Document:

Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- EX-10.18

Exhibit 10.18 

REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE 

Salary Continuation Agreement 

 

 

REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE 

SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT 

This SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 17, 2014, by and between REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE, a state-chartered commercial bank located in Redding, California (the “Bank”), and ROBERT H. MUTTERA (the “Executive”). 

The purpose of this Agreement is to provide specified benefits to the Executive, a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees who contribute materially to the continued growth, development and future business success of the Bank. This Agreement shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended from time to time. 

Article 1 

Definitions 

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings specified: 

 

	1.1	“Accrual Balance” means the liability that should be accrued by the Bank, under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), for the Bank’s obligation to the Executive under this Agreement, by applying Accounting Principles Board Opinion Number 12 as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Number 106 and the Discount Rate. Any one of a variety of amortization methods may be used to determine the Accrual Balance. However, once chosen, the method must be consistently applied. 

 

	1.2	“Beneficiary” means each designated person or entity, or the estate of the deceased Executive, entitled to any benefits upon the death of the Executive pursuant to Article 4. 

 

	1.3	“Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries. 

 

	1.4	“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank as from time to time constituted. 

 

	1.5	
“Change in Control” means (i) a Change in the Ownership of the Relevant Corporation, (ii) a Change in the Effective Control of the Relevant Corporation, or (iii) a Change in the Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Assets of the Relevant Corporation, as those terms are defined herein. The events giving rise to the Change in Control must be objectively determinable, and the Board, in a ministerial capacity, shall certify there is a Change in Control only when the events giving rise to the Change in Control are objectively determinable. The Board shall not have any discretionary authority to certify that there has been a Change in Control except at provided in the preceding sentence. 

 

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	 	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) the term “Change in Control” shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A; (ii) any event which constitutes a “Change in Control” for purposes of this Agreement; (iii) and any event which does not constitute a “Change in Control” under Section 409A shall not constitute a “Change in Control” for purposes of this Agreement. 

 

	 	A.	“Change in the Effective Control of the Relevant Corporation” means either of the following: 

 

	 	i.	That one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Relevant Corporation processing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Relevant Corporation, provided that no other corporation is a majority shareholder of the Relevant Corporation; or 

 

	 	ii.	That a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Relevant Corporation are replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the board members of the Relevant Corporation prior to the date of the appointment or election, provided that no other corporation is a majority shareholder of the Relevant Corporation. 

 

	 	B.	“Change in the Ownership of the Relevant Corporation” means that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Relevant Corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Relevant Corporation. However, if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Relevant Corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a Change in the Ownership of the Relevant Corporation (or to cause a Change in the Effective Control of the Relevant Corporation as defined herein). An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Relevant Corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Agreement. A Change in the Ownership of the Relevant Corporation (or issuance of stock of the Relevant Corporation) and stock in the Relevant Corporation remains outstanding after the transaction. 

 

	 	C.	
“Change in the Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Assets of the Relevant Corporation” means that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the 

 

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	 	Relevant Corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Relevant Corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Relevant Corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. 

 

	 	D.	“Relevant Corporation” means (i) the corporation for whom the Executive is performing services at the time of the Change in Control event; (ii) the corporation that is liable for the payment of the deferred compensation under this Plan; or (iii) a corporation that is a majority shareholder of a corporation identified in sections (i) or (ii) above, or any corporation in a chain of corporation in which each corporation is a majority shareholder of another corporation in the chain, ending in a corporation identified in sections (i) or (ii) above. A majority shareholder is a shareholder owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value and total voting power of such corporation. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who holds the vested option, and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option. However, if a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested, the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option. 

 

	1.6	“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations and guidance thereunder, including such regulations and guidance as may be promulgated after the Effective Date. 

 

	1.7	“Disability” means the Executive: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees or directors of the Bank. Medical determination of Disability may be made by either the Social Security Administration or by the provider of disability insurance covering employees or directors of the Bank provided that the definition of “disability” applied under such insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence. Upon the request of the Plan Administrator, the Executive must submit proof to the Plan Administrator of the Social Security Administration’s or the provider’s determination. 

