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                                                                      EXHIBIT 10

                             BANKNORTH GROUP, INC.*

                               SEVERANCE AGREEMENT


         This AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the ___ day of ________, by
and among BANKNORTH GROUP, INC. (the "Company") and __________ (the
"Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Executive is employed by the Company in a key executive
capacity and possesses intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the
Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to ensure, insofar as possible, that it
will continue to have the benefit of the Executive's services and to protect its
confidential information and goodwill; and

         WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a
change in the control of the Company occurs, thereby causing uncertainty of
employment without regard to the Executive's competence or past contributions;
and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to provide reasonable
security to the Executive against changes in the Executive's relationship with
the Company in the event of such change in control;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1.       DEFINITIONS

                  (a)      Accrued Benefits means:

                           (i)  All salary earned or accrued through the date
the Executive's employment is terminated;

                           (ii)  reimbursement for any and all monies advanced
in connection with the Executive's  employment for reasonable and necessary
expenses incurred by the Executive through the date the Executive's employment
is terminated;

                           (iii) any and all other compensation previously
earned and deferred at the election of the Executive or pursuant to any deferred
compensation plans then in effect together with any interest or desired earnings
thereon;
                           (iv) annual bonus, if any, accrued for a Year prior
to the Year in which employment terminates, but not yet paid to the Executive,
under any bonus or incentive compensation plan or plans in which the Executive
is a participant;

                           (v) a pro rata portion of the maximum bonus payable
to the Executive for the Year in which employment terminates under any bonus or
incentive compensation plan or plans in which the Executive is a participant,
determined as if the Executive had remained in employment for the full Year and
prorated based upon weeks, including partial weeks, of employment during that
Year;

                           (vi) all other payments and benefits to which the
Executive may be entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation
arrangement or benefit plan or program of the Company.

                  (b)      Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                  (c) Affiliate of any specified persons means any other person
that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or
is controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with such
specified person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

                  (d)      Annual Compensation shall mean the sum of:

                           (i) the Executive's annual base salary at the rate in
effect on the date of a termination of employment as described in Section 3 or
in Section 7(d) (or, in the event of a termination for Good Reason under Section
1(l)(i)(A) below, the annual base salary as in effect immediately before the
actions giving rise to Good Reason); plus

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*This form reflects the change of the Company's name from Peoples Heritage
Financial Group, Inc. to Banknorth Group, Inc., effective as of May 10, 2000.

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                           (ii)     the  greatest of the bonuses  either paid or
accrued in either the Year of the Change in Control or the immediately preceding
Year.

                  (e) Base Amount means an amount equal to the Executive's
Annualized Includable Compensation for the Base Period as defined in Section
280G(d)(1) and (2) of the Code (as hereinafter defined).

                  (f) Cause means (i) the executive's conviction of, or plea of
nolo contendere to, a felony; or (ii) willful and intentional misconduct,
willful neglect, or gross negligence, in the performance of the Executive's
duties, which has caused a demonstrable and serious injury to the Company,
monetary or otherwise.

         The Executive shall be given written notice that the Company intends to
terminate his employment for Cause. Such written notice shall specify the
particular acts, or failures to act, on the basis of which the decision to so
terminate employment was made.

         In the case of a termination for Cause as described in Clause (ii),
above, the Executive shall be given the opportunity within 30 days of the
receipt of such notice to meet with the Board to defend such acts, or failures
to act, prior to termination. The Company may suspend the Executive's title and
authority pending such meeting, and such suspension shall not constitute "Good
Reason," as defined in subsection (l) below.

                  (g) Change in Control of the Company shall mean a Change in
Control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item
5(f) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Act or any
successor thereto, provided that without limiting the foregoing, a Change in
Control of the Company also shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
events:
                           (i)   any "person" (as defined  under  Section
3(a)(9) of the Act) or "group" of persons (as provided under Rule 13d-3 of the
Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 or otherwise
under the Act), directly or indirectly (including as provided in Rule
13d-3(d)(1) of the Act), of capital stock of the Company the holders of which
are entitled to vote for the election of directors ("voting stock") representing
that percentage of the Company's then outstanding voting stock (giving effect to
the deemed ownership of securities by such person or group, as provided in Rule
13d-3(d)(1) of the Act, but not giving effect to any such deemed ownership of
securities by another person or group) equal to or greater than twenty-five
percent (25%) of all such voting stock;

                           (ii)   During any period of twenty four consecutive
months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors of the Company (including for this purpose any new director whose
election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved
by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (excluding any Board
seat that is vacant or otherwise unoccupied).

