Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.31

                                    AGREEMENT

      THIS AGREEMENT dated as of February 15, 2004 is made by and between
Provident Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company"), and James L. Gertie (the
"Executive").

      WHEREAS the Company considers it essential to its best interests and to
the best interests of its shareholders to foster the continuous employment of
its key management personnel; and

      WHEREAS the Company has determined that appropriate steps should be taken
to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of
the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties
without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising
from a Change in Control situation;

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

      1. Defined Terms. Definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this
Agreement are provided in Section 9 and elsewhere in this Agreement.

      2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective on the date
hereof and shall remain in effect indefinitely thereafter; provided, however,
that (a) except as provided in clause (b) of this sentence, either the Company
or the Executive may terminate this Agreement by giving the other party at least
one year's advance written notice of such termination, and (b) if a Change in
Control shall have occurred during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement
shall remain in effect until all obligations of either party hereto have been
performed in full and the Coverage Period has expired without the occurrence of
a Triggering Event. Upon such expiration of the Coverage Period and performance
of all such obligations, this Agreement shall terminate. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement shall terminate upon the Executive's Disability or
death, except as to obligations of the Company hereunder arising from a Change
in Control and/or a Triggering Event that, in either case, occurred prior to his
Disability or death.

      3. Agreement of the Company. In order to induce the Executive to remain in
the employ of the Company, the Company agrees, under the terms and conditions
set forth herein, that, upon the occurrence of both a Change in Control and a
Triggering Event during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall provide to
the Executive the benefits described in this Section 3 (the "Severance
Benefits").

            3.1 Severance Payment. In lieu of any further salary payments to the
Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall
pay to the Executive a lump sum severance payment, in cash, without discount,
equal to the product of (a) three and (b) the sum of the Executive's Base Salary
and the Executive's Annual Bonus.

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            3.2 Continued Benefits. For a 36 month period after the Date of
Termination (the "Benefits Period"), the Company shall provide the Executive
with group term life, accident, long-term disability, medical, and health
insurance coverage and benefits (collectively, "Welfare Benefits") that (a)
subject to clause (b) hereof, are substantially similar in all respects to those
which the Executive was receiving immediately prior to the Notice of Termination
(without giving effect to any reduction in such benefits subsequent to a Change
in Control that would constitute Good Reason); provided, however, (b) if a
Change in Control involving National City Corporation occurs within 18 months of
the date of this Agreement, in lieu of clause (a) hereof for portion of the
Benefits Period commencing on and after the January 1 of the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurred,
are not less favorable in all respects to those being provided to actively
employed senior executives of the Company from time-to-time after such January
1. During the Benefits Period, the Executive shall be entitled to elect to
change his level of coverage and/or his choice of coverage options (such as the
Executive only or family medical coverage) with respect to the Welfare Benefits
to be provided by the Company to the Executive to the same extent that actively
employed senior executives of the Company are permitted to make such changes;
provided, however, that in the event of any such changes, the Executive shall
pay the amount of any cost increase that would actually be paid by an actively
employed senior executive of the Company by reason of making the same changes in
his level of coverage or coverage options. In the event that the Executive
becomes employed by a new employer and is eligible to receive health insurance
and/or other welfare benefits ("New Coverage"), the Welfare Benefits coverage
provided under this Section 3.2 shall be secondary to such New Coverage.

            3.3 Accrued Compensation and Other Benefits. To the extent not
theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to
Executive his Accrued Compensation and any Other Benefits to which Executive is
entitled.

            3.4 Supplemental Retirement Plan Service and Compensation Credit. If
the Executive is a participant in the Company's Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan (or any successor thereto) (the "SERP"), for purposes of
determining the Executive's credited service and benefits due under the SERP
(which service credits and benefits shall be determined without giving effect to
any amendments to the SERP subsequent to a Change in Control that would
constitute Good Reason), the Executive shall be (a) credited with an additional
three years of employment service with the Company, and (b) deemed to receive
for each such year base pay and incentive compensation in an amount equal to the
Executive's Base Pay and Annual Bonus.