 

	1.8	“Discount Rate” means the rate used by the Plan Administrator for determining the Accrual Balance. The initial Discount Rate is six percent (6%). However, the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may adjust the Discount Rate to maintain the rate within reasonable standards according to GAAP and/or applicable bank regulatory guidance. 

 

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	1.9	“Early Termination” means the Executive’s Termination of Employment before attainment of Normal Retirement Age except when such Termination of Employment occurs within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control or due to death or Termination for Cause. 

 

	1.10	“Effective Date” means January 17, 2014. 

 

	1.11	“Normal Retirement Age” means the Executive’s age sixty-seven (67). 

 

	1.12	“Plan Administrator” means the Board or such committee or person as the Board shall appoint. 

 

	1.13	“Plan Year” means each twelve (12) month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. The initial Plan Year shall commence on the Effective Date of this Agreement and end on the following December 31. 

 

	1.14	“Specified Employee” means an employee who at the time of Termination of Employment is a key employee of the Bank, if any stock of the Bank is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, an employee is a key employee if the employee meets the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii), or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the twelve (12) month period ending on December 31 (the “identification period”). If the employee is a key employee during an identification period, the employee is treated as a key employee for purposes of this Agreement during the twelve (12) month period that begins on the first day of April following the close of the identification period. 

 

	1.15	“Termination for Cause” means Termination of Employment for: 

 

	 	(a)	Gross negligence or gross neglect of duties to the Bank; 

 

	 	(b)	Conviction of a felony or of a gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Bank; or 

 

	 	(c)	Fraud, disloyalty, dishonesty or willful violation of any law or significant Bank policy committed in connection with the Executive’s employment and resulting in a material adverse effect on the Bank. 

 

	1.16	“Termination of Employment” means termination of the Executive’s employment with the Bank for reasons other than death. Whether a Termination of Employment has occurred is determined in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Bank and Executive reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Executive would perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period of services to the Bank if the Executive has been providing services to the Bank less than thirty-six (36) months). 

 

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Article 2 

Distributions During Lifetime 

 

	2.1	Normal Retirement Benefit. Upon Termination of Employment after attaining Normal Retirement Age, the Bank shall distribute to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.1 in lieu of any other benefit under this Article. 

 

	 	2.1.1	Amount of Benefit. The annual benefit under this Section 2.1 is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). 

 

	 	2.1.2	Distribution of Benefit. The Bank shall distribute the annual benefit to the Executive in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on or around the fifteenth day of the month following Termination of Employment. The annual benefit shall be distributed to the Executive for ten (10) years. 

 

	2.2	Early Termination Benefit. If Early Termination occurs, the Bank shall distribute to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.2 in lieu of any other benefit under this Article. 

 

	 	2.2.1	Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.2 is the Accrual Balance determined as of the end of the Plan Year preceding Termination of Employment. 

 

	 	2.2.2	Distribution of Benefit. The Bank shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in one hundred twenty (120) equal monthly installments commencing on or around the fifteenth day of the month following Termination of Employment. 

 

	2.3	Disability Benefit. If the Executive experiences a Disability which results in a Termination of Employment prior to Normal Retirement Age, the Bank shall distribute to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.3 in lieu of any other benefit under this Article. 

 

	 	2.3.1	Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.3 is one hundred percent (100%) of the Accrual Balance determined as of the end of the Plan Year preceding Termination of Employment. 

 

	 	2.3.2	Distribution of Benefit. The Bank shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in one hundred twenty (120) equal monthly installments commencing on or around the fifteenth day of the month following Termination of Employment. 

 

	2.4	Change in Control Benefit. If a Change in Control occurs, followed within twenty-four (24) months by Termination of Employment, the Bank shall distribute to the Executive the benefit described in this Section 2.4 in lieu of any other benefit under this Article. 

 

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	 	2.4.1	Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.4 is one hundred percent (100%) of the Accrual Balance determined as of the end of the Plan Year preceding Termination of Employment. 