                           (iii)  There shall be consummated any consolidation,
merger, stock for stock exchange or similar transaction (collectively, "Merger
Transactions") involving securities of the Company in which holders of voting
stock of the Company immediately prior to such consummation own, as a group,
immediately after such consummation, voting stock of the Company (or, if the
Company does not survive the Merger Transaction, voting securities of the
corporation surviving such transaction) having less than 50% of the total voting
power in an election of directors of the Company (or such other surviving
corporation).

                  (h)      Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
including any amendments thereto.

                  (i)      Company Retirement Plan is defined in Section
1(q) below.

                  (j)      Effective Date means the date this Agreement is
executed by the parties.

                  (k)      Employment Period means a period commencing on the
 date of a Change in Control of the Company and ending on the earlier of (i)
the last day of the twenty-fourth month following the month in which the
Change in Control occurs, or (ii) the Executive's Normal Retirement Date.

                  (l)      Good Reason means:

                           (i) any breach of this  Agreement by the Company,
including  without  limitation  (A) any reduction during the employment
period in the amount of the Executive's base salary or aggregate
benefits as in effect from time to time, (B) failure to provide the
Executive with the same fringe benefits that were provided to the Executive
immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or with a package of
fringe benefits (including paid vacations) that, though one or more of such
benefits may vary from those in effect immediately prior to such a Change in
Control, is substantially comparable in all material respects to such fringe
benefits taken as a whole, or (C) any other breach by the Company of its
obligations contained in Section 6 below;

                           (ii)  without the Executive's  express written
consent,  the assignment to the Executive of any duties which are
materially inconsistent with the Executive's positions, duties,
responsibilities and status immediately prior to the Change in Control of the
Company, a material change in the Executive's reporting responsibilities, titles
or offices as an employee and as in effect immediately prior to the Change in
Control, or a significant reduction, in the Executive's title, duties or
responsibilities, or in the level of his support services;

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                           (iii) the relocation of the Executive's principal
place of employment, without the Executive's written consent, to a location
outside the same metropolitan area in which the Executive was employed at the
time of such Change in Control, or the imposition of any requirement that the
Executive spend more than ninety business days per year at a location other than
such principal place of employment; or

                           (iv) any purported termination of the Executive's
employment for Cause, Disability or Retirement which is not effected pursuant to
a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of paragraph (n) below. Upon
the occurrence of any of the events described in (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv)
above, the Executive shall give the Company written notice that such event
constitutes Good Reason, and the Company shall thereafter have thirty (30) days
in which to cure. If the Company has not cured in that time, the event shall
constitute Good Reason.

                  (m) Normal Retirement Date means Normal Retirement Date as
defined in the Banknorth Group, Inc. Retirement Plan.

                  (n) Notice of Termination shall mean a notice which shall
indicate the specific termination provision relied upon in this Agreement 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.

                  (o) Person or Group means a "person" or "group," as defined in
Section 1(g)(i) hereof.

                  (p) Plan Year with respect to any of the Retirement Plan, the
Thrift Plan (as defined below) or the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the "plan
year" as defined in such plan.


                  (q) Retirement Plan means the Banknorth Group, Inc. Retirement
Plan or any successor plan.

                  (r) SERP Agreement means the Supplemental Retirement Agreement
between the Executive and the Company.

                  (s) Year means a calendar year unless otherwise specifically
provided.

         2. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

                  This Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and shall
continue until the third anniversary of such date, provided that, on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each succeeding anniversary, the term
shall be renewed for an additional period of one year unless either party has
given written notice that the term is not so renewed, which notice must be
delivered to the other party at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of any
such renewal, and further provided that if a Change in Control of the Company
occurs during such term, the term shall in all events continue through the last
day of the Employment Period. This Agreement is also subject to earlier
termination as provided in Section 3 below. All rights and obligations hereunder
shall survive to the extent necessary to the intended enforcement thereof.