            3.5 Outplacement.

      The Company shall reimburse the Executive for outplacement service fees
and expenses incurred by the Executive during the Benefits Period in a total
amount not to exceed $30,000. Such payment shall be made within five (5)
business days after

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delivery of the Executive's respective written requests for payment accompanied
by such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company may reasonably
require.

      4. Gross-Up Payment.

            4.1. In the event that (a) the Executive becomes entitled to the
Severance Benefits or any other benefits or payments in connection with a Change
in Control or the termination of the Executive's employment, whether pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (collectively, the "Total Benefits"),
and (b) any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax, the Company
shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such
that the net amount retained by the Executive from the Gross-Up Payment, after
deduction of any federal, state and local income taxes, Excise Tax, and FICA and
Medicare withholding taxes upon the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the
Excise Tax on the Total Benefits. For purposes of determining the amount of such
Excise Tax, the amount of the Total Benefits that shall be treated as subject to
the Excise Tax shall be equal to (i) the Total Benefits, minus (ii) the amount
of such Total Benefits that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
accounting firm selected by the Executive in his sole discretion ("Accounting
Firm"), are not excess parachute payments (within the meaning of Section
280G(b)(1) of the Code). The fees and expenses of Accounting Firm for its
services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by
this Section 4 shall be borne by the Company.

            4.2 For purposes of this Section 4, the Executive shall be deemed to
pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation
in the calendar year in which the Excise Tax is (or would be) payable and state
and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and
locality of the Executive's residence on the Date of Termination, net of the
reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such
state and local taxes (calculated by assuming that any reduction under Section
68 of the Code in the amount of itemized deductions allowable to the Executive
applies first to reduce the amount of such state and local income taxes that
would otherwise be deductible by the Executive). Except as otherwise provided
herein, all determinations required to be made under this Section 4 shall be
made by Accounting Firm.

            4.3 In the event that the Excise Tax on the Total Benefits is
subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder
at the time of termination of the Executive's employment, the Executive shall
repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise
Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to
such reduction (plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the
Excise Tax, federal, state and local income taxes and FICA and Medicare
withholding taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by the Executive
to the extent that such repayment results in a reduction in any such taxes
and/or a federal, state or local income tax deduction) plus interest on the
amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the
Code. In the event that the Excise Tax on the Total Benefits is determined to
exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of the termination of
the Executive's

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employment (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which
cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall
make an additional Gross-Up Payment (which shall be calculated by Accounting
Firm in the same manner and using the same assumptions as set forth in Sections
4.1 and 4.2 hereof) to the Executive in respect of such excess (plus any
interest, penalties or additions payable by the Executive with respect to such
excess to the Internal Revenue Service or any other federal, state, local or
foreign taxing authority) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally
determined.

      5. Timing of Payments. The payments provided for in Sections 3.1 and 4
shall be made on the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the amounts
of such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company
shall pay to the Executive on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith
by the Company, of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the
remainder of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in
Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code from the Date of Termination to the payment of
such remainder) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event
later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the Date of Termination. In the event
that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently
determined to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company
to the Executive, payable on the fifth (5th) business day after demand by the
Company (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of
the Code from the Date of Termination to the repayment of such excess).

      6. Reimbursement of Legal Costs. The Company shall pay to the Executive
all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive (a) as a result
of a bona fide dispute regarding the application of any provision of this
Agreement, including all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in disputing
any Notice of Termination under Section 7.1 hereof or in seeking to obtain or
enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement or (b) in connection
with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application
of Section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder. Such
payments shall be made within five (5) business days after delivery of the
Executive's respective written requests for payment accompanied with such
evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require.

      7. Termination Procedures.

            7.1 Notice of Termination. After a Change in Control, any
termination of the Executive's employment (other than by reason of death) must
be preceded by a written Notice of Termination from the terminating party to the
other party hereto in accordance with Section 8.5 hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall (a) specify
the date of termination (the "Date of Termination") which shall not be more than
sixty (60) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given, (b) indicate
the notifying party's opinion regarding the specific provisions of this
Agreement that will apply upon such termination and (c) set forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for the
application of the provisions indicated. Termination of the Executive's
employment shall

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occur on the specified Date of Termination even if there is a dispute between
the parties relating to the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such
termination.