 

	 	2.4.2	Distribution of Benefit. The Bank shall distribute the benefit to the Executive in one hundred twenty (120) equal monthly installments commencing on or around the fifteenth day of the month following Normal Retirement Age. 

 

	 	2.4.3	Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, and to the extent allowed by Code Section 409A, if any benefit payment under this Section 2.4 would be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under Code Section 280G, the Bank shall reduce such benefit payment to the extent necessary to avoid treating such benefit payment as an excess parachute payment. 

 

	2.5	Restriction on Commencement of Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is considered a Specified Employee, the provisions of this Section 2.5 shall govern all distributions hereunder. If benefit distributions which would otherwise be made to the Executive due to Termination of Employment are limited because the Executive is a Specified Employee, then such distributions shall not be made during the first six (6) months following Termination of Employment. Rather, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to the Executive during such period shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive in a lump sum on or around the fifteenth day of the seventh month following Termination of Employment. All subsequent distributions shall be paid in the manner specified. 

 

	2.6	Distributions Upon Taxation of Amounts Deferred. If, pursuant to Code Section 409A, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or other state, local or foreign tax, the Executive becomes subject to tax on the amounts deferred hereunder, then the Bank may make a limited distribution to the Executive in a manner that conforms to the requirements of Code section 409A. Any such distribution will decrease the Executive’s benefits distributable under this Agreement. 

 

	2.7	Change in Form or Timing of Distributions. For distribution of benefits under this Article 2, the Executive and the Bank may, subject to the terms of Section 8.1, amend this Agreement to delay the timing or change the form of distributions. Any such amendment: 

 

	 	(a)	may not accelerate the time or schedule of any distribution, except as provided in Code Section 409A; 

 

	 	(b)	must, for benefits distributable under Section 2.4, be made at least twelve (12) months prior to the first scheduled distribution; 

 

	 	(c)	must, for benefits distributable under Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4, delay the commencement of distributions for a minimum of five (5) years from the date the first distribution was originally scheduled to be made; and 

 

	 	(d)	must take effect not less than twelve (12) months after the amendment is made. 

 

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Article 3 

Distribution at Death 

 

	3.1	Death During Active Service. If the Executive dies prior to Termination of Employment, the Bank shall distribute to the Beneficiary the benefit described in this Section 3.1. This benefit shall be distributed in lieu of any benefit under Article 2. 

 

	 	3.1.1	Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 3.1 is the Normal Retirement Benefit described in Section 2.1.1. 

 

	 	3.1.2	Distribution of Benefit. The Bank shall distribute the annual benefit to the Beneficiary in twelve (12) equal monthly installments for ten (10) years commencing on or around the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the Executive’s death. The Beneficiary shall be required to provide to the Bank the Executive’s death certificate. 

 

	3.2	Death During Distribution of a Benefit. If the Executive dies after any benefit distributions have commenced under this Agreement but before receiving all such distributions, the Bank shall distribute to the Beneficiary the remaining benefits at the same time and in the same amounts they would have been distributed to the Executive had the Executive survived. 

 

	3.3	Death Before Benefit Distributions Commence. If the Executive is entitled to benefit distributions under this Agreement but dies prior to the date that commencement of said benefit distributions are scheduled to be made under this Agreement, the Bank shall distribute to the Beneficiary the same benefits to which the Executive was entitled prior to death, except that the benefit distributions shall be paid in the manner specified in Section 3.1.2 and shall commence on or around the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the Executive’s death. 

Article 4 

Beneficiaries 

 

	4.1	In General. The Executive shall have the right, at any time, to designate a Beneficiary to receive any benefit distributions under this Agreement upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Agreement may be the same as or different from the beneficiary designated under any other plan of the Bank in which the Executive participates. 

 

	4.2	
Designation. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form and delivering it to the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. If the Executive names someone other than the Executive’s spouse as a Beneficiary, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, determine that spousal consent is required to be provided in a form designated by the Plan Administrator, executed by the Executive’s spouse and returned to the Plan Administrator. The Executive’s beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the 

 

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	 	Beneficiary predeceases the Executive or if the Executive names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s rules and procedures. Upon the acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator prior to the Executive’s death. 