         3. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL.

                  (a) The Company and the Executive shall each retain the right
to terminate the employment of the Executive at any time prior to a Change in
Control of the Company. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated
prior to a Change in Control of the Company, this Agreement shall, except as
provided in Subsection (b) below, be terminated and of no further force and
effect, and any and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
cease.

                  (b) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, and if it can be
shown that the Executive's termination (i) was at the direction or request of a
third party that had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change in
Control of the Company thereafter, or (ii) otherwise occurred in connection
with, or in anticipation of, the Change in Control of the Company, the Executive
shall have the rights described in Section 7(d) below, as if a Change in Control
of the Company had occurred on the date immediately preceding such termination.

         4. EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.

                  If a Change in Control of the Company occurs when the
Executive is employed by the Company, the Company will continue thereafter to
employ the Executive, and the Executive will remain in the employ of the
Company, during the Employment Period, in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.

         5. DUTIES.

                  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve in
such capacities and positions as may be assigned by the Company consistent with
the Executive's capacities and positions on the Effective Date and shall devote
the Executive's best efforts and all of the Executive's business time, attention
and skill to the business and affairs of the Company, as such business and
affairs now exist and as they may hereafter be conducted.


         6. COMPENSATION.

         During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be compensated by the
Company as follows:

         (a) the Executive shall receive, at such intervals and in accordance
with such standard policies as in effect on the date of the Change in Control of
the Company, an annual base salary not less than the Executive's annual base
salary as in effect on the date of the Change in Control of the Company, subject
to adjustment as hereinafter provided;

         (b) the Executive shall be included in all plans providing incentive
compensation to executives, including but not limited to bonus, deferred
compensation, annual or other incentive compensation, supplemental pension,
stock ownership, stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus and similar or
comparable plans as any such plans are

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extended by the Company from time to time to senior corporate officers,
key employees and other employees of comparable status;

         (c) the Executive shall be reimbursed, at such intervals and in
accordance with such standard policies as may be in effect on the date of the
Change in Control of the Company, for any and all monies advanced in connection
with the Executive's employment for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred
by the Executive on behalf of the Company, including travel expenses;

         (d) the Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible thereunder,
in any and all plans providing but not limited to, group life insurance,
hospitalization, disability, medical, dental, pension, profit sharing and stock
bonus plans, and shall be provided any and all other benefits and perquisites
made available to other employees of comparable status and position at the
expense of the Company on a comparable basis;

         (e) the Executive shall receive annually not less than the amount of
paid vacation and not fewer than the number of paid holidays received annually
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company or available annually
to other employees of comparable status and position with the Company; and

         (f) During the Employment Period the Board of Directors of the Company,
or an appropriate committee thereof, will consider and appraise, at least
annually, the contributions of the Executive to the Company's operating
efficiency, growth, production and profits and, in accordance with past
practice, due consideration shall be given to the upward adjustment of the
Executive's compensation rate, at least annually, commensurate with increases
generally given to other senior corporate officers and key employees and as the
scope of the Executive's duties expands.


         7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

         Any termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period shall be communicated by written Notice
of Termination to the Executive if such notice is delivered by the Company and
to the Company if such notice is delivered by the Executive. The Notice of
Termination shall comply with the requirements of Section 1(n).

         (a) TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY. If during the Employment Period, the
Executive's employment is terminated on account of the Executive's disability,
as determined under the Company's long-term disability plan (as in effect on the
date of a Change in Control of the Company), the Executive shall receive all
Accrued Benefits, if any, and shall remain eligible for all benefits as provided
pursuant to the terms of any long-term disability programs of the Company in
effect at the time of such termination.

         (b) TERMINATION ON THE EXECUTIVE'S DEATH. If, during the Employment
Period, the Executive's employment is terminated on account of the Executive's
death, the Executive's estate or his designated beneficiary (or beneficiaries),
as applicable, shall receive the Accrued Benefits.

         (c) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OR TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If, during the
Employment Period, (i) the Executive shall terminate employment with the Company
other than for Good Reason, or (ii) the Executive's employment is terminated for
Cause, the Executive shall receive from the Company only the Accrued Benefits.

