Document:

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                         AMENDED 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                       OF

                               CREDIT STORE, INC.
                        (AS AMENDED ON DECEMBER 15, 1997)

                      1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. This stock incentive plan (the
"Plan") is designed to provide an incentive to key employees, consultants and
directors of CREDIT STORE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), or any
of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Paragraph 19), and to offer an additional
inducement in obtaining the services of such persons. The Plan provides for the
grant of "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and nonqualified
stock options which do not qualify as ISOs ("NQSOs"). The Company makes no
representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the qualification of any
option as an "incentive stock option" under the Code.

                      2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of
Paragraph 12, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value
per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") for which options may be granted
under the Plan shall not exceed 4,000,000. Such shares of Common Stock may, in
the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors"), consist either in whole or in part of authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the
Company. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 13, any shares of Common Stock
subject to an option which for any reason expires, is canceled or is terminated
unexercised or which ceases for any reason to be exercisable, shall again become
available for the granting of options under the Plan. The Company shall at all
times during the term of the Plan reserve and keep available such number of
shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the
Plan.

                      3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be
administered by the Board of Directors or a committee (the "Committee") of the
Board of Directors consisting of not less than two directors (those
administering the Plan are the "Administrators"). During such time as the
Company has a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each Administrator shall meet the
requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under such act (as the same may be in
effect and interpreted from time to time, "Rule 16b-3"). Unless otherwise
provided in the By-laws of the Company or resolution of the Board of Directors,
a majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the
acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is
present, and any acts approved in writing by all of the members of the Committee
without a meeting, shall be the acts of the Committee.

                      Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
Administrators shall have the authority, in their sole discretion, to determine:
the key employees, consultants and directors who shall be granted options; the
type of option to be granted to a key employee; the times when an option

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shall be granted; the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each
option; the term of each option; the date each option shall become exercisable;
whether an option shall be exercisable in whole, in part or in installments and,
if in installments, the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each
installment, whether the installments shall be cumulative, the date each
installment shall become exercisable and the term of each installment; whether
to accelerate the date of exercise of any option or installment; whether shares
of Common Stock may be issued upon the exercise of an option as partly paid and,
if so, the dates when future installments of the exercise price shall become due
and the amounts of such installments; the exercise price of each option; the
form of payment of the exercise price; whether to restrict the sale or other
disposition of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an
option and, if so, whether and under what conditions to waive any such
restriction; whether and under what conditions to subject all or a portion of
the grant or exercise of an option or the shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an option to the fulfillment of certain restrictions or
contingencies as specified in the contract referred to in Paragraph 11 hereof
(the "Contract"), including without limitation, restrictions or contingencies
relating to entering into a covenant not to compete with the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or a Parent (as defined in Paragraph 19), to financial objectives
for the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent, a division of any of the
foregoing, a product line or other category, and/or to the period of continued
employment of the optionee with the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a
Parent, and to determine whether such restrictions or contingencies have been
met; whether an optionee is Disabled (as defined in Paragraph 19); the amount,
if any, necessary to satisfy the obligation of the Company, a Subsidiary or
Parent to withhold taxes or other amounts; the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock; to construe the respective Contracts and the Plan; with the
consent of the optionee, to cancel or modify an option, provided, that the
modified provision is permitted to be included in an option granted under the
Plan on the date of the modification, and further, provided, that in the case of
a modification (within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code) of an ISO,
such option as modified would be permitted to be granted on the date of such
modification under the terms of the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules
and regulations relating to the Plan; to approve any provision of the Plan or
any option granted under the Plan, or any amendment to either, which under Rule
16b-3 requires the approval of the Board of Directors, a committee of
non-employee directors or the stockholders to be exempt (unless otherwise
specifically provided herein); and to make all other determinations necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan. Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to the Plan, any option granted under the Plan or any Contract shall be
determined unilaterally by the Administrators in their sole discretion. The
determinations of the Administrators on the matters referred to in this
Paragraph 3 shall be conclusive and binding on the parties.

                      No Administrator or former Administrator shall be liable
for any action, failure to act or determination made in good faith with respect
to the Plan or any option hereunder. In addition to any other rights of
indemnification they may have as directors or as an Administrator or former
Administrator, each such member and former member shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Company from and against any reasonable expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees) actually and necessarily incurred in connection with
the defense of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or appeal (collectively,
"Case") to which he is a party by reason of an action or failure to act under or
in

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connection with the Plan or any option granted hereunder, and against all
amounts paid by him in settlement of such Case (provided such settlement is
approved by the Company) or paid in satisfaction of a judgment in such Case;
provided, however, that such Administrator or former Administrator shall not be
entitled to indemnification (a) if he did not within 60 days after the
institution of such Case offer to the Company in writing the opportunity to
handle and defend the Case at its own expense, or (b) to the extend the Case
resulted from his gross negligence or willful misconduct.

                      4. ELIGIBILITY. The Administrators may from time to time,
in their sole discretion, consistent with the purposes of the Plan, grant
options to (a) key employees (including officers and directors who are key
employees) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) consultants to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (c) Non-Employee Directors (as defined in
Paragraph 19). Such options granted shall cover such number of shares of Common
Stock as the Administrators may determine, in their sole discretion, as set
forth in the applicable Contract; provided, however, that the maximum number of
shares subject to options that may be granted to any employee during any
calendar year under the Plan (the "162(m) Maximum") shall be 1,000,000 shares;
and further, provided, that the aggregate market value (determined at the time
the option is granted in accordance with Paragraph 5) of the shares of Common
Stock for which any eligible employee may be granted ISOs under the Plan or any
other plan of the Company, or of a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company, which
are exercisable for the first time by such optionee during any calendar year
shall not exceed $100,000. Such ISO limitation shall be applied by taking ISOs
into account in the order in which they were granted. Any option granted in
excess of such ISO limitation amount shall be treated as a NQSO to the extent of
such excess.

                      5. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of the shares of
Common Stock under each option shall be determined by the Administrators, in
their sole discretion, as set forth in the applicable Contract; provided,
however, that the exercise price of an ISO shall not be less than the fair
market value of the Common Stock subject to such option on the date of grant;
and further, provided, that if, at the time an ISO is granted, the optionee owns
(or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company, of any of its Subsidiaries or of a Parent, the exercise price of such
ISO shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock
subject to such ISO on the date of grant.