 

	4.3	Acknowledgment. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received, accepted and acknowledged in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. 

 

	4.4	No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid beneficiary designation, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, any benefit shall be paid to the Executive’s estate. 

 

	4.5	Facility of Distribution. If the Plan Administrator determines in its discretion that a benefit is to be distributed to a minor, to a person declared incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of that person’s property, the Plan Administrator may direct distribution of such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care or custody of such minor, incompetent person or incapable person. The Plan Administrator may require proof of incompetence, minority or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Any distribution of a benefit shall be a distribution for the account of the Executive and the Beneficiary, as the case may be, and shall completely discharge any liability under this Agreement for such distribution amount. 

Article 5 

General Limitations 

 

	5.1	Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Bank shall not distribute any benefit under this Agreement if the Executive’s employment with the Bank is terminated by the Bank or an applicable regulator due to a Termination for Cause. 

 

	5.2	Suicide or Misstatement. No benefit shall be distributed if the Executive commits suicide within two (2) years after the Effective Date, or if an insurance company which issued a life insurance policy covering the Executive and owned by the Bank denies coverage (i) for material misstatements of fact made by the Executive on an application for such life insurance, or (ii) for any other reason. 

 

	5.3	
Removal. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Bank shall not distribute any benefit under this Agreement if the Executive is subject to a final removal or prohibition order issued by an appropriate federal banking agency pursuant to 

 

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	 	Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, shall be subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. 1828 and FDIC Regulation 12 CFR Part 359, Golden Parachute Indemnification Payments and any other regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder. 

 

	5.4	Attorney’s Fees and Costs. If any action at law or in equity, including arbitration, is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expert witness fees, in addition to any other relief to which that party may be entitled. 

Article 6 

Administration of Agreement 

 

	6.1	Plan Administrator Duties. The Plan Administrator shall administer this Agreement according to its express terms and shall also have the discretion and authority to (i) make, amend, interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Agreement and (ii) decide or resolve any and all questions, including interpretations of this Agreement, as may arise in connection with this Agreement to the extent the exercise of such discretion and authority does not conflict with Code Section 409A. 

 

	6.2	Agents. In the administration of this Agreement, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as the Plan Administrator sees fit, including acting through a duly appointed representative, and may from time to time consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Bank. 

 

	6.3	Binding Effect of Decisions. Any decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation or application of this Agreement and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in this Agreement. 

 

	6.4	Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Bank shall indemnify and hold harmless the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Agreement, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator. 

 

	6.5	Bank Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Bank shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the date and circumstances of the Executive’s death, Disability or Termination of Employment, and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require. 

 

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	6.6	Annual Statement. The Plan Administrator shall provide to the Executive, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each Plan Year, a statement setting forth the benefits to be distributed under this Agreement. 

Article 7 

Claims And Review Procedures 

 

	7.1	Claims Procedure. An Executive or Beneficiary (“claimant”) who has not received benefits under this Agreement that he or she believes should be distributed shall make a claim for such benefits as follows: 

 

	 	7.1.1	Initiation – Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If such a claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after such notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date on which the event that caused the claim to arise occurred. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant. 

 

	 	7.1.2	Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision. 

 

	 	7.1.3	Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth: 

 

	 	(a)	The specific reasons for the denial; 

 

	 	(b)	A reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based; 

 

	 	(c)	A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed; 

 

	 	(d)	An explanation of this Agreement’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures; and 

 

	 	(e)	A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review. 

 

	7.2	Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial as follows: 

 

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	 	7.2.1	Initiation – Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within sixty (60) days after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review. 

 

	 	7.2.2	Additional Submissions – Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits. 

 

	 	7.2.3	Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. 

 

	 	7.2.4	Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60) day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision. 

 

	 	7.2.5	Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth: 

 

	 	(a)	The specific reasons for the denial; 

 

	 	(b)	A reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based; 

 

	 	(c)	A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits; and 

 

	 	(d)	A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a). 