         (d) TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE OR BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR
GOOD REASON. If, during the Employment Period, the Executive's employment with
the Company is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, then:

         (i) the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company the
Accrued Benefits, except that, for this purpose, Accrued Benefits shall not
include any entitlement to severance under any Company severance policy
generally applicable to the Company's salaried employees;


         (ii) the Executive shall receive from the Company, no less than ten
(10) days following termination of his employment, a lump sum payment (the
"Termination Payment") equal to three times the Annual Compensation;

         (iii) for purposes of determining the Executive's benefit under the
SERP Agreement, the Executive shall be credited with 36 additional months of age
and of service determined as follows:


         (A) The additional 36 months of age and service shall be applied for
purposes of benefit accrual, vesting, eligibility for early retirement,
subsidized early retirement factors, actuarial equivalence and any other
purposes under the Retirement Plan and the SERP Agreement.

         (B) Any provision under the Retirement Plan or the SERP Agreement
prohibiting the accrual of any additional benefits after the Executive has been
credited with more than a stated number of years of service shall be
disregarded.

         (C) For purposes of determining the amount of the Executive's benefit
under the SERP Agreement, the reduction in respect of the benefit paid under the
Retirement Plan shall be based on the Executive's actual Retirement Plan benefit
(that is, without any additional deemed service).

         (D) For purposes of determining the Early Retirement Benefit (as
defined in the SERP Agreement) and other optional forms of benefit under the
SERP Agreement, if the Executive is less than fifty-five

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(55) years of age, the Executive shall be deemed to be at least fifty-five
(55) years of age on the date his employment with the Company terminates,
notwithstanding the Executive's actual age, if less.

         (E) the Benefit Computation Base (as defined in the SERP Agreement)
shall be determined as if it were being calculated at the end of the 36 month
period of service credited to the Executive under this Section 7(d)(iii) and as
if during such 36 additional month period the Executive's annualized
compensation was the same as such compensation for (I) the Year during which the
Executive's employment is terminated, or, (II) any Year before the Change in
Control occurred, whichever is greater.


         (F) Any amendment to the Retirement Plan within the twelve (12) month
period prior to the termination of the Executive's employment shall be
disregarded to the extent that the application of such amendment would decrease
the total amount of the benefits provided for in this Section 7(d)(iii).

         (G) The Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum distribution of his
SERP in all events, and the Company shall not be entitled to require payment
over a longer period. If the Executive elects a lump sum payment (i) the
actuarial equivalent benefit shall be determined in accordance with the
provisions of the Retirement Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Change
in Control, or as in effect on termination of the Executive's employment,
whichever creates the greater benefit, and (ii) payment shall be made within
thirty (30) days following the later of (A) termination of the Executive's
employment, or (B) the date the Executive gives written notice of the
Executive's intent to elect a lump sum.


         (iv) the Executive shall be paid a lump sum amount equal to (A) the sum
of (I) the aggregate contributions and forfeitures allocated to the Executive's
account under the Banknorth Group, Inc. Profit Sharing and Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (the "Employee Stock Ownership Plan") for the Plan Year ending
immediately prior to the Change of Control, or, if different, the Plan Year
ending immediately prior to the termination of the Executive's employment,
whichever Plan Year would produce the greater aggregate value, (II) the total
aggregate value of all contributions, other than elective contributions by the
Executive and employer matching contributions relating thereto, and forfeitures
allocated to the Executive's account under the Banknorth Group, Inc. Thrift
Incentive Plan (the "Thrift Plan") for the Plan Year ending immediately prior to
the Change of Control, or, if different, the Plan Year ending immediately prior
to the termination of the Executive's employment, whichever Plan Year would
produce the greater aggregate value, and (III) (A) the matching contributions
under the Thrift Plan (or its successor) which would have been credited under
such plan on Executive's behalf, if the Executive had contributed the maximum
salary deferral contribution allowable under Section 402(g) of the Code, for the
calendar year in which he terminated employment with the Company, multiplied by
(B) three (3).