            7.2 Dispute Concerning Applicable Termination Provisions. If within
thirty (30) days of receiving the Notice of Termination the party receiving such
notice notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the provisions
of this Agreement that apply to such termination, the dispute shall be resolved
either by mutual written agreement of the parties or by expedited commercial
arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The parties
shall pursue the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Within
five (5) days of such a resolution, any party owing any payments pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement shall make all such payments together with interest
accrued thereon at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.

      8. Miscellaneous.

            8.1 No Mitigation. The Company agrees that, if the Executive's
employment by the Company is terminated in a manner that results in the payment
of Severance Benefits hereunder, the Executive shall not be required to seek
other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the
Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Further, subject to Section
11 hereof, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for under this
Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as
the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset
against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or
otherwise.

            8.2 Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon
any successor to the Company, the Company shall be obligated to require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation,
operation of law, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place; in the event of
such a succession, references to the "Company" herein shall thereafter be deemed
to include such successor. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and
agreement at or prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a
breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to terminate his
employment and thereafter to receive Severance Benefits, except that, for
purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession
becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.

            8.3 Incompetency. Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of the
Executive, if legally incompetent, or incapable of giving a receipt therefor,
shall be deemed paid when paid to the Executive's guardian or to the party
providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and
such payment shall fully discharge the Company.

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            8.4 Death. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the
Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive
hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of
the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the
Executive's estate.

            8.5 Notices. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all
other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses set forth below, or to such other address as either party
may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that
notice of change of address shall be effective only upon actual receipt:

                  To the Company:

                  Provident Financial Group, Inc.
                  One East Fourth Street
                  Cincinnati, OH  45202
                  Attention:  James R. Whitaker,
                              Vice President and General Counsel

                  To the Executive:

                  James L. Gertie
                  4765 Burley Hills Dr.
                  Indian Hills, OH  45243

            8.6 Modification, Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be
specifically designated by the Board or its delegee. 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.

            8.7 Entire Agreement. No agreements or representations, oral or
otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have
been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

            8.8 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio
without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

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            8.9 Statutory Changes. All references to sections of the Exchange
Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to
such sections.

            8.10 Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid
net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law and
any additional withholding to which the Executive has agreed.

            8.11 Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

            8.12 No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to give any Executive the right to be retained in the employ of
the Company, or to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge the
Executive at any time and for any lawful reason, subject in all cases to the
terms of this Agreement.

            8.13 No Assignment of Benefits. Except as otherwise provided herein
or by law, no right or interest of any Executive under the Agreement shall be
assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation
of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy,
garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or
transfer thereof shall be effective; and no right or interest of any Executive
under this Agreement shall be liable for, or subject to, any obligation or
liability of such Executive.

            8.15 Nondisclosure. During the Executive's employment with the
Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not disclose or use in any way any
confidential business or technical information or trade secret acquired in the
course of such employment, other than (i) information that is generally known in
the Company's industry or acquired from public sources, (ii) as required in the
course of such employment, (iii) as required by any court, supervisory authority
administrative agency or applicable law, or (iv) with the prior written consent
of the Company.

            8.16 Headings. The headings and captions herein are provided for
reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Agreement,
and shall not be employed in the construction of this Agreement.

      9. Definitions.

            9.1 "Accrued Compensation" means all amounts of compensation for
services rendered by Executive to the Company or any affiliate that have been
earned or accrued through the Date of Termination but that have not been paid as
of the Date of Termination, including (i) base salary, (ii) reimbursement (in
accordance with the Company' expense reimbursement policy) for reasonable and
necessary business

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expenses incurred by Executive on behalf of the Company during the period ending
on the Date of Termination, and (iii) vacation pay.

            9.2 "Annual Bonus" means the highest aggregate annual bonus,
incentive, or other payments to the Executive of cash compensation, in addition
to base pay, made or to be made in regard to services rendered in any calendar
year during the three calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the
Change in Control occurred pursuant to any bonus, incentive, performance,
discretionary pay, or similar agreement, policy, plan, program, or arrangement.