 

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Article 8 

Amendments and Termination 

 

	8.1	Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the Bank and the Executive. However, the Bank may unilaterally amend this Agreement to conform with written directives to the Bank from its auditors or banking regulators or to comply with legislative changes or tax law, including without limitation Code Section 409A. 

 

	8.2	Plan Termination Generally. This Agreement may be terminated only by a written agreement signed by the Bank and the Executive. The benefit shall be the Accrual Balance as of the date this Agreement is terminated. Except as provided in Section 8.3, the termination of this Agreement shall not cause a distribution of benefits under this Agreement. Rather, upon such termination benefit distributions will be made at the earliest distribution event permitted under Article 2 or Article 3. 

 

	8.3	Plan Terminations Under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.2, if the Bank terminates this Agreement in the following circumstances: 

 

	 	(a)	Within thirty (30) days before or twelve (12) months after a change in the ownership or effective control of the Bank, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Bank as described in Code Section 409A(2)(A)(v), provided that all distributions are made no later than twelve (12) months following such termination of this Agreement and further provided that all the Bank’s arrangements which are substantially similar to this Agreement are terminated so the Executive and all participants in the similar arrangements are required to receive all amounts of compensation deferred under the terminated arrangements within twelve (12) months of such termination; 

 

	 	(b)	Upon the Bank’s dissolution or with the approval of a bankruptcy court provided that the amounts deferred under this Agreement are included in the Executive’s gross income in the latest of (i) the calendar year in which this Agreement terminates; (ii) the calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which the distribution is administratively practical; or 

 

	 	(c)	Upon the Bank’s termination of this and all other arrangements that would be aggregated with this Agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Executive participated in such arrangements (“Similar Arrangements”), provided that (i) the termination and liquidation does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Bank, (ii) all termination distributions are made no earlier than twelve (12) months and no later than twenty-four (24) months following such termination, and (iii) the Bank does not adopt any new arrangement that would be a Similar Arrangement for a minimum of three (3) years following the date the Bank takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Agreement; 

 

	    	the Bank may distribute the Accrual Balance, determined as of the date of the termination of this Agreement, to the Executive in a lump sum subject to the above terms. 

 

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Article 9 

Miscellaneous 

 

	9.1	Binding Effect. This Agreement shall bind the Executive and the Bank and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, administrators and transferees. 

 

	9.2	No Guarantee of Employment. This Agreement is not a contract for employment. It does not give the Executive the right to remain as an employee of the Bank nor interfere with the Bank’s right to discharge the Executive. It does not require the Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with the Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time. 

 

	9.3	Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Agreement cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached or encumbered in any manner. 

 

	9.4	Tax Withholding and Reporting. The Bank shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld, including but not limited to taxes owed under Code Section 409A from the benefits provided under this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that the Bank’s sole liability regarding taxes is to forward any amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing authorities. The Bank shall satisfy all applicable reporting requirements, including those under Code Section 409A. 

 

	9.5	Applicable Law. This Agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America. 

 

	9.6	Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and the Beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Bank for the distribution of benefits under this Agreement. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Bank to distribute such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance on the Executive’s life or other informal funding asset is a general asset of the Bank to which the Executive and Beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim. 

 

	9.7	Reorganization. The Bank shall not merge or consolidate into or with another bank, or reorganize, or sell substantially all of its assets to another bank, firm or person unless such succeeding or continuing bank, firm or person agrees to assume and discharge the obligations of the Bank under this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such an event, the term “Bank” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the successor or survivor entity. 

 

	9.8	Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Bank and the Executive as to the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to the Executive by virtue of this Agreement other than those specifically set forth herein. 

 

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	9.9	Interpretation. Wherever the fulfillment of the intent and purpose of this Agreement requires and the context will permit, the use of the masculine gender includes the feminine and use of the singular includes the plural. 

 

	9.10	Alternative Action. In the event it shall become impossible for the Bank or the Plan Administrator to perform any act required by this Agreement due to regulatory or other constraints, the Bank or Plan Administrator may perform such alternative act as most nearly carries out the intent and purpose of this Agreement and is in the best interests of the Bank, provided that such alternative act does not violate Code Section 409A. 