                      The fair market value of a share of Common Stock on any
day shall be (a) if the principal market for the Common Stock is a national
securities exchange, the average of the highest and lowest sales prices per
share of Common Stock on such day as reported by such exchange or on a composite
tape reflecting transactions on such exchange, (b) if the principal market for
the Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Common Stock is
quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq"), and (i) if actual sales price
information is available with respect to the Common Stock, the average of the
highest and lowest sales prices per share of Common Stock on such day on Nasdaq,
or (ii) if such information is not available, the average of the highest bid and
lowest asked prices per share of Common Stock on such day on Nasdaq, or (c) if
the principal market for the

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Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Common Stock is not
quoted on Nasdaq, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices per
share of Common Stock on such day as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board Service
or by National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or a comparable service; provided,
however, that if clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Paragraph are all
inapplicable, or if no trades have been made or no quotes are available for such
day, the fair market value of the Common Stock shall be determined by the Board
of Directors by any method consistent with applicable regulations adopted by the
Treasury Department relating to stock options.

                      6. TERM. The term of each Administrator's Option granted
pursuant to the Plan shall be such term as is established by the Administrators,
in their sole discretion; provided, however, that the term of each ISO granted
pursuant to the Plan shall be for a period not exceeding 10 years from the date
of grant thereof; and further, provided, that if, at the time an ISO is granted,
the optionee owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) stock
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company, of any of its Subsidiaries or of a Parent, the term of the
ISO shall be for a period not exceeding five years from the date of grant.
Options shall be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.

                      7. EXERCISE. An option (or any part or installment
thereof), to the extent then exercisable, shall be exercised by giving written
notice to the Company at its principal office stating which option is being
exercised, specifying the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such
option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate
exercise price therefor (or the amount due on exercise if the applicable
Contract permits installment payments) (a) in cash or by certified check or (b)
if the applicable Contract permits, with previously acquired shares of Common
Stock having an aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise (determined
in accordance with Paragraph 5) equal to the aggregate exercise price of all
options being exercised, or with any combination of cash, certified check or
shares of Common Stock having such value. The Company shall not be required to
issue any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such option until all required
payments, including any required withholding, have been made.

                      The Administrators may, in their sole discretion, permit
payment of the exercise price of an option by delivery by the optionee of a
properly executed notice, together with a copy of his irrevocable instructions
to a broker acceptable to the Administrators to deliver promptly to the Company
the amount of sale or loan proceeds sufficient to pay such exercise price. In
connection therewith, the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated
procedures with one or more brokerage firms.

                      A person entitled to receive Common Stock upon the
exercise of an option shall not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to
such shares of Common Stock until the date of issuance of a stock certificate
for such shares or in the case of uncertificated shares, an entry is made on the
books of the Company's transfer agent representing such shares; provided,
however, that until such stock certificate is issued or book entry is made, any
optionee using previously acquired shares

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of Common Stock in payment of an option exercise price shall continue to have
the rights of a stockholder with respect to such previously acquired shares.

                      In no case may a fraction of a share of Common Stock be
purchased or issued under the Plan.

                      8. TERMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP. Except as may otherwise be
expressly provided in the applicable Contract, an optionee whose relationship
with the Company, its Parent and Subsidiaries as an employee or a consultant has
terminated for any reason (other than as a result of the death or Disability of
the optionee) may exercise the options granted to him as an employee or
consultant, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, at any
time within three months after the date of termination, but not thereafter and
in no event after the date the option would otherwise have expired; provided,
however, that if such relationship is terminated either (a) for Cause (as
defined in Paragraph 19), or (b) without the consent of the Company, such option
shall terminate immediately. Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in
the applicable Contract, options granted under the Plan to an employee or
consultant shall not be affected by any change in the status of the optionee so
long as the optionee continues to be an employee of, or a consultant to, the
Company, or any of the Subsidiaries or a Parent (regardless of having changed
from one to the other or having been transferred from one corporation to
another).

                      For the purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship
shall be deemed to exist between an individual and the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or a Parent if, at the time of the determination, the individual
was an employee of such corporation for purposes of Section 422(a) of the Code.
As a result, an individual on military, sick leave or other bona fide leave of
absence shall continue to be considered an employee for purposes of the Plan
during such leave if the period of the leave does not exceed 90 days, or, if
longer, so long as the individual's right to reemployment with the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or a Parent is guaranteed either by statute or by contract.
If the period of leave exceeds 90 days and the individual's right to
reemployment is not guaranteed by statute or by contract, the employment
relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the 91st day of such leave.

                      Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in the
applicable Contract, an optionee whose relationship with the Company as a
Non-Employee Director ceases for any reason (other than as a result of his death
or Disability) may exercise the options granted to him as a Non-Employee
Director, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, at any time
within three months after the date of termination, but not thereafter and in no
event after the date the option would otherwise have expired; provided, however,
that if such relationship is terminated for Cause, such option shall terminate
immediately. Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in the applicable
Contract, options granted to a Non-Employee Director shall not be affected by
the optionee becoming an employee of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a
Parent.

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                      Nothing in the Plan or in any option granted under the
Plan shall confer on any optionee any right to continue in the employ of, or as
a consultant to, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent, or as a
director of the Company, or interfere in any way with any right of the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent to terminate the optionee's relationship at
any time for any reason whatsoever without liability to the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or a Parent.

                      9. DEATH OR DISABILITY OF AN OPTIONEE. Except as may
otherwise be expressly provided in the applicable Contract, if an optionee dies
(a) while he is an employee of, or consultant to, the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or a Parent, (b) within three months after the termination of such
relationship (unless such termination was for Cause or without the consent of
the Company) or (c) within one year following the termination of such
relationship by reason of his Disability, the options that were granted to him
as an employee or consultant may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the
date of his death, by his Legal Representative (as defined in Paragraph 19) at
any time within one year after death, but not thereafter and in no event after
the date the option would otherwise have expired.

                      Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in the
applicable Contract, any optionee whose relationship as an employee of, or
consultant to, the Company, its Parent and Subsidiaries has terminated by reason
of such optionee's Disability may exercise the options that were granted to him
as an employee or consultant, to the extent exercisable upon the effective date
of such termination, at any time within one year after such date, but not
thereafter and in no event after the date the option would otherwise have
expired.

                      Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in the
applicable Contract, any optionee whose relationship as a Non-Employee Director
ceases as a result of his death or Disability may exercise the options that were
granted to him as a Non-Employee Director, to the extent exercisable on the date
of such termination, at any time within one year after the date of termination,
but not thereafter and in no event after the date the option would otherwise
have expired. In the case of the death of the Non-Employee Director, the option
may be exercised by his Legal Representative.

                      10. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. It is a condition to
the exercise of any option that either (a) a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise shall be effective and
current at the time of exercise, or (b) there is an exemption from registration
under the Securities Act for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon
such exercise. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Company to
register shares subject to any option under the Securities Act or to keep any
Registration Statement effective or current.