            9.3 "Base Salary" means the greater of (a) the Executive's highest
annual base salary in effect during the one (1) year period preceding a Change
in Control and (b) the Executive's highest annual base salary in effect during
the one (1) year period preceding the Executive's Date of Termination.

            9.4 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

            9.5 "Cause" means:

                  (a) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to
substantially perform the Executive's duties with the Company (other than any
such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after
a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by
the Board of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the
Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the
Executive's duties;

                  (b) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct
or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Company;

                  (c) personal dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty to the
Company that in either case results or was intended to result in personal profit
to the Executive at the expense of the Company; or

                  (d) willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other
than traffic violations, misdemeanors or similar offenses) or cease-and-desist
order, court order, judgment or supervisory agreement, which violation is
materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.

For purposes of the preceding clauses, no act or failure to act, on the part of
the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon prior approval given by the Board or based
upon the advice of counsel for the Company, shall be conclusively presumed to be
done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best
interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not
be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been

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delivered to the Executive, as part of the Notice of Termination, a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters
(3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and
held for the purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice is
provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together
with counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in clause
(a), (b), (c), or (d) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

            9.6 A "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the
following events:

                  (a) any Person or Persons acting together, excluding the
Excluded Parties and employee benefit plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, is
or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities ("Voting
Power") if, at such time, the Voting Power represented by the Company securities
beneficially owned by such Person exceeds the Voting Power represented by the
Company securities beneficially owned by the Excluded Parties;

                  (b) the Company consummates a merger, consolidation, share
exchange, division or other reorganization or transaction of the Company (a
"Fundamental Transaction") with any other corporation, other than a Fundamental
Transaction which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) at least sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power immediately
after such Fundamental Transaction of (i) the Company's outstanding securities,
(ii) the surviving entity's outstanding securities, or (iii) in the case of a
division, the outstanding securities of each entity resulting from the division;

                  (c) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or winding-up of the Company or the Company consummates the sale or
disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets (other than a transfer to a
Subsidiary); or

                  (d) during any period of twenty-four consecutive months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (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 two-thirds (2/3)
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.

            9.7 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.

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            9.8 "Competitive Activity" means the Executive's provision of
services, either as an employee or independent contractor, to any entity that
engages, in any one or more of the following counties: (a) In Ohio -- Brown,
Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren, (b) In Indiana -- Dearborn and Ohio, and
(c) In Kentucky -- Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton, in
substantial and direct competition with the Company and such entity's revenues
derived from any line of business competitive with any line of business of the
Company amounted to 10% or more of such entity's revenues for its most recently
completely fiscal year and if the Company's revenues of said line of business
amounted to 10% of the Company's revenues for its most recently completed fiscal
year. "Competitive Activity" will not include (i) the mere ownership of
securities in any such entity and the exercise of rights appurtenant thereto or
(ii) participation in the management of any such entity other than in connection
with the competitive operations of such entity.

            9.9 "Coverage Period" means the period commencing on the date on
which a Change in Control occurs and ending on the first anniversary date
thereof.

            9.10 "Date of Termination" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.1 hereof.

            9.11 "Disability" means the Executive's total and permanent
disability under the Company's long-term disability plan or policy applicable to
the Executive such that the Executive becomes eligible to receive long-term
disability benefits thereunder.

            9.12 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.

            9.13 "Excise Tax" means any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of
the Code.

            9.14 "Excluded Parties" means, collectively, (a) the American
Financial Group, Inc. and any subsidiary thereof, (b) Carl H. Lindner, Carl H.
Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner, Keith E. Lindner and any of their respective
spouses and minor children, (c) any trusts, partnerships and foundations
controlled by any individual in clause (b) or of which any individual in clause
(b) is a beneficiary, and (d) any Person who, along with any of the foregoing,
is part of a group or syndicate under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

            9.15 "Good Reason" means the occurrence during the Coverage Period
of any of the following events:

                  (a) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
in any material respect with the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities immediately prior to a Change in Control or any other action by
the

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Company which results in a diminution in any material respect in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated
and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith that is remedied by the Company
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

                  (b) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual base
salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time
to time;

                  (c) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location that is more than twenty-five (25) miles from the Executive's
office or location immediately prior to a Change in Control;

