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                                                                   Exhibit 10.14

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated as of January 5, 1998, by and between THE
EASTSIDE BANK & TRUST COMPANY, a Georgia bank (the "Employer"), and CHRISTOPHER
H. BURNETT a resident of Fulton County, Georgia (the "Officer").

WITNESSETH

      WHEREAS, the Employer desires to employ the Officer as its President and
Chief Executive Officer and the Officer desires to be so employed on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set out.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:

      1. Employment . The Employer hereby employs the Officer and the Officer
hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions stated herein, as
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Employer. The Officer shall
render such administrative and management services to the Employer as are
customarily performed by persons situated in a similar executive capacity. As
long as the Officer is President of the Employer he shall be elected to serve as
a member of its Board of Directors.

      The Officer shall use his best efforts to carry out the responsibilities
associated with such positions and shall promote the business of the Employer
and perform such other duties as shall from time to time be reasonably
prescribed by the Directors of the Employer and First Sterling Banks, Inc., a
Georgia corporation, which is the parent corporation of the Employer (the
"Corporation").

      2. Base Salary. The Employer shall pay the Officer during the term of this
Agreement as compensation for all services rendered by him to the Employer a
base salary in such amounts and at such intervals as shall be commensurate with
his duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Officer's initial base salary
will be $110,000 per annum. The Officer's base salary may be increased from time
to time to reflect the duties required of the Officer. In reviewing the
Officer's base salary the Boards of Directors of the Employer shall consider the
overall performance of the Officer and the service of the Officer rendered to
the Employer as well as increases in the cost of living, and may also provide
for performance or merit increases. Participation in the Employer's cash
incentive, deferred compensation, stock option, stock purchase, discretionary
bonus, pension, life insurance and other employee benefit plans and
participation in any fringe benefits shall not cause a reduction of the base
salary payable to the Officer. The Officer will be entitled to such customary
fringe benefits; vacation and sick leave as are consistent with the normal
practices and established policies of the Employer.

      3. Management Incentives and Discretionary Bonuses. During the term of
this Agreement, the Officer shall be entitled, in an equitable manner based on
the terms of any bonus and incentive plans that have been approved, or may from
time to time be approved, by the Board of Directors, with all other key
management personnel of the Employer, to such incentives and discretionary
bonuses as may be authorized, declared and paid by the Board of Directors to the
Employer's key management employees. No other compensation provided for in this
Agreement shall be deemed a substitute for the Officer's right to such
incentives and discretionary bonuses when and as declared by the Board.

      4. Director Fees The Officer shall be compensated as a Director of
Employer at a rate established for meetings of the Board of Directors but he
shall not be eligible for additional compensation tied to attendance at meetings
of committees of the Board.

      5. Participation in Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans: Fringe
Benefits. The Officer shall be entitled to participate in any plan relating to
incentive and deferred compensation, stock options, stock purchase, pension,
thrift, profit sharing, group life insurance, medical coverage, disability
coverage, education, or other


                                       
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retirement or employee benefits that the Employer has adopted, or may from time
to time adopt, for the benefit of its executive employees and for employees
generally, subject to the eligibility rules of such plans.

The Officer shall also be entitled to participate in any other fringe benefits
which are now or may be or may become applicable to Employer's executive
employees, including the payment of reasonable expenses for attending annual and
periodic meetings of trade associations, and any other benefits which are
commensurate with the duties and responsibilities to be performed by the Officer
under this Agreement. Additionally, the Officer shall be entitled to such
vacation and sick leave as shall be established under uniform employee policies
promulgated by the Board of Directors. The Employer shall reimburse the Officer
for all out-of-pocket reasonable and necessary business expenses which the
Officer may incur in connection with his service on behalf of the Employer. The
Officer shall be paid an automobile allowance of $600 per month as long as he is
employed as President of the Employer.

      6. Term and Termination.

      (a) Tern. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, the Officers
      employment under this Agreement shall be for a continuing term (the
      "Term") of one (1) year which shall be extended automatically (without
      further action of the Employer or the Officer) each day for an additional
      day so that the remaining term shall continue to be one (1) year- provided
      that either party may at any time, by written notice to the other, fix the
      Term to a finite term of one (1) year, without further automatic
      extension, commencing with the date of such notice.

      (b) Termination by Death or Disability. The Officer's employment under
      this Agreement shall be terminated upon the death of the Officer, in which
      event the Officer's estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation,
      including incentive bonuses, due the Officer through the last day of the
      calendar month in which the Officers death shall have occurred.