                      The Administrators may require, in their sole discretion,
as a condition to the receipt of an option or the exercise of any option that
the optionee execute and deliver to the Company his representations and
warranties, in form, substance and scope satisfactory to the Administrators,
which the Administrators determines are necessary or convenient to facilitate
the perfection of an

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exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, applicable
state securities laws or other legal requirement, including without limitation
that (a) the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of the option
are being acquired by the optionee for his own account, for investment only and
not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, and (b) any subsequent
resale or distribution of shares of Common Stock by such optionee will be made
only pursuant to (i) a Registration Statement under the Securities Act which is
effective and current with respect to the shares of Common Stock being sold, or
(ii) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act, but in claiming such exemption, the optionee shall prior to any offer of
sale or sale of such shares of Common Stock provide the Company with a favorable
written opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, in form, substance and
scope satisfactory to the Company, as to the applicability of such exemption to
the proposed sale or distribution.

                      In addition, if at any time the Administrators shall
determine, in their sole discretion, that the listing or qualification of the
shares of Common Stock subject to any option on any securities exchange, Nasdaq
or under any applicable law, or the consent or approval of any governmental
agency or regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition to, or in
connection with, the granting of an option or the issuing of shares of Common
Stock thereunder, such option may not be granted and such option may not be
exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, qualification, consent or
approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not
acceptable to the Company.

                      11. CONTRACTS. Each option shall be evidenced by an
appropriate Contract which shall be duly executed by the Company and the
optionee, and shall contain such terms, provisions and conditions not
inconsistent herewith as may be determined by the Administrators. The terms of
each option and Contract need not be identical.

                      12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a stock
dividend, recapitalization, merger in which the Company is the surviving
corporation, spin-off, split-up, combination or exchange of shares or the like
which results in a change in the number or kind of shares of Common Stock which
is outstanding immediately prior to such event, the aggregate number and kind of
shares subject to the Plan, the aggregate number and kind of shares subject to
each outstanding option and the exercise price thereof shall be appropriately
adjusted by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and
binding on all parties. Such adjustment may provide for the elimination of
fractional shares which might otherwise be subject to options without payment
therefor.

                      In the event of (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company, (b) a merger or similar transaction in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation or a consolidation or (c) a merger (or similar
transaction) in which the Company is the surviving corporation but more than 50%
of the outstanding Common Stock is transferred or exchanged for other
consideration or in which shares of Common Stock are issued in an amount in
excess of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding
the merger (or similar transaction), any outstanding options shall

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terminate upon the earliest of any such event, unless other provision is made
therefor in the transaction or the applicable Contract.

                      13. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan was
adopted by the Board of Directors on March 5, 1997 and amended by the Board of
Directors on December 15, 1997. No ISO may be granted under the Plan after March
4, 2007. The Board of Directors, without further approval of the Company's
stockholders, may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in
part, or amend it from time to time in such respects as it may deem advisable,
including, without limitation, in order that ISOs granted hereunder meet the
requirements for "incentive stock options" under the Code, to comply with the
provisions of Rule 16b-3, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any change in
applicable law, regulations, rulings or interpretations of administrative
agencies; provided, however, that no amendment shall be effective without the
requisite prior or subsequent stockholder approval which would (a) except as
contemplated in Paragraph 12, increase the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock for which options may be granted under the Plan or the 162(m) Maximum, (b)
change the eligibility requirements to receive options hereunder or (c) make any
change for which applicable law requires stockholder approval. No termination,
suspension or amendment of the Plan shall, without the consent of the optionee,
adversely affect his rights under any option granted under the Plan. The power
of the Administrators to construe and administer any option granted under the
Plan prior to the termination or suspension of the Plan nevertheless shall
continue after such termination or during such suspension.

                      14. NON-TRANSFERABILITY. Unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Contract, no option granted under the Plan shall be transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and options may
be exercised, during the lifetime of the optionee, only by the optionee or his
Legal Representatives. Except to the extent provided above, options may not be
assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or disposed of in any way (whether
by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process, and any such attempted assignment, transfer,
pledge, hypothecation or disposition shall be null and void ab initio and of no
force or effect.

                      15. WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company, a Subsidiary or Parent
may withhold (a) cash or (b) with the consent of the Administrators (in the
Contract or otherwise), shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of an
option having an aggregate fair market value on the relevant date (determined in
accordance with Paragraph 5) or a combination of cash and shares, in an amount
equal to the amount which the Company, a Subsidiary or Parent determines is
necessary to satisfy its obligation to withhold Federal, state and local income
taxes or other amounts incurred by reason of the grant, vesting, exercise or
disposition of an option, or the disposition of the underlying shares of Common
Stock. Alternatively, the Company, a Subsidiary or Parent may require the holder
to pay to it such amount, in cash, promptly upon demand.

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                      16. LEGENDS; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company may endorse
such legend or legends upon the certificates for shares of Common Stock issued
upon exercise of an option under the Plan and may issue such "stop transfer"
instructions to its transfer agent in respect of such shares as it determines,
in its discretion, to be necessary or appropriate to (a) prevent a violation of,
or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and any applicable state securities laws, (b) implement the provisions of
the Plan or any agreement between the Company and the optionee with respect to
such shares of Common Stock, or (c) permit the Company to determine the
occurrence of a "disqualifying disposition," as described in Section 421(b) of
the Code, of the shares of Common Stock issued or transferred upon the exercise
of an ISO granted under the Plan.

                      The Company shall pay all issuance taxes with respect to
the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option granted
under the Plan, as well as all fees and expenses incurred by the Company in
connection with such issuance.

                      17. USE OF PROCEEDS. The cash proceeds received upon the
exercise of an option under the Plan shall be added to the general funds of the
Company and used for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors may
determine.

                      18. SUBSTITUTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS OF OPTIONS OF CERTAIN
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS. Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Board of Directors may, without further approval by the stockholders,
substitute new options for prior options of a Constituent Corporation (as
defined in Paragraph 19) or assume the prior options of such Constituent
Corporation.

                      19. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the Plan, the following
terms shall be defined as set forth below:

                              (a) "Cause" shall mean (i) in the case of an
employee or consultant, if there is a written employment or consulting agreement
between the optionee and the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent which
defines termination of such relationship for cause, cause as defined in such
agreement, and (ii) in all other cases, cause as defined by applicable state
law.

                              (b) "Constituent Corporation" shall mean any
corporation which engages with the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Parent
in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies (or would apply if
the option assumed or substituted were an ISO), or any Parent or any Subsidiary
of such corporation.

                              (c) "Disability" shall mean a permanent and total
disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

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                              (d) "Legal Representative" shall mean the
executor, administrator or other person who at the time is entitled by law to
exercise the rights of a deceased or incapacitated optionee with respect to an
option granted under the Plan.