                  (d) the failure by the Company (i) to continue in effect any
compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately prior to a
Change in Control that is material to the Executive's total compensation, unless
an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan)
has been made with respect to such plan, or (ii) to continue the Executive's
participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not
materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and
the level of the Executive's participation relative to other participants, than
existed immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                  (e) (i) subject to clause (ii) hereof, the failure by the
Company to continue to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar
to those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the Company's pension, life
insurance, medical, health and accident, disability or welfare plans in which
the Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control;
provided, however, (ii) if a Change in Control involving National City
Corporation occurs within 18 months of the date of this Agreement, in lieu of
clause (i) for the period beginning on and after January 1 of the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurred,
the failure by the Company to provide the Executive with coverage and benefits
under pension, life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability and
other welfare plans that are no less favorable in all respects to those provided
to actively employed senior executives of the Company from time-to-time on and
after such January 1;

                  (f) the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any
deferred compensation when due under any deferred compensation plan or agreement
applicable to the Executive; or

                  (g) the failure by the Company to honor all the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.

            9.16 "Notice of Termination" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 7.1 hereof.

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            9.17 "Other Benefits" means amounts or benefits required to be paid
or provided to Executive or that Executive is eligible to receive under any plan
program, policy, contract, or agreement maintained by the Company or any of its
affiliates or to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party.

            9.18 "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act and shall also include any syndicate or group deemed to be a
"person" under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

            9.19 "Severance Benefits" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3 hereof.

            9.20 "Subsidiary" means any corporation controlled by the Company,
directly or indirectly.

            9.21 "Triggering Event" means (a) the termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company at any time during the Coverage Period, other than a
termination for Cause or a termination due to the Executive's Disability or
death, or (b) a termination of the Executive's employment by the Executive at
any time during the Coverage Period for Good Reason.

      10. Reduction of Agreement Benefits by Other Required Benefits.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if in
connection with the termination of the Executive's employment for any reason the
Company is obligated by law or by contract (including any employment or
severance agreement other than this Agreement) or by Company plan or policy to
(a) pay the Executive with respect to any notice period prior to termination,
(b) pay the Executive severance pay, a termination indemnity, notice pay, or the
like, (c) provide the Executive with life, disability, accident or health
insurance or other welfare benefits after the Executive's termination (or a cash
payment in lieu thereof), or (d) provide the Executive with employment service
and/or compensation credit in respect of severance, then any Severance Benefits
hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of any payments and similar benefits
described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d), as applicable. If the Company is
obligated under any contract or agreement (including any employment or severance
agreement other than this Agreement) to pay to the Executive a gross-up payment
with respect to excise taxes payable by the Executive under Section 4999 of the
Code and such gross up payment would result in a duplication of the payment of
the Gross-Up Payment provided for by Section 4 hereof, the Gross-Up Payment
provided for by Section 4 hereof shall be reduced by the amount of such
duplicative gross-up payment.

      11. Noncompetition.

            11.1 During the 36 month period commencing immediately following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event with respect to the Executive, the Executive
shall not engage in Competitive Activity. If the Executive engages in
Competitive Activity during the 12 month period immediately following the
Triggering

                                       12
<PAGE>

Event (the "Initial Period"), the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief
against the Executive, the Executive shall be obligated to immediately repay to
the Company all amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Sections 3.1, 3.5 and
4 hereof, and the Executive's rights under Sections 3.2 and 3.5 hereof shall
immediately terminate. If the Executive engages in Competitive Activity during
the 24 month period commencing immediately following the Initial Period (the
"Subsequent Period"), the Company and the Executive agree that the Executive's
rights under Sections 3.2 and 3.5 hereof shall immediately thereupon terminate
and that no other remedies at law or equity shall be available to the Company
with respect to Executive's breach of this Section 11.1 by engaging in
Competitive Activity during the Subsequent Period.

            11.2 The provisions of this Section 11 shall terminate upon the
earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control that does not involve
National City Corporation, and (b) the expiration of 18 months from the date of
this Agreement without the occurrence of a Change in Control involving National
City Corporation.

