company.

12.  EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.

     This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Institution or any
predecessor of the Institution and Executive, except that this Agreement shall
not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided.  No provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than
those available to him without reference to this Agreement.

13.  NO ATTACHMENT.

     (a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.

     (b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and the Institution and their respective successors and assigns.
<PAGE>
 
14.  MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

     (a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.

     (b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.

15.  REQUIRED PROVISIONS.

     Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise,
are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k)
and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including 12 C.F.R. Part
359.

16.  SEVERABILITY.

     If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.

17.  HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

     The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.

18.  GOVERNING LAW.

     The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regards to the
principles of conflicts of laws of this State.

19.  ARBITRATION.

     Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Institution, in accordance with the rules of
the American Arbitration Institution then in effect.  Judgment may be entered on
the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that
Executive shall be 
<PAGE>
 
entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid until the Date of
Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or
in connection with this Agreement.

20.  PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.

     In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
Executive's termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by judgment,
arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment of any
back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe
benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this Agreement.

21.  INDEMNIFICATION.

     The Institution shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense and shall indemnify Executive (and his
heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under
Delaware law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may
be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the
Institution (whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time
of incurring such expenses or liabilities).  Such expenses and liabilities
include, but are not limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements.

22.  SUCCESSOR TO THE INSTITUTION.

     The Institution shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Institution or the Holding
Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the
Institution's obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Institution would be required to perform if no such
succession or assignment had taken place.
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Richmond County Savings Bank and Richmond County
Financial Corp. have caused this Agreement to be executed and their seals to be
affixed hereunto by their duly authorized officers and directors, and Executive
has signed this Agreement, on the 22/nd/ day of March, 1999.


ATTEST:                            RICHMOND COUNTY SAVINGS BANK
 


/s/ Diane L. DeLillo               By:  /s/ Anthony E. Burke
-----------------------                 ----------------------------------------
Diane L. DeLillo                        Anthony E. Burke
Secretary                               For The Board of Directors


     [SEAL]


ATTEST:                            RICHMOND COUNTY FINANCIAL CORP.

                                      (Guarantor)



/s/ Diane L. DeLillo               By:  /s/ Anthony E. Burke
-----------------------                 ----------------------------------------
Diane L. DeLillo                        Anthony E. Burke
Secretary                               For The Board of Directors

     [SEAL]


WITNESS:



                                        /s/ Michael A. Nilan
_______________________                 ----------------------------------------
                                        Michael A. Nilan