                              (e) "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a person
who is a director of the Company, but is not an employee of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or a Parent.

                              (f) "Parent" shall have the same definition as
"parent corporation" in Section 424(e) of the Code.

                              (g) "Subsidiary" shall have the same definition as
"subsidiary corporation" in Section 424(f) of the Code.

                      20. GOVERNING LAW; CONSTRUCTION. The Plan, the options and
Contracts hereunder and all related matters shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to
conflict of law provisions which defer to the substantive laws of another
jurisdiction.

                      Neither the Plan nor any Contract shall be construed or
interpreted with any presumption against the Company by reason of the Company
causing the Plan or Contract to be drafted. Whenever from the context it appears
appropriate, any term stated in either the singular or plural shall include the
singular and plural, and any term stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter
gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.

                      21. PARTIAL INVALIDITY. The invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability of any provision in the Plan, any option or Contract shall not
affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision, all of
which shall be valid, legal and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law.

                      22. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Plan shall be subject to
approval by a majority of the votes of the stockholders at a meeting at which a
quorum is present or by written consent. No options granted hereunder may be
exercised prior to such approval; provided, however, that the date of grant of
any option shall be determined as if the Plan had not been subject to such
approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Plan is not approved by a vote
of the stockholders of the Company on or before March 4, 1998, the Plan and any
options granted hereunder shall terminate.

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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                  This Agreement is made and entered into effective as of March
27, 1997 by and between Credit Store, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Employer"),
and Martin Burke ("Employee").

                  Employer hereby agrees to employ Employee, and Employee hereby
accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  1. Period of Employment. The period of Employee's employment
under this Agreement (the "Period of Employment") shall commence on the date
hereof (the "Effective Date") and shall expire on March 26, 2002 (the
"Expiration Date"), subject to any extension pursuant to section 1 or 9.14
hereof, or as may otherwise be agreed, or any earlier termination of Employer's
employment as provided in Section 6 hereof. Upon the expiration of the initial
term of this Agreement, and each subsequent term or extension thereof, this
Agreement shall automatically be extended for an additional term of one year,
unless the Employer or the Employee shall have notified the other party hereto
of its election to terminate this Agreement not later than 90 days prior to the
scheduled Expiration Date. If Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to
Section 6 hereof, the Period of Employment shall expire as of the Date of
Termination (as hereinafter defined).

                  2. Duties. During the Period of Employment, Employee will
faithfully perform those duties and responsibilities assigned by the Board of
Directors of Employer (the "Board") and Employee will devote his full working
time and use his best efforts to advance the business and welfare of Employer in
furtherance of the policies established by the Board. It is understood that the
office at which Employee will be primarily located will be in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, but that the Employee's duties and responsibilities may require travel.

<PAGE>   2

During the Period of Employment, Employee shall not engage in any other
employment activities for any direct or indirect remuneration without the
concurrence of the Board, except that, so long as such activities do not
interfere with his duties under this Agreement, Employee may (i) continue to
devote reasonable time to the management of investments and to participation in
community and charitable affairs, and (ii) devote not more than 5% of his
working time on matters not related to the business of the Employer unless the
Board of Directors by resolution directs otherwise. Employee shall have the
title of Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or such other title as the
Board shall determine from time to time.

                  3.       Compensation.

                           3.1 Base Salary. During the Period of Employment,
Employer shall pay Employee a Base Salary at the rate of $60,000 per annum
payable at least as frequently as bi-weekly and subject to payroll deductions as
may be necessary or customary in respect of Employer's salaried employees in
general. The amount of Employee's Base Salary shall be subject to annual review
by the Board, provided that the level of such Base Salary shall not be subject
to reduction.

                           3.2 Incentive Compensation. As additional, incentive
compensation, Employee shall be entitled to receive one and one-half percent
(1.5%) of the annual net earnings of Credit Store, Inc. before taxes as
reflected on the company's certified financial statements ("Incentive
Compensation"). Incentive Compensation shall be adjusted in any fiscal year in
which Employee is employed for less than the full year by multiplying the
Incentive Compensation otherwise due by a fraction equal to the number of months
Employee was employed during the fiscal year (not taking account of partial
months) by the total

                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3

number of months in the fiscal year. Payment of Incentive Compensation due
hereunder shall be made not later than 30 days following the receipt of the
certified financial statements of Credit Store, Inc.

                           3.3 Options. In connection with Employee's
employment, Employer has granted Employee an option (the "Option") to purchase
1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Employer at $5.50 per share (the market
price of the shares on the date of the grant). The form of Option is attached as
Exhibit A hereto.

                  4. Benefits. During the Period of Employment, Employee shall
be entitled to participate in all fringe benefit programs (the "Fringe
Benefits") such as medical and dental coverage, life insurance, pension and
profit-sharing plans, etc., that may be maintained by Employer that are
available to its executive officers generally. Any payments or benefits payable
to Employee hereunder in respect of any calendar year during which Employee is
employed by Employer for less than the entire year shall, unless otherwise
provided in the applicable plan or arrangement, be prorated in accordance with
the number of days in such calendar year during which he is so employed.
Employee acknowledges that he shall have no vested rights under or to
participate in any such program except as expressly provided under the terms
hereof or thereof.

                  5. Expenses. Employer will pay or reimburse Employee for such
reasonable travel, entertainment, lodging or other expenses as he may incur on
behalf of Employer during the Period of Employment in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder but only to the extent that such expenses
were either specifically authorized by Employer or incurred in accordance with
policies established by the Board and provided that

                                      -3-

<PAGE>   4

Employee shall furnish Employer with such evidence relating to such expenses as
Employer may reasonably require to substantiate such expenses for tax purposes.

                  6.       Termination of Employment.

                           6.1 Circumstances of Termination. Notwithstanding the
terms set forth in Section 1 hereof, Employee's employment shall terminate under
any of the following circumstances:

                                    (a) Death. In the event of Employee's death.

                                    (b) Permanent Disability. If during the
Period of Employment Employee becomes physically or mentally incapacitated or
disabled so that (i) he is unable to perform for Employer substantially the same
services as he performed prior to incurring such incapacity or disability or to
devote his full working time or use his best efforts to advance the business and
welfare of Employer or otherwise to perform his duties under this Agreement and
(ii) such condition exists for an aggregate of six months in any 12 consecutive
calendar month period (Employer, at its option and expense, being entitled to
retain a physician reasonably acceptable to Employee to confirm the existence of
such incapacity or disability, and the determination of such physician being
binding upon Employer and Employee).