      12. Nonsolicitation. The Executive agrees that in the event of the
occurrence of a Triggering Event and the Executive's receipt of the Severance
Benefits, the Executive shall not, without the consent of the Company, for a
period of one year after the Date of Termination, solicit to employ any officer
of the Company, provided that no violation of this Section 12 shall occur by
reason of any general solicitation of potential employees, such as pursuant to
newspaper advertisements, that are not specifically directed to an officer of
the Company.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
by its officer, thereunto duly authorized, and the Executive has executed this
Agreement, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                       PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

                                       ----------------------------------------

                                       By:   Joseph A. Pedoto

                                       Title: Chairman of Compensation Committee

                                       JAMES L. GERTIE:

                                       ----------------------------------------

                                       14exv10w63

 

Exhibit 10.63

Change of Control Severance Agreement

INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED

TIER 1

KEY EMPLOYEE

CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

     This Key Employee Change of Control Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is
made and entered into by and between       (the “Executive”) and
Inter-Tel, Incorporated, an Arizona Corporation (the “Company”), effective as
of March        , 2004 (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

1. It is expected that the Company from time to time will consider the
possibility of an acquisition by another company or other control change
transaction. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes
that such consideration can be a distraction to Executive and can cause
Executive to consider alternative employment opportunities. The Board has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity
of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change
of Control of the Company.

2. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders to provide Executive with an incentive to continue his or her
employment and to motivate Executive to maximize the value of the Company upon
a Change of Control for the benefit of its stockholders.

3. The Board believes that it is appropriate to provide Executive with certain
severance benefits upon Executive’s termination of employment following a
Change of Control. These benefits will provide Executive with enhanced
financial security and incentive and encouragement to remain with the Company
notwithstanding the possibility of a Change of Control.

4. Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement are defined in Section 6
below.

AGREEMENT

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

1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date that all of
the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been
satisfied.

2. At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s
employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable
law, except as may otherwise be specifically provided under the terms of any
written formal employment agreement between the Company and Executive (an
“Employment Agreement”). If Executive’s employment terminates for any reason,
including (without limitation) any termination prior to a Change of Control,
Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or
compensation other than as provided by this Agreement or under his or her
Employment Agreement (if applicable) or under existing Company
benefit plans and programs.

3. Acknowledgment Regarding Acceleration upon Change of Control. The Company
and Executive hereby acknowledge that pursuant to the terms of the Company’s
1997 Long Term Incentive Plan and the related option agreement to which the
Company and Executive are parties, upon a Change of Control, 100% of
Executive’s then outstanding options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common
Stock (the “Options”) shall immediately vest and become exercisable (that is,
in addition to the shares subject to the Options which have vested and become
exercisable as of the date of such Change of Control), but in no event shall
the number of shares subject to such Options which so vest exceed the total
number of shares subject to such Options. Additionally, 100% of the shares of
the Company’s Common Stock then held by Executive subject to a Company
repurchase right (the “Restricted Stock”) shall immediately vest and have such
Company right of repurchase with respect to such shares of

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Restricted Stock lapse (that is, in addition to the shares of Restricted Stock
which have vested as of the date of such Change of Control), but in no event
shall the number of shares which so vest exceed the number of shares of
Restricted Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Change of Control.

4. Severance Benefits.

               (a) Involuntary Termination Following a Change of Control. If either (A)
within ninety (90) days prior to a Change of Control or (B) within twenty-four
(24) months following a Change of Control (i) Executive terminates his or her
employment with the Company (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company) for
Good Reason or (ii) the Company (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company)
terminates Executive’s employment for other than Cause, and Executive signs and
does not revoke a standard release of claims with the Company in a form
acceptable to the Company (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld),
then Executive shall receive the following severance from the Company:

                    (i) Severance Payment. Executive shall be entitled to receive a lump-sum
severance payment equal to (A) twenty-four (24) months of Executive’s annual
base salary (as in effect immediately prior to (1) the Change of Control, or
(2) Executive’s termination, whichever is greater) and (B) 100% of Executive’s
earned but unpaid bonus as of the date of such termination.

                    (ii) Continued Employee Benefits. Executive shall receive Company-paid
coverage for a period of twelve (12) months for Executive and Executive’s
eligible dependents under the Company’s Benefit Plans.