 

	9.11	Headings. Article and section headings are for convenient reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision herein. 

 

	9.12	Validity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein. 

 

	9.13	Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Bank or Plan Administrator under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered or sent by registered or certified mail to the address below: 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	  Redding Bank of Commerce	 	 
	 	 	  1901 Churn Creek Road	 	 
	 	 	  Redding, California 96002	 	 

 

	    	Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification. 

 

	    	Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Executive under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered or sent by mail to the last known address of the Executive. 

 

	9.14	Deduction Limitation on Benefit Payments. If the Bank reasonably anticipates that the Bank’s deduction with respect to any distribution under this Agreement would be limited or eliminated by application of Code Section 162(m), then to the extent deemed necessary by the Bank to ensure that the entire amount of any distribution from this Agreement is deductible, the Bank may delay payment of any amount that would otherwise be distributed under this Agreement. The delayed amounts shall be distributed to the Executive (or the Beneficiary in the event of the Executive’s death) at the earliest date the Bank reasonably anticipates that the deduction of the payment of the amount will not be limited or eliminated by application of Code Section 162(m). 

 

	9.15	Compliance with Section 409A. This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered consistent with Code Section 409A. 

 

14 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized representative of the Bank have signed this Agreement. 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	EXECUTIVE	 	 	 	REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE
	 	 	 	 
	By: /s/ Robert H. Muttera                                                         	 	 	 	By:	 	
/s/ Lyle L. Tullis

	Robert H. Muttera	 	 	 	Name: Lyle L. Tullis
	 	 	 	 	Title: Chairman of the Board

 

15 

REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE 

Salary Continuation Agreement 

Beneficiary Designation Form 

 

 

 

{ }     New Designation 

{ }     Change in Designation 

I, Robert H. Muttera, designate the following as Beneficiary under this Agreement: 

 

	 	 	 
	Primary:	    	 
	
 
	    	_____%
	
 
	    	_____%
	 	 
	Contingent:	    	 
	
 
	    	_____%
	
 
	    	_____%

Notes: 

 

	 	•	 	Please PRINT CLEARLY or TYPE the names of the beneficiaries. 

 

	 	•	 	To name a trust as Beneficiary, please provide the name of the trustee(s) and the exact name and date of the trust agreement. 

 

	 	•	 	To name your estate as Beneficiary, please write “Estate of [your name]”. 

 

	 	•	 	Be aware that none of the contingent beneficiaries will receive anything unless ALL of the primary beneficiaries predecease you. 

I understand that I may change these beneficiary designations by delivering a new written designation to the Plan Administrator, which shall be effective only upon receipt and acknowledgment by the Plan Administrator prior to my death. I further understand that the designations will be automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases me, or, if I have named my spouse as Beneficiary and our marriage is subsequently dissolved. 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:	  	Robert H. Muttera	  	 	  	 	  	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Signature:    	  	
 
	  	Date:	  	
 
	  	 

SPOUSAL CONSENT (Required if spouse is not named Beneficiary and Plan Administrator requests): 

I consent to the beneficiary designation above, and acknowledge that if I am named Beneficiary and our marriage is subsequently dissolved, the designation will be automatically revoked. 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Spouse Name:    	  	
 
	  	 	  	 	  	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Signature:    	  	
 
	  	Date:	  	
 
	  	 

Received by the Plan Administrator this              day of             , 201      

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:    	  	
 
	  	 	  	 	  	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- EX-10.19

Exhibit 10.19 

BANK OF COMMERCE HOLDINGS / REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE 

DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN 

1. Purpose of Plan; Deferrals Covered by Plan. The Plan is intended to provide the directors of Bank with the opportunity to defer compensation earned in connection with their services to Bank. Only amounts deferred after the date that this Plan has been adopted shall be subject to this Plan. 

2. Definitions. The following capitalized terms shall have the specific meanings assigned to them below: 

“Bank” means Bank of Commerce Holding, Redding Bank of Commerce and/or its other subsidiaries that adopt this Plan. 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of Bank. 

“Claimant” is defined in Section 10.a. 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended. 