                                    (c) Cause. At the option of Employer,
because Employee:

                                             (i) has been convicted of, or has
                                    pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony,
                                    or

                                             (ii) has embezzled or
                                    misappropriated Employer funds or property,
                                    or

                                      -4-

<PAGE>   5

                                            (iii) has continued use of alcohol
                                    or drugs to an extent that interferes with
                                    the performance by Employee of his
                                    employment responsibilities, or

                                            (iv) has materially violated Section
                                    8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.3 or Section 8.4
                                    hereof, or

                                            (v) has willfully failed or refused
                                    to perform those duties reasonably assigned
                                    or delegated to him by the Board of
                                    Directors, which failure or refusal
                                    continues following (A) the Board of
                                    Directors giving the Employee written notice
                                    setting forth the facts or events
                                    constituting such failure or refusal and (B)
                                    a reasonable opportunity to correct the
                                    deficiencies or other problems specified in
                                    such notice to the reasonable satisfaction
                                    of the Board of Directors.

                                             (d) Not For Cause. At the option of
Employer at any time for any reason other than those referred to above or for no
reason at all, whereupon the Employer shall become obligated to make those
payments set forth in Section 7.l(d) hereof. If Employer shall be in material
breach of this Agreement and by reason thereof Employee terminates his
employment hereunder, such termination shall be deemed a termination by Employer
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d).

                           6.2 Notice of Termination. Any termination of
Employee's employment by Employer (other than termination pursuant to Section
6.1(a) hereof) or by Employee shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 9.2. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination"

                                      -5-

<PAGE>   6

shall mean a notice terminating Employee's employment by Employer. If a Notice
of Termination is given by Employer, such notice shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances that provide a basis for
termination of Employee's employment under the provision so indicated. In the
event Employer sends a Notice of Termination under section 6.1(c), Employee
shall have a reasonable opportunity to provide documentation or other evidence
to the Board of Directors contesting the basis for the termination. For purposes
of this Agreement, the "Date of Termination" shall be the date on which the
Notice of Termination is delivered except that with respect to Section 6.1(a)
the "Date of Termination" shall be the date of Employee's death.

                  7.       Payments Upon Termination of Employment.

                           7.1 Payments. In the event that Employee's employment
is terminated prior to the Expiration Date (including any extension thereof),
the Period of Employment shall expire as of the Date of Termination.

                                    (a) If Employer terminates Employee's
employment for Cause or if Employee voluntarily terminates his employment other
than as a result of Employer's material breach of the terms of this Agreement,
Employer's obligation to compensate Employee shall in all respects cease as of
the Date of Termination, except that Employer shall (i) pay Employee the Base
Salary accrued under Section 3, any Fringe Benefits accrued under Section 4 and
the reimbursable expenses incurred under Section 5 of this Agreement up to such
Date of Termination (the "Accrued Obligations"); and (ii) solely in the event
Employee voluntarily terminates his employment without material breach, pay
Employee the

                                      -6-

<PAGE>   7

incentive compensation accrued as of the Date of Termination computed and paid
in accordance with section 3.2;

                                    (b) If Employee's employment is terminated
upon the death of Employee, Employer's obligation to compensate Employee shall
in all respects cease as of the Date of Termination, except that Employer shall
(i) within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination Employer shall pay
Employee's estate or legal representative the Accrued Obligations, (ii) pay
accrued incentive compensation in accordance with section 3.2, and (iii)
continue to maintain during the six month period following the Date of
Termination for the benefit of the Employee's dependents, basic health and
dental insurance and related medical expenses coverage on terms no less
favorable to the Employee than Employer provides to its executive officers
generally, as such benefits may be modified from time to time during such
period;

                                    (c) If Employee's employment is terminated
upon the Permanent Disability of Employee, Employer's obligation to compensate
Employee shall in all respects cease as of the Date of Termination, except that
Employer shall (i) within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination pay
Employee Accrued Obligations and a lump sum payment equal to 25% of the
Employee's annual Base Salary payable under Section 3 hereof at the rate in
effect immediately prior to such termination less the amount of any disability
payments payable to Employee during the six-month period following the Date of
Termination pursuant to any Employer-paid or state sponsored insurance policy or
employer self-insured program, (ii) pay accrued incentive compensation in
accordance with section 3.2, and (iii) continue to maintain during the six-month
period following the Date of Termination for the benefit of Employee and his
dependents, basic health, disability and dental insurance

                                      -7-

<PAGE>   8

and related medical expenses coverage on terms no less favorable to the Employee
than Employer provides to its executive officers generally, as such benefits may
be modified from time to time during such period provided that the Employee
shall continue to be obligated to make any contributions or payments in
connection with such benefits to the same extent as other executive officers
generally; and

                                    (d) If Employee's employment is terminated
by Employer pursuant to Section 6.1(d), Employer's obligation to compensate
Employee shall in all respects cease, except as follows:

                                             (i) within thirty (30) days after
                                    the Date of Termination Employer shall pay
                                    to Employee the Accrued Obligations and
                                    during the period beginning with the Date of
                                    Termination and ending on the later of March
                                    26, 2002 or the end of any subsequent term
                                    (the "Severance Period"), Employer shall (x)
                                    pay to Employee on a monthly basis the sum
                                    of one-twelfth (1/12th) of the annual Base
                                    Salary of Employee in effect at the Date of
                                    Termination (the "Continuation Payments")
                                    and (y) continue to maintain, during the
                                    Severance Period for the benefit of the
                                    Employee and his dependents, basic health,
                                    dental and life insurance and related
                                    medical expenses coverage (including
                                    disability and hospitalization coverage)
                                    (the "Continuation Benefits") on terms no
                                    less favorable to the Employee than the
                                    Employer provides to its executive officers
                                    generally, as such benefits may be modified
                                    from time to time

                                      -8-

<PAGE>   9

                                    during the Severance Period. During the
                                    Severance Period, Employee shall make any
                                    contributions required to maintain such
                                    Continuation Benefits, which may be withheld
                                    from the Continuation Payments; provided
                                    that such contributions are also required to
                                    be made by the Employer's executive officers
                                    generally. If at any time during the
                                    Severance Period Employee shall obtain
                                    employment with a third party (the
                                    "Substitute Employer") in which Employee is
                                    entitled to receive basic health benefits in
                                    connection with such employment on terms
                                    provided by the Substitute Employer to its
                                    similarly situated employees generally, the
                                    Employer shall no longer be required to
                                    provide Continuation Benefits to the
                                    Employee, regardless of whether such
                                    benefits differ in any respect from the
                                    Continuation Benefits.