               (b) Timing of Severance Payments. The severance payment to which
Executive is entitled shall be paid by the Company to Executive in cash and in
full, not later than ten (10) calendar days after the date of the termination
of Executive’s employment as provided in Section 4(a). If
Executive should be entitled to a severance payment and should die
before all amounts have been paid, such unpaid amounts shall be paid in a
lump-sum payment to Executive’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise
to the personal representative of Executive’s estate.

               (c) Voluntary Resignation; Termination for Cause. If Executive’s
employment with the Company terminates (i) voluntarily by Executive or (ii) for
Cause by the Company, then Executive shall not be entitled to receive severance
or other benefits except for those (if any) provided for in an Employment
Agreement or as may then be established under the Company’s then existing
severance and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to other written
agreements with the Company.

               (d) Disability; Death. If the Company terminates Executive’s employment
as a result of Executive’s Disability, or Executive’s employment terminates due
to his or her death, then Executive shall not be entitled to receive severance
or other benefits except for those (if any) provided for in an Employment
Agreement or as may then be established under the Company’s then existing
written severance and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to other written
agreements with the Company.

               (e) Termination Apart from Change of Control. In the event Executive’s
employment is terminated for any reason, either prior to the occurrence of a
Change of Control or after the twenty-four (24) month period following a Change
of Control, then Executive shall be entitled to receive severance and any other
benefits only as provided for in an Employment Agreement, if any, or as may
then be established under the Company’s existing written severance and benefits
plans and practices, if any, or pursuant to any other written agreements with
the Company.

               (f) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment
either (A) within ninety (90) days prior to a Change of Control or (B) within
twenty-four (24) months following a Change of Control, the provisions of this
Section 4 are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights
or remedies to

2

 

which Executive or the Company may otherwise be entitled (including any
provisions in an Employment Agreement), whether at law, tort or contract, in
equity, or under this Agreement. Executive shall be entitled to no benefits,
compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment
following a Change in Control other than those benefits expressly set forth in
this Section 4 or as otherwise set forth in existing Company
benefit plans and programs.

5. Limitation on Payments. In the event that the severance and other benefits
provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to Executive (i) constitute
“parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and (ii) but for this Section 5, would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then Executive’s
severance benefits under Section 4(a)(i) shall be either:

               (a) delivered in full, or

               (b) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of
such severance benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code,

whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal,
state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999,
results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest
amount of severance benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such
severance benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. Unless the
Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required
under this Section 5 shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent
public accountants immediately prior to Change of Control (the “Accountants”),
whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the
Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by
this Section 5, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and
approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good
faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of
the Code. The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such
information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to
make a determination under this Section. The Company shall bear all costs the
Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations
contemplated by this Section 5.

6. Definition of Terms. The following terms referred to in this Agreement
shall have the following meanings:

               (a) Benefit Plans. “Benefit Plans” means plans, policies or arrangements
that the Company sponsors (or participates in) and that immediately prior to
Executive’s termination of employment provide Executive and/or Executive’s
eligible dependents with medical, dental, vision and/or financial counseling
benefits. Benefit Plans do not include any other type of benefit (including,
but not by way of limitation, disability, life insurance or retirement
benefits). A requirement that the Company provide Executive and Executive’s
eligible dependents with coverage under the Benefit Plans will not be satisfied
unless the coverage is no less favorable than that provided to Executive and
Executive’s eligible dependents immediately prior to Executive’s termination of
employment. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Section 6, but
subject to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company may, at its option,
satisfy any requirement that the Company provide coverage under any Benefit
Plan by instead providing coverage under a separate plan or plans providing
coverage that is no less favorable or by paying Executive a lump-sum payment
sufficient to provide Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents with
equivalent coverage under a third party plan that is reasonably available to
Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents.