      The Employer may terminate this Agreement upon the Officer's "Total
Disability." As used in this Agreement, "Total Disability" means any physical or
mental disorder that renders the Officer incapable of performing his normal
duties and services under this Agreement for a period of one hundred twenty
(120) days in any consecutive twelve (12) month period, as determined by a
licensed physician selected by mutual agreement of the Employer and the Officer
or the Officer's legal representative; provided that the Officer shall not be
considered totally disabled hereunder unless he is also determined to be totally
disabled under any long-term disability insurance coverage maintained by the
Employer. If this Agreement is terminated as a result of the Officer's "Total
Disability," the Officer's compensation hereunder shall terminate; provided that
compensation shall be paid in full up through the date when the Officer shall
start receiving payment under the Employer's long-term disability plan, and the
Officer shall then be paid in accordance with such long-term disability plans of
the Employer as may be in effect. The Officer's compensation, including
incentive bonuses, title and status shall continue during any such period of
disability until the date of termination except that the Employer may provide
disability insurance to cover the Officer during any part of such disability
period and the Employer's obligation for the Officer's compensation for any such
period shall be reduced by the amount of any such insurance proceeds which the
Officer receives.

      (c) Termination by Officer. The Officers employment under this Agreement
      may be terminated at any time by the Officer upon ninety (90) days prior
      written notice to the Employer. Upon such termination, the Officer shall
      be entitled to receive the base salary compensation and fringe benefits
      payable to the Officer under this Agreement through the effective date of
      such termination, and if the termination is a retirement of Officer from
      the Employer with the consent of the Board, he shall be entitled to
      receive any incentive bonus to which he is otherwise entitled.

      (d) Termination for Cause. This Agreement may be terminated by the Board
      of Directors of the Employer for "cause" for any of the following reasons:


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            i)    Willful failure of Officer to follow reasonable written
                  instructions or policies of the Board of Directors of the
                  Employer or the Corporation if such conduct is materially
                  damaging to the business of the Employer or the Corporation;

            ii)   gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Officer
                  materially damaging to the business of the Employer or the
                  Corporation;

            iii)  conviction of the Officer of a crime involving breach of
                  trust, moral turpitude, theft or fraud;

            iv)   the willful failure by the Officer to perform substantially
                  his duties other than any failure resulting from incapacity
                  due to physical or mental illness;

            v)    willful commission of (A) acts involving dishonesty or fraud
                  with respect to the Employer or the Corporation or (B) acts
                  causing substantial harm to the Employer or the Corporation;

            vi)   a willful misrepresentation by the Officer to the stockholders
                  of the Corporation or the Board of Directors of the Employer
                  or the Corporation which causes substantial injury to the
                  Employer, the Corporation or to the stockholders of the
                  Corporation; or

            vii)  a requirement by any state or federal authority regulating the
                  Employer or the Corporation that the Officer be removed from
                  his office as President of the Employer or Corporation.

For purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the
Officer shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by him
not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was
in the best interest of the Employer, the Corporation and the stockholders of
the Corporation. The Employer shall notify the Officer in writing of the
specific reasons for the termination for "Cause" and the Officer will be allowed
thirty (30) days to reply in writing to the accusation before any termination
for "Cause". A vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board of
the Employer or the Board of the Corporation shall be required to terminate the
Officer for cause. If the Employee is terminated for "Cause," he shall receive
only his salary and any other amounts due to him from the Employer (whether
pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise) through the date of termination and he
shall not be entitled to any incentive bonus for the year in question.

      (e) Termination by Employer before Change in Control. Notwithstanding the
      foregoing provisions of this Section 6, before a Change in Control (as
      defined in Section 7 below) has occurred, the Employer may terminate the
      employment of the Officer hereunder at any time during the term of this
      Agreement upon ninety (90) days written notice to the Officer; provided,
      however, that in the event of involuntary termination of the Officer's
      employment under this Agreement before any Change in Control, the Officer
      shall be paid his base salary and fringe benefits up through the date of
      termination. In addition, the Employer shall pay, and the Officer shall
      accept, in full settlement of all claims which the Officer shall have
      against the Employer for contractual damages for breach of this Agreement,
      the greater of (i) the severance payment offered by the Employer in such
      notice of termination, or (ii) the following amounts:

                  A. a lump sum amount equal to fifty percent of the annual base
            salary paid to the Officer over the previous twelve (12) month
            period, plus

                  B. a lump sum amount equal to fifty percent of the annual
            incentive cash bonus paid to the Officer over the previous twelve
            (12) month period.