                                            (ii) In satisfaction of all
                                    obligations to pay Incentive Compensation,
                                    Employer shall pay Employee amounts due
                                    under section 3.2 as if Employee had not
                                    been terminated provided that, in the event
                                    Employee is terminated and there has been no
                                    change in control as defined by section
                                    9.13, then Employer shall pay incentive
                                    compensation due under section 3.2 with
                                    respect only to the period extending from
                                    the Date of Termination to the end of the
                                    18th month thereafter. Employee shall be
                                    entitled to no compensation pursuant to this
                                    provision if

                                      -9-

<PAGE>   10

                                    he is terminated pursuant to Section 6.1(d)
                                    during an extended or subsequent term of
                                    this Agreement, except that Employee shall
                                    be paid any Incentive Compensation accrued
                                    as of the Date of Termination, in accordance
                                    with section 3.2.

                                            (iii) The Employer shall be excused
                                    from its obligations to make payments under
                                    this Section 7.1(d) if the Employee breaches
                                    its obligations hereunder (including its
                                    obligations under Article 8 hereof).

                           7.2 Release and Satisfaction. With respect to
Employee, his heirs, successors and assigns, payment by Employer of the amounts
provided under this Section 7 shall release, relinquish and forever discharge
Employer and any director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent of Employer
from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses, liabilities or
obligations, whether known or unknown (other than any such claims, damages,
losses, costs, expenses, liabilities or obligations arising under any written
employee benefit plan or arrangement (whether or not tax-qualified) covering
Employee), which Employee has incurred or suffered or may incur or suffer as a
result of the termination of such employment.

                           7.3 Effect on This Agreement. Any termination of
Employee's employment and any expiration of the Period of Employment under this
Agreement shall not affect the continuing operation and effect of Sections 7.2,
8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 hereof, which shall continue in full force and effect
with respect to Employer and Employee, and its and his heirs, successors and
assigns. Nothing in Section 7.1 hereof shall be deemed to operate or shall
operate as a release, settlement or discharge of any action or omission by

                                      -10-

<PAGE>   11

Employee enumerated in Section 6.1(c) hereof as a possible basis for termination
of Employee's employment for Cause.

                           7.4 No Mitigation. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 hereof, Employee shall be free to accept
such employment and engage in such business as Employee may desire following the
termination of his employment hereunder, and any compensation received by
Employee therefrom shall not reduce any payments required to be made by Employer
hereunder.

                  8. Non-disclosure of Proprietary Information, Surrender of
Records; Inventions and Patents; Non-Compete.

                           8.1 Proprietary Information. Employee shall not
during the Period of Employment or at any time thereafter (irrespective of the
circumstances under which Employee's employment by Employer terminates),
directly or indirectly use for his own purpose or for the benefit of any person
or entity other than Employer, nor otherwise disclose, any proprietary
information, as defined below, to any individual or entity, unless such
disclosure has been authorized in writing by the Board or is otherwise required
by law. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "proprietary information" shall
include, but is not limited to: (a) the name or address of any customer, vendor
or affiliate or Employer or any information concerning the transactions or
relations of any customer, vendor or affiliate or Employer with Employer; (b)
any information concerning any product, technology or procedure employed by
Employer but not generally known to its customers, vendors or competitors, or
under development by or being tested by Employer but not at the time offered
generally to customers or vendors; (c) any information relating to Employer's
computer software, computer systems, pricing or marketing methods, margins,
capital

                                      -11-

<PAGE>   12

structure, operating results, borrowing arrangements or business plans;
(d) any information which is generally regarded as confidential or proprietary
in any line of business engaged in by Employer; (e) any information contained in
any of Employer's written or oral policies and procedures or employee manuals;
(f) any information belonging to customers, vendors or affiliates of Employer
which Employer has agreed to hold in confidence; (g) any inventions, innovations
or improvements covered by Section 8.3 below; (h) any other information which
the Board has reasonably determined by resolution and communicated to Employee
to be confidential or proprietary; and (i) all written, graphic and other
material relating to any of the foregoing. Information that is not novel or
copyrighted or patented may nonetheless be proprietary information. Proprietary
information, however, shall not include (x) any information that is or becomes
generally known to the industries in which Employer competes through sources
independent of Employer or through authorized publication to persons other than
Employer's employees by Employer or (y) other non-sensitive information that may
be disclosed by Employee in the ordinary course of business, the disclosure of
which is not reasonably likely to adversely affect Employer's business
operations, their relationships with customers, vendors or employees or the
results of their operations.

                           8.2 Confidentiality and Surrender of Records.
Employee shall not during the Period of Employment or at an time thereafter
(irrespective of the circumstances under which Employee's employment by Employer
terminates), except as required by law, or in connection with the ongoing
business of Employer, directly or indirectly give any "confidential records" (as
hereinafter defined) to, or permit any inspection or copying of confidential
records by, any individual or entity other than in the course of such
individual's or entity's employment or retention by Employer, nor shall he
retain, and will deliver

                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13

promptly to Employer, any of the same following termination of his employment.
For purposes hereof, "confidential records" means all correspondence, memoranda,
files, manuals, books, lists, financial, operating or marketing records,
magnetic tape, or electronic or other media or equipment of any kind which may
be in Employee's possession or under his control or accessible to him which
contain any proprietary information as defined in Section 8.1. above. All
confidential records shall be and remain the sole property of Employer during
the Period of Employment and thereafter.

                           8.3 Inventions and Patents: All inventions,
innovations or improvements in Employer's method of conducting its business
(including policies, procedures, products, improvements, software, ideas and
discoveries, whether paten- table or copyrightable or not) conceived or made by
Employee, either alone or jointly with others, during the Period of Employment
belong to Employer. Employee will promptly disclose in writing such inventions,
innovations or improvements to the Board and perform all actions reasonably
requested by the Board to establish and confirm such ownership by Employer,
including, but not limited to, cooperating with and assisting Employer in
obtaining patents for Employer in the United States and in foreign countries.
Any patent application filed by Employee within a year after termination of his
employment hereunder shall be presumed to relate to an invention which was made
during the Period of Employment unless Employee can provide evidence to the
contrary.