               (b) Cause. “Cause” means (i) an act of dishonesty made by Executive in
connection with such Executive’s responsibilities as an employee, (ii)
Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendre to, a felony which the
Board reasonably believes had or will have a material detrimental effect on the
Company’s reputation or business, (iii) a willful act by Executive which
constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to the Company, (iv)
circumstances where Executive intentionally imparts material confidential
information relating to the Company or its business to competitors or to other
third parties other than in the course of carrying out Executive’s duties, or
(v) Executive’s continued substantial violations of such Executive’s duties as
an employee after Executive has received a written demand for performance from
the Company which specifically sets forth the factual basis for the Company’s
belief that Executive has not substantially performed such Executive’s duties
and after such Executive has been given at least sixty (60) days to cure such
performance issues.

3

 

               (c) Change of Control. “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of
the following:

                    (i) Any action or event occurring within a two-year period, as a result of
which fewer than a majority of the outside directors of the Company are
Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (A)
are outside directors of the Company as of the date hereof, or (B) are elected,
or nominated for election, as an outside director to the Board with the
affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time
of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose
election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy
contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or

                    (ii) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any
other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in
the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least sixty percent (60%) of
the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or
such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation; or

                    (iii) The consummation of the sale, lease or other disposition by the
Company of seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the Company’s assets.

               (d) Disability. “Disability” shall mean that Executive has been unable to
perform his Company duties as the result of his incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, and such inability, at least twenty-six (26) weeks after its
commencement, is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected
by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to Executive or Executive’s legal
representative (such Agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably
withheld). Termination resulting from Disability may only be effected after at
least thirty (30) days’ written notice by the Company of its intention to
terminate Executive’s employment. In the event that Executive resumes the
performance of substantially all of his or her duties hereunder before the
termination of his or her employment becomes effective, the notice of intent to
terminate shall automatically be deemed to have been revoked.

               (e) Good Reason. “Good Reason” means without Executive’s express written
consent (i) a significant reduction of Executive’s duties, position or
responsibilities, or the removal of such Executive from such position and
responsibilities, unless Executive is provided with a comparable position
(i.e., a position of equal or greater organizational level, duties, authority,
compensation and status); (ii) a
reduction by the Company in the compensation of Executive as in effect
immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a material reduction by the Company
in the kind or level of benefits or perquisites to which Executive was entitled
immediately prior to such reduction with the result that such Executive ‘s
overall benefits package is significantly reduced; (iv) the relocation of
Executive to a facility or a location more than fifty (50) miles from Executive
‘s then present location.

7. Successors.

               (a) The Company’s Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether
direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation
or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or
assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to
perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the
absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term
"Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets
which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section
7(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.

               (b) The Executive’s Successors. The terms of this Agreement and all
rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable
by, Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

8. Notice.

4

 

               (a) General. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of Executive, mailed
notices shall be addressed to him or her at the home address which he or she
most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the
Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and
all notices shall be directed to the attention of its Chief Executive Office.

               (b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by
Executive for Good Reason or as a result of a voluntary resignation shall be
communicated by a notice of termination to the other party hereto given in
accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement. Such notice shall indicate the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, shall set forth
in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination under the provision so indicated, and shall specify the termination
date (which shall be not more than thirty (30) days after the giving of such
notice). The failure by Executive to include in the notice any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any
right of Executive hereunder or preclude Executive from asserting such fact or
circumstance in enforcing his or her rights hereunder.

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

               (a) No Duty to Mitigate. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall any such
payment be reduced by any earnings that Executive may receive from any other
source.

               (b) Waiver. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, waived or
discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing
and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than
Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with,
any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be
considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same
condition or provision at another time.

               (c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement
are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

               (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties hereto and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations,
understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether
expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
including (without limitation) an Employment Agreement). No future agreements
between the Company and Executive may supersede this Agreement, unless they are
in writing and specifically mention this Section 9(d).

               (e) Choice of Law. The laws of the State of Arizona (without reference to
its choice of laws provisions) shall govern the validity, interpretation,
construction and performance of this Agreement.

               (f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

               (g) Withholding. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be
subject to withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.

               (h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute
one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the
case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year set
forth below.

	 	 	 
	COMPANY

	 	INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED

5

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	

	 	 	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 
	

	 	 	 	

	 
	 	 	 	 
	EXECUTIVE

	 	By:	 	 
	

	 	 	 	

	 

	 	Title:	 	 
	

	 	 	 	

6

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