      In addition, in the event of any such termination of the Officer's
employment under this Agreement, the Officer shall be entitled to participate
for the shorter of a period of six (6) months from the date of such termination
or until such time as the Officer is employed by another employer in all welfare
benefit plans practices, policies and programs at least as favorable as the most
favorable of such plan, practices, policies and programs in effect at any time
during the ninety (90) day period preceding his termination and with the costs
of such benefits paid in the same manner as prior to this termination for a
period of ninety (90) days; provided, that in the event the Officer is employed
by another employer before the end of such six-month period and


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the new employer does not provide the same level of welfare benefits that the
Officer is entitled to under this paragraph, then the Employer shall provide
such supplemental benefits as necessary to ensure that the Officer has the same
level of welfare benefit coverage that he is entitled to under this paragraph
for such six-month period.

      7. Change in Control.

            (a)   The Officer's employment with the Employer may be terminated
                  by the Officer for "Good Reason" (as defined below), upon
                  delivery of a written notice of termination to the Employer
                  within a ninety (90) day period beginning on the thirtieth
                  (30th) day after any occurrence of a "Change in Control" (as
                  defined below) or within a ninety (90) day period beginning on
                  the one (1) year anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in
                  Control. In such event, the Officer shall be entitled to
                  receive his base compensation, incentive bonus and fringe
                  benefits and participate in all welfare benefit plans up
                  through the date of termination. In addition, the Officer
                  shall receive the following amounts:

                  A.    a lump sum amount equal to the annual base salary paid
                        to the Officer over the previous twelve (12) month
                        period, plus

                  B.    a lump sum amount equal to the annual incentive cash
                        bonus paid to the Officer over the previous twelve (12)
                        month period.

            (b)   "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence after a Change in
                  Control (as defined below) of any of the events or conditions
                  described in subsections (i) through (viii) hereof:

                  i) a change in the Officers status, title, position or
                  responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which,
                  in the Officer's reasonable judgment, represents an adverse
                  change from his status, title, position or responsibilities as
                  in effect at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the
                  date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter; the
                  assignment to the Officer of any duties or responsibilities
                  which, in the Officer's reasonable judgment, are inconsistent
                  with his status, title, position or responsibilities as in
                  effect at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date
                  of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter; any removal
                  of the Officer from or failure to reappoint or reelect him to
                  any of such offices or positions, except in connection with
                  the termination of his employment for Total Disability, Cause,
                  as a result of his death or by the Officer other than for Good
                  Reason, or any other change in condition or circumstances that
                  in the Officer's reasonable judgment makes it materially more
                  difficult for the Officer to carry out the duties and
                  responsibilities of his office then existing at any time
                  within ninety (90) days preceding the date of Change in
                  Control or at any time thereafter;

                  ii)a reduction in the Officer's base salary or any failure to
                  pay the Officer any compensation or benefits to which he is
                  entitled within five (5) days of the date due;

                  iii)the Corporation or the Employer requiring the Officer to
                  be based at any place outside a 30-mile radius from the
                  executive offices occupied by the Officer immediately prior to
                  the Change in Control, except for reasonably required travel
                  on the Employer's business which is not materially greater
                  than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control;

                  iv)the failure by the Employer to (A) continue in effect
                  (without reduction in benefit level and/or reward
                  opportunities) any material compensation or employee benefit
                  plan in which the Officer was participating at any time within
                  ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change in Control or
                  at any time thereafter, unless such plan is replaced with a
                  plan that provides substantially equivalent compensation or
                  benefits to the Officer or (B) provide the Officer with
                  compensation and benefits, in the aggregate, at least equal
                  (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to
                  those provided for under each other employee benefit plan,
                  program and practice in which the Officer was participating at
                  any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a
                  Change in Control or at any time thereafter;


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                  v)the insolvency or the filing (by any party, including he
                  Corporation or the Employer) of a petition for bankruptcy of
                  the Corporation or the Employer, which petition is not
                  dismissed within sixty (60) days;

                  vi)any material breach by the Employer of any provision of
                  this Agreement;

                  vii)any purported termination of the Officer's employment for
                  Cause by the Employer which does not comply with the terms of
                  this Agreement; or

                  viii)the failure of the Employer to obtain an agreement
                  satisfactory to the Officer from any successors and assigns to
                  assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in
                  Section 10 hereof