                           8.4      Covenant Not to Compete; No Solicitation.

                                    (a) Employee acknowledges and recognizes the
highly competitive nature of Employer's business and, in consideration of the
payment by Employer to Employee of amounts that may hereafter be paid to
Employee pursuant to Sections 7.1 and

                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14

8.4(d) hereof, Employee agrees that, provided he receives the applicable
payments provided for in Section 7.1 and 8.4(d) hereof, during the period (the
"Covered Time") beginning on the Date of Termination and ending (i) if
Employee's employment is terminated for any reason other than pursuant to
Section 6.1(d) hereof, on the second anniversary of the Date of Termination or
(ii) if Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6.1(d) hereof
and subject to Section 8.4(d) hereof, on the earlier of (A) the first
anniversary of the Date of Termination or (B) the Expiration Date, Employee will
not compete with the business of Employer, which means that Employee will not
engage, directly or indirectly, in the "Covered Business" (as hereinafter
defined) in any state of the United States of America in which the Employer is
conducting business or proposes to conduct business as of the Date of
Termination (these areas are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Covered Area"). For the purpose of this Agreement, (i) "Covered Business" shall
mean the businesses in which Employer or any "affiliate" of Employer was engaged
at any time during the one year period preceding the Date of Termination; and
(ii) the phrase "engage, directly or indirectly" shall mean engaging directly or
having an interest, directly or indirectly, as owner, partner, shareholder,
employee, independent contractor, capital investor, lender, renderer of
consultation services or advice or otherwise (other than as the holder of less
than 2% of the outstanding stock of a publicly-traded corporation), either alone
or in association with others, in the operation of any aspect of any type of
business or enterprise engaged in any aspect of the Covered Business. Employee
shall be deemed engaged in business in the Covered Area if his place of business
is located in the Covered Area or if he solicits customers located anywhere in,
or provides products anywhere in, the Covered Area. For all purposes of this

                                      -14-

<PAGE>   15

Agreement, the term "affiliate(s)" shall be defined as the term "affiliate" is
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

                                    (b) Employee agrees that during the term of
this Agreement (including any extension thereof) and during the Covered Time he
shall not (i) directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit any of the
employees, agents or representatives of Employer or of affiliates of Employer to
leave any of such entities; (ii) directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to
solicit any of the employees, agents, consultants or representatives of Employer
or of affiliates of Employer to become employees, agents, representatives or
consultants or any other person or entity; or (iii) directly or indirectly
solicit or attempt to solicit any customer, vendor or lender of Employer or of
affiliates of Employer with respect to any product or service being furnished by
Employer.

                                    (c) Employee understands that the provisions
of Section 8.4 (a) may limit his ability to earn a livelihood in a business
which is substantially similar to the business of Employer but nevertheless
agrees and hereby acknowledges that the consideration provided under this
Agreement, including any amounts or benefits provided under Section 7 hereof, is
sufficient to justify the restrictions contained in such provisions and in
consideration thereof and in light of Employee's education, skills and
abilities, Employee agrees that he will not assert that, and it should not be
considered that, such provisions prevent him from earning a living, or otherwise
are void or unenforceable or should be voided or held unenforceable. Employee
acknowledges and agrees that his duties with Employer are of an executive nature
and that he is a member of Employer's management group.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>   16

                                    (d) If Employee's employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 6.1(d) hereof, Employer may extend the Covered Time to
extend up to and through the second anniversary of the Date of Termination, but
no later than the first anniversary of the Expiration Date by delivering written
notice to Employee (specifying the duration of the extended Covered Time),
within ten (10) days of such Date of Termination, that Employer has elected to
continue to pay to Employee the Continuation Payments (except that during any
period of Covered Time that extends beyond the Expiration Date, the Continuation
Payments shall be increased by an additional 50% thereof) and provide the
Continuation Benefits (on terms no less favorable to Employee than Employer
provides to its executive officers generally, as such benefits may be modified
from time to time) for each month of such extended Covered Time. During the
extended Covered Time, Employee shall be required to make any contributions
required to maintain such Continuation Benefits, which may be withheld from the
Continuation Payments; provided that such contributions are also required to be
made by the Employer's executive officers generally. If at any time during the
extended Covered Time Employee shall obtain employment with a Substitute
Employer in which Employee is entitled to receive basic health benefits in
connection with such employment on terms provided by the Substitute Employer to
its similarly situated employees generally, Employer shall no longer be required
to provide Continuation Benefits to the Employee, regardless of whether such
benefits differ in respect from the Continuation Benefits. Employer shall be
excused from its obligations to make payments under this Section 8.4(d) if
Employee breaches its obligations hereunder.

                           8.5 Litigation Assistance. Employee agrees that after
the Date of Termination he shall, at the request of Employer, and subject to
time limitations imposed by

                                      -16-

<PAGE>   17

business or employment obligations, render all reasonable assistance and perform
all lawful acts that Employer considers necessary or advisable in connection
with any litigation involving Employer or any director, officer, employee,
shareholder, agent, representative, consultant, customer or vendor of Employer.
In the event that Employer requests Employee's assistance under this Section
8.5, Employer shall pay to Employee for each day such assistance is rendered an
amount equal to the annual Base Salary of Employee in effect at the Date of
Termination divided by 250 and shall promptly pay or reimburse Employee for such
reasonable travel expenses as he may incur in connection with rendering
assistance hereunder.

                           8.6 Definition of Employer. For purposes of this
Section 8, the term Employer shall include Employer and any and all of its
subsidiaries, ventures or affiliates, whether currently existing or hereafter
formed, which are engaged in the Covered Business or a portion thereof, as well
as any person to whom this Agreement is assigned as permitted by Section 9.8
hereof, provided, however, that the business of any assignee not already engaged
in by Employer shall not be included as a Covered Business.

                           8.7      Enforcement.

                                    (a) The parties hereto agree and acknowledge
that the covenants and agreements contained herein are reasonably necessary in
duration and to protect the reasonable competitive business interests of
Employer, including, without limitation, the value of the proprietary
information and goodwill of Employer.

                                    (b) Employee agrees that the covenants and
undertakings contained in Article 8 of this Agreement relate to matters which
are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and that Employer cannot be
reasonably or adequately compensated

                                      -17-

<PAGE>   18

in damages in an action at law in the event Employee breaches any of these
covenants or undertakings. Therefore, Employee agrees that Employer shall be
entitled, as a matter of course, without the need to prove irreparable injury,
to an injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief from any court of
competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or threatened violation of any
of such terms by Employee and such other persons as the court shall order. The
unsuccessful party will pay costs and legal fees incurred by the party that is
successful in any proceeding by Employer seeking to obtain such an injunction.

                                    (c) Rights and remedies provided for in this
Section are cumulative and shall be in addition to rights and remedies otherwise
available to the parties under any other agreement or applicable law.

                                    (d) In the event that any provision of this
Agreement shall to any extent be held invalid, unreasonable or unenforceable in
any circumstance, the parties hereto agree that the remainder of this Agreement
and the application of such provision of this Agreement to other circumstances
shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any
provision of this Agreement, or any part thereof, is held to be unenforceable
because of the scope or duration of or the area covered by such provision, the
parties hereto agree that the court or arbitrator making such determination
shall reduce the scope, duration and/or area of such provision (and shall
substitute appropriate provisions for any such unenforceable provisions) in
order to make such provision enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law,
and/or shall delete specific words and phrases, and such modified provision
shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced. The parties hereto recognize
that if, in any judicial proceeding, a court shall refuse to enforce any of the
separate covenants contained in this Agreement, then that unenforceable covenant
contained in this Agreement

                                      -18-

<PAGE>   19

shall be deemed eliminated from these provisions to the extent necessary to
permit the remaining separate covenants to be enforced. In the event that any
court or arbitrator determines that the time period or the area, or both, are
unreasonable and that any of the covenants is to that extent unenforceable, the
parties hereto agree that such covenants will remain in full force and effect,
first, for the greatest time period, and second, in the greatest geographical
area that would not render them unenforceable.