         (v) all rights under any equity or long-term incentive plan shall be
fully vested;

         (vi) the Executive shall (A) continue to be covered at the expense of
the Company by the same or equivalent hospital, medical, dental, accident,
disability and life insurance coverage as in effect for the Executive
immediately prior to termination of his employment, until the earlier of (I) 36
months following termination of employment, or (II) the date the Executive has
commenced new employment and has thereby become eligible for comparable
benefits; provided that, with respect to any of the coverages described above,
if such coverage is provided through an insurance policy with an insurance
company unaffiliated with the initial Company, and if under the terms of the
applicable policy, it is not possible to provide continued coverage (including
if continued coverage under the policy would increase the Company's cost
allocable to the Executive by more than 100%), then the Company shall pay the
Executive a lump sum cash amount, no later than sixty (60) days following
termination of employment an amount equal to twice the aggregate allocable cost
of such coverage as applicable immediately prior to termination of employment,
such payment to be made without any discount for present value.


 8. CERTAIN SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.

         (a) In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
Section 7(d) above, and if in connection therewith it is determined that (i)
part or all of the compensation and benefits to be paid to the Executive
constitute "parachute payments" under Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) the
payment thereof will cause the Executive to incur excise tax under Section 4999
of the Code, the Company, on or before the date for payment of such excise tax,
shall pay the Executive, in lump sum, an amount (the "Gross-Up Amount") such
that, after payment of all federal, state and local income tax and any
additional excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code in respect of the Gross-Up
Amount payment, the Executive will be fully reimbursed for the amount of such
excise tax.

         (b) The determination of the Parachute Amount, the Base Amount and the
Gross-Up Amount, as well as any other calculations necessary to implement this
Section 8 shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting or benefits
consulting firm selected by the Executive and reasonably satisfactory to the
Company and which has not performed services, other than minor indirect or
incidental services, for either the Company or the Executive for three years
prior to the date the Consultant is retained for this purpose. The Consultant's
fee shall be paid by the Company.

         (c) As promptly as practicable following such determination and the
elections hereunder, the Company shall pay to or distribute to or for the
benefit of the Executive such amounts as are then due to the Executive

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under this Agreement and shall promptly pay to or distribute for the benefit of
the Executive in the future such amounts as become due to the Executive under
this Agreement.

         (d) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 280G
of the Code at the time of an initial determination hereunder, it is possible
that payments will not have been made by the Company which should have been made
under clause (a) of this Section 8 ("Underpayment"). In the event that there is
a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, or a final determination
by a court of competent jurisdiction, that an Underpayment has been made and the
Executive thereafter is required to make any payment of an excise tax, income
tax, any interest or penalty, the accounting or benefits consulting firm
selected under clause (b) above shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

         9. FURTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE.

         (a) CONFIDENTIALITY. During and following the Executive's employment by
the Company, the Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or
indirectly disclose or use or copy or make lists of any confidential information
or proprietary data of the Company, except to the extent authorized in writing
by the Board of Directors of the Company or required by any court or
administrative agency, other than to an employee of the Company or a person to
whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the
performance by the Executive of duties as an executive of the Company.
Confidential information shall not include any information known generally to
the public or any information of a type not otherwise considered confidential by
persons engaged in the same business or a business similar to that of the
Company. All records, files, documents and materials or copies thereof, relating
to the Company's business which the Executive shall prepare, or use, or come
into contact with, shall be and remain the sole property of the Company and
shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of employment with
the Company.

         (b) NON-SOLICITATION. For the period from the Effective Date until the
second anniversary of the termination of the Executive's employment, the
Executive will not, directly or indirectly, contact, approach or solicit for the
purpose of offering employment to or hiring (whether as an employee, consultant,
agent, independent contractor or otherwise) any officer of the Company, or its
affiliates, other than on the Company's behalf, without the prior written
consent of the Company.

         10. EQUITABLE RELIEF.

         Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach by
Executive of any of the provisions of Section 9 hereof, the Company shall suffer
irreparable harm for which monetary damages alone will constitute an
insufficient remedy. Consequently, in the event of any such breach, the Company
may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, apply to
any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance
and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations
of the provisions hereof, in each case without the requirement of posting a bond
or proving actual damages.