Any event or condition described in clause (i) through (viii)above which occurs
prior to a Change in Control but which the Officer reasonably demonstrates (A)
was at the request of a "Third Party" (as defined below) or (B) otherwise arose
in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which actually
occurs, shall constitute Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement,
notwithstanding that it occurred prior to the Change in Control. The Officer's
right to terminate his employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by his
incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

            (c) A "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence during the term
            of this Agreement of any of the following events:

                  i) an acquisition (other than directly from the Corporation)
            of any voting securities of the Corporation (the "Voting
            Securities") by any "Person" (as the term is used for purposes of
            Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "
            1934 Act")) immediately after which such Person has "Beneficial
            Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-2 promulgated under the
            1934 Act) of 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
            Corporation's then-outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however,
            that in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting
            Securities which are acquired in a "Non-Control Acquisition" (as
            hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would
            cause a Change in Control. A "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an
            acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a
            part thereof) maintained by (x) the Corporation or the Employer or
            (y) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its
            voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned
            directly or indirectly by the Corporation or the Employer (a
            "Subsidiary"), (2) the Corporation, Employer or any Subsidiary, or
            (3) any Person in connection with a "Non-Control Transaction" (as
            hereinafter defined).

                  ii) The individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, are
            members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Incumbent
            Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of
            such board, provided, however, that if the election, or nomination
            for election by the Corporation's stockholders, of any new director
            was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent
            Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be
            considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided, further ,
            however , that no individual shall be considered a member of the
            Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a
            result of either an actual or threatened "Election Contest" (as
            described in Rule 14a- 11 promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other
            actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
            behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board (a "Proxy
            Contest") including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or
            settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest; or

                  iii) Approval by stockholders of the Corporation of:

                        A.    A merger, consolidation or reorganization
                              involving the Corporation, unless

                              (1) the stockholders of the Corporation
                        immediately before such merger, consolidation or
                        reorganization, own, directly or indirectly, immediately
                        following such merger, consolidation or reorganization,
                        at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of the
                        outstanding voting securities of the corporation
                        resulting from such merger or


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                        consolidation or reorganization (the "Surviving
                        Corporation") in substantially the same proportion as
                        their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately
                        before such merger, consolidation on reorganization; and

                              (2) the individuals who were members of the
                        Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of
                        the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation
                        or reorganization constitute at least two-thirds of the
                        members of the board of directors of the Surviving
                        Corporation.

                        (A transaction described in clauses (1) and (2) shall
                        herein be referred to as a "Non-Control Transaction.")

                        B.    A complete liquidation or dissolution of the
                              Corporation; or

                        C.    An agreement for the sale or other disposition of
                              all or substantially all of the assets of the
                              Corporation to any Person (other than a transfer
                              to a Subsidiary).

                  iv) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
                  the contrary, if the Officer's employment is terminated prior
                  to a Change in Control and the Officer reasonably demonstrates
                  that such termination (A) was at the request of a third party
                  who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably
                  calculated to effect a Change in Control and who effectuates a
                  Change in Control (a "Third Party") or (B) otherwise occurred
                  in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control
                  which actually occurs, then for all purposes of this
                  Agreement, the date of a Change in Control with respect to the
                  Officer shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of
                  such termination of the Officer's employment.

            (d)   "Successors and Assigns" shall mean a corporation or other
                  entity acquiring all or substantially all of the assets and
                  business of the Corporation (including this Agreement),
                  whether by operation of law or otherwise.

            (e)   After a Change in Control has occurred, in the event that the
                  Officer is terminated without "cause" (as defined in paragraph
                  6(d) above), he shall be paid his base salary and fringe
                  benefits up through the date of termination. In addition, the
                  Employer shall pay, and the Officer shall accept, in full
                  settlement of all claims which the Officer shall have against
                  the Employer for contractual damages for breach of this
                  Agreement, the following amounts:

                  A.    a lump sum amount equal to the annual base salary paid
                        to the Officer over the previous twelve (12) month
                        period, plus

                  B.    a lump sum amount equal to the annual incentive cash
                        bonus paid to the Officer over the previous twelve (12)
                        month period.