                  9.       Miscellaneous

                           9.1 Key Man Insurance. Employee recognizes and
acknowledges that Employer or its affiliates may seek and purchase one or more
policies providing key man life insurance with respect to Employee, the proceeds
of which would be payable to Employer or such affiliate. Employee hereby
consents to Employer or its affiliates seeking and purchasing such insurance and
will provide such information, undergo such medical examinations (at Employer's
expense), execute such documents, and otherwise take any and all actions
necessary or desirable in order for Employer or its affiliates to seek, purchase
and maintain in full force and effect such policy or policies.

                           9.2 Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be deemed sufficiently given if sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the addressee at his or its
address last provided the sender in writing by the addressee for purposes of
receiving notices hereunder or, unless or until such address shall be so
furnished, to the address indicated opposite his or its signature to this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notice sent in conformity with this
Section 9.2 shall be deemed to have been received on the third business day
following the date on which such notices are so sent.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>   20

                           9.3 Modification and No Waiver of Breach. No waiver
or modification of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in writing
signed by the parties hereto. No waiver or modification of this Agreement shall
be binding unless it is in writing signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by a
party of a breach hereof by the other party shall be deemed to constitute a
waiver of a future breach, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, except to
the extent specifically provided in any written waiver under this Section 9.3.

                           9.4 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, AND ALL QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE HEREOF AND
REMEDIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAW.

                           9.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                           9.6 Captions. The captions used herein are for ease
of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.

                           9.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties hereto relating to the matters encompassed
hereby and supersedes any prior oral or written agreements.

                           9.8 Assignment. The rights of Employer under this
Agreement may, without the consent of Employee, be assigned by Employer to any
person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether
by purchase, merger, or

                                      -20-

<PAGE>   21

otherwise, directly or indirectly, acquires all or material portions of the
stock, assets or any line of business of Employer, provided such assignee
assumes all of the obligations of Employer under this Agreement.

                           9.9 Non-Transferability of Interest. None of the
rights of Employee to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this
Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary
disposition or by the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of
Employee. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition
(other than as aforesaid) of any interest in the rights of Employee to receive
any form of compensation to be made by Employer pursuant to this Agreement shall
be void.

                           9.10 Arbitration. The parties shall endeavor to
settle all disputes by amicable negotiations. Except as otherwise provided
herein, any claim, dispute, disagreement or controversy that arises between the
parties relating to this Agreement that is not amicably settled shall be
resolved by arbitration, as follows:

                                    (a) Any such arbitration shall be heard in
The City of New York, New York, before a panel consisting of one (1) to three
(3) arbitrators, each of whom shall be impartial. Upon the written Request of
Arbitration of either party hereto to commence arbitration hereunder, the
parties shall attempt to mutually agree as to the number and identity of the
arbitrator(s), within thirty (30) days of the date of such Request. Except as
the parties may otherwise agree, all arbitrators (if not selected by the parties
hereto within thirty (30) days of a written Request for Arbitration) shall be
appointed pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association. In determining the number and appropriate background of
the arbitrators, the appointing authority shall give due

                                      -21-

<PAGE>   22

consideration to the issues to be resolved, but his or her decision as to the
number of arbitrators and their identity shall be final.

                                    (b) An arbitration may be commenced by any
party to this Agreement by the service of a written Request for Arbitration upon
the other affected parties. Such Request for Arbitration shall summarize the
controversy or claim to be arbitrated.

                                    (c) All attorneys' fees and costs of the
arbitration shall in the first instance be borne by the respective party
incurring such costs and fees, but the arbitrators shall have the discretion to
award costs and/or attorneys' fees as they deem appropriate under the
circumstances. The parties hereby expressly waive punitive damages, and under no
circumstances shall an award contain any amount that in any way reflects
punitive damages.

                                    (d) Judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

                                    (e) It is intended that controversies or
claims submitted to arbitration under this Section 9.10 shall remain
confidential, and to that end it is agreed by the parties that neither the facts
disclosed in the arbitration, the issues arbitrated, nor the views or opinions
of any persons concerning them, shall be disclosed to third persons at any time,
except to the extent necessary to enforce an award or judgment or as required by
law or in response to legal process or in connection with such arbitration.

                                    (f) Any arbitration under this Section 9.10
shall be conducted pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>   23

                           9.11 Jurisdiction: Venue. Subject to Section 9.10
hereof, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction of any State or Federal court sitting in New York, New
York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement. The parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waive any
objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought
in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. A final judgment in
any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court shall be conclusive and
binding upon the parties and may be enforced in any other courts to whose
jurisdiction a party is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

                           9.12 Indemnification. Employer will indemnify and
hold Employee harmless from and against any damage, loss, liability, claim,
costs, expenses, penalties or fines to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law with respect to any actual or threatened claim, suit,
investigation, proceeding or action of any kind, civil or criminal, whether
seeking damages, equitable relief, or otherwise, by any governmental authority
or person not a party hereto or affiliated with a party hereto ("Proceeding").
Such indemnification shall include, without limitation, the obligation to
advance legal fees and costs necessarily and reasonably incurred by Employee in
connection with such a Proceeding.

                           9.13 Change in Control. In the event there is a
change in control of Employer during the initial term of this Agreement, then
Employee shall have the right, within 60 days of the date a change in control
occurs, to terminate his employment and to have such termination be treated as a
termination without cause under Section 6.1(d) for the sole purpose of
determining Employee's compensation in connection with the termination.

                                      -23-

<PAGE>   24

For purposes of this Agreement a change in control shall be deemed to have
occurred at such time as either (i) Taxter One, L.L.C. shall own directly or
indirectly less than 10% of the outstanding voting common stock of Employer and
shall own directly or indirectly less than 50% of each other outstanding class
of securities the majority vote of which is required for shareholder action; or
(ii) Jay Botchman shall own less than 50% of the membership interests in Taxter
One, L.L.C.

                           9.14 Death of Jay Botchman. In the event Jay Botchman
shall die during the term of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall be
automatically extended to September 30, 2006. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                       CREDIT STORE, INC.             - Employer
                                       -----------------------------

                                       By:      /s/ Jay Botchman
                                           -----------------------------

                                                /s/ Martin Burke
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Employee
                                           Martin Burke

                                      -24-

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