         11. EXPENSES AND INTEREST.

         If, after a Change in Control of the Company, a good faith dispute
arises with respect to the enforcement of the Executive's rights under this
Agreement, or if any legal or arbitration proceeding shall be brought in good
faith to enforce or interpret any provision contained herein, or to recover
damages for breach hereof, the Executive shall recover from the Company any
reasonable attorney's fees and necessary costs and disbursements incurred as a
result of such dispute, and prejudgment interest on any money judgment or
arbitration award obtained by the Executive calculated at the rate of interest
announced by Peoples Heritage Bank, or the successor thereto, from time to time
as its prime rate from the date that payments to him should have been made under
this Agreement.


         12. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE. The Company's obligation during and
after the Employment Period to pay the Executive the compensation and to make
the arrangements provided herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any setoff,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have
against him or anyone else. All amounts payable by the Company hereunder shall
be paid without notice or demand. Each and every payment made hereunder by the
Company shall be final and the Company will not seek to recover all or any part
of such payment from the Executive or from whomsoever may be entitled thereto,
for any reason whatever except as provided in Section 8(d) above.


         13. SUCCESSORS.

         (a) If the Company sells, assigns, or transfers all or substantially
all of its business and assets to any Person, excluding Affiliates of the
Company, or if the Company merges into or consolidates or otherwise combines
with any Person which is a continuing or successor entity, then the Company
shall assign all of its rights, title and interest in this Agreement as of the
date of such event to the Person which is either the acquiring or successor
Company, and such Person shall assume in writing and perform from and after the
date of such written assignment all of the terms, conditions and provisions
imposed by this Agreement upon the Company. Failure of the Company to obtain
such written assignment shall be a breach of this Agreement. In case of such
assignment by the Company and of written assumption and agreement by such
Person, all further rights as well as all other obligations of the Company under
this Agreement thenceforth shall
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cease and terminate and thereafter the expression "the Company" wherever used
herein shall be deemed to mean such Person or Persons.

         (b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal
representatives, estates, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries.
All amounts payable to the Executive hereunder shall be paid, in the event of
the Executive's death, to the Executive's estate, heirs and representatives.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon and be enforceable
by, any successor, surviving or resulting Company or other entity to which all
or substantially all of the Company's business and assets shall be transferred.
This Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or involuntary
dissolution of the Company.

         14. ENFORCEMENT. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded as
divisible, and if any such provisions or any part hereof are declared invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and
enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof and the
applicability thereof shall not be affected thereby.

         15. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at any
time except by a written instrument executed bythe Company and the Executive if
such amendment or modification occurs before any Change in Control, or by the
Executive and the Company after any Change in Control.

         16. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from amounts
to be paid to the Executive hereunder any federal, state or local withholding or
other taxes, or charge which it is from time to time required to withhold. The
Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any question as to
the amount or requirement of any such withholding shall arise.

         17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the rights and obligations
hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Maine.

         18. ARBITRATION. Any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be
determined by arbitration in the State of Maine under the rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect and judgment upon any award pursuant to
such arbitration may be enforced in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

         19. NOTICE.

         Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be deemed given when received and, if mailed, shall be mailed by United States
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressee only postage
prepaid, to the Company at:

            Banknorth Group, Inc.
            P.O. Box 9540
            One Portland Square
            Portland, ME 04112
            Attn: Clerk

or if to the Executive, at the address included in the Company's records, or to
such other address as the party to be notified shall have given to the other.

         20. NO WAIVER.

         No waiver by any party at any time of any breach by another party of,
or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed
by another party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at any time.

         21. HEADINGS. The headings herein contained are for reference only and
shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement.

         22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. All prior
correspondence and proposals (including but not limited to summaries of proposed
terms) and all prior promises, representations, understandings, arrangements and
agreements relating to such subject matter are merged herein and superseded
hereby; provided however, that the terms of the SERP Agreement, the Retirement
Plan, the Thrift Plan, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and any effective
applicable employment agreement shall be incorporated herein and made a part
hereof to the extent not inconsistent with the terms hereof.


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<PAGE>   8

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

                                         BANKNORTH GROUP, INC.

____________________________             By:____________________________________
Witness                                      William J. Ryan
                                         Chairman, president and Chief
                                         Executive Officer

-----------------------------            ---------------------------------------
Witness

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