In addition, in the event of any such termination of the Officer's employment,
the Officer shall be entitled to participate for the shorter of a period of
twelve (12) months from the date of such termination or until such time as the
Officer is employed by another employer in all welfare benefit plans practices,
policies and programs at least as favorable as the most favorable of such plan,
practices, policies and programs in effect at any time during the ninety (90)
day period preceding his termination and with the costs of such benefits paid in
the same manner as prior to this termination for a period of ninety (90) days;
provided, that in the event the Officer is employed by another employer before
the end of such 12-month period and the new employer does not provide the same
level of welfare benefits that the Officer is entitled to under this paragraph,
then the Employer shall provide such supplemental benefits as necessary to
ensure that the Officer has the same level of welfare benefit coverage that he
is entitled to under this paragraph for such 12-month period.


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      8. Loyalty, Noncompetition: Confidentiality.

            (a) The Officer shall devote his full efforts and entire business
      time to the performance of the Officer's duties and responsibilities under
      this Agreement, except during periods of illness or periods of vacation
      and leaves of absence consistent with Employer policy. The Officer may
      devote reasonable periods to service as a director or advisor to other
      organizations, to charitable and community activities, and to managing his
      personal investments, provided that such activities to not materially
      interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder and are not in
      conflict or competitive with, or adverse to, the interests of the Employer
      or the Corporation.

            (b) In consideration of employment of the Officer by the Employer
      hereunder during the term of this Agreement, and for a period of six (6)
      months after termination of his employment for any reason, the Officer
      agrees that he will not, within any county in which the Employer or
      Corporation, any financial institution subsidiary of the Corporation, or
      any subsidiary of any such financial institution subsidiary maintains
      offices, or directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, join, control or
      participate in the management, operation or control of or be employed as
      an executive or manager by any business which competes with the Employer
      or the Corporation or any of the other subsidiaries of the Employer or the
      Corporation, without the prior written consent of the Employer and the
      Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Officer shall be free,
      without such consent, to purchase or hold as an investment or otherwise up
      to five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock or other securities of any
      corporation which has its securities publicly traded on any national
      securities exchange or through the over-the-counter market.

            (c) The Officer will hold in strict confidence, during the term of
      this Agreement and at all times thereafter, all knowledge or information
      of a confidential nature with respect to the business of the Employer and
      the Corporation and all subsidiaries of the Employer and the Corporation
      received by the Officer during the term of this Agreement and will not
      disclose or make use of such information without the prior written consent
      of the Employer and the Corporation.

      The Officer acknowledges that it would not be possible to ascertain the
amount of monetary damages in the event of a breach by the Officer under the
provisions of this Section 8. The Officer agrees that, in the event of a breach
of this Section, injunctive relief enforcing the terms of this Section is an
appropriate remedy.

      9. Standards. The Officer shall perform his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement in accordance with such reasonable standards expected of
employees with comparable positions in comparable organizations and the
Employees policies and procedures, and as may be established from time to time
by the Board. The Employer shall provide the working facilities and staff
necessary for the Officer to perform his duties.

      10. Successors and Assigns

            (a)   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
                  upon, any corporate or other successor or assign of the
                  Employer which shall acquire, directly or indirectly by
                  merger, share exchange, consolidation, purchase or otherwise,
                  all or substantially a of the assets of the Employer.

            (b)   Because the Employer is contracting for the unique and
                  personal skills of the Officer, the Officer shall be precluded
                  from assigning or delegating his rights or duties hereunder
                  without first obtaining the written consent of the Employer.

      11. Modification, Waiver Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing, signed by the Officer and on behalf of the Employer by
such Officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by
such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No amendments or
additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by
both parties, except as herein otherwise provided.


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      12. Applicable Law This Agreement shall be governed in all respects
whether as to validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the
laws of the state of Georgia.

      13. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validly or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

      14. Fees and Expenses The Employer shall pay all legal fees and related
expenses (including but not limited to the costs of experts, accountants and
counsel) incurred by the Officer as they become due as a result of (a) the
Officer's termination of employment (including all such fees and expenses, if
any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination of employment) and
(b) the Officer seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by
this Agreement-, provided, however , that the circumstances set forth in clauses
(a) and (b) occurred on or after a Change in Control.

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

                                           EMPLOYER:

                                           THE EASTSIDE BANK TRUST COMPANY

     SEAL]
Attest:

                                           BY:

Secretary

                                           OFFICER

                                           Christopher H. Burnett


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