“Deferral Account” is defined in Section 5. 

“Designated Beneficiary” means the person(s) named by a Director pursuant to the Plan to receive amounts that are owed to the Director under the Plan at the time of his death. 

“Director” means a member of the Board of Directors who has elected to participate in the Plan by delivering a Participant Election Form to Bank. 

“Interest Accrual Date” is defined in Section 6. 

“Interest Rate” means, at any time, the Bloomberg 20-year Investment Grade Financial Institutions Index rate (IGFII) (or a similar reference rate selected by Bank if that rate is not published) in effect on the immediately preceding December 31, plus two percent (2%). Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, Bank may change the Interest Rate at any time by giving to each Director affected by the change a written notice of the change, but the change shall apply prospectively only. The Interest Rate will be adjusted annually on December 31. 

“Maximum Deferral Amount” is defined in Section 4.e. 

“Participant Election Form” means the Participant Election Form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A. 

“Plan” means this Bank of Commerce Holdings / Redding Bank of Commerce Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. 

 

1 

“Separation from Service” means, with respect to a Director, that the Director ceases for any reason to provide services to Bank as a member of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Plan, a Director shall not be treated as experiencing a Separation from Service unless he or she has experienced a “separation from service” as defined in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h). 

“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship to the Director resulting from an illness or accident of the Director, the Director’s spouse, the Designated Beneficiary, or the Director’s dependent (as defined in Code Section 152 without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) or (d)(1)(B) thereof), loss of the Director’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Director. 

3. Eligibility to Participate. All Directors are eligible to participate in the Plan. 

4. Election to Defer. 

a. General. A Director may elect to defer payment of all or any part of compensation that he is otherwise entitled to receive for services performed during a year as a Director, but only if the election is made on or before December 31 of the immediately preceding year. 

b. First Year of Eligibility. In the case of a person who first becomes a Director during a year, such person shall have the right to elect to defer payment of all or any part of the compensation to which he is otherwise entitled to receive for services during such year as a Director, but only if the election is made within thirty (30) days after he becomes a Director and only with respect to compensation paid for services performed after the election is made. 

c. Participant Election Form. A Director who wishes to make a deferral election hereunder must do so by delivering to Bank a duly executed Participant Election Form. 

d. Election Effective Until Changed. If a deferral election is made under this Section 4 with respect to compensation for services performed during a year as a Director, such deferral election shall apply to such compensation and to compensation for services performed in all future years as a Director, unless and until the Director submits a new Participant Election Form changing or terminating the election. Any such change or termination shall apply only with respect to compensation for services performed as a Director during years that follow the year in which the Director delivers the new Participant Election Form to Bank. 

e. Maximum Deferral Amount. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 4.e, after a Director’s Deferral Account has been credited with a total of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) (“Maximum Deferral Amount”) pursuant to an election under this Section 4 (Election to Defer) and pursuant to Section 6 (Interest), he may no longer defer compensation under this Section 4. An election to defer compensation under this Section 4 shall not be effective to defer compensation to the extent it causes the Maximum Deferral Amount to be exceeded. However, the Deferral Account shall continue to be credited with interest under Section 6, even after a Director may no longer defer compensation by reason of this Section 4.e. The Maximum Deferral Amount shall be reduced by all compensation deferred by, and all interest credited to, a Director under the Bank’s 1993 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. 

 

2 

5. Deferral Account. Bank shall credit amounts deferred by a Director under Section 4 to an account maintained by Bank for the Director on its books and records (“Deferral Account”). In addition, Bank shall credit interest to the Deferral Account, as provided in Section 6. 

6. Interest. On the last day of each month on which the Deferral Account of a Director has a credit balance, and on the day of final payment of all amounts owed to him under the Plan, (each an “Interest Accrual Date”) Bank shall credit to the Deferral Account maintained for the Director an amount equal to the product of (i) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the month through and including the Interest Accrual Date, and the denominator of which is the number days in the year, (ii) the Interest Rate for the month, and (iii) the average balance in the Deferral Account for the month. The amount so credited shall thereafter be added to and treated as a part of the credit balance of the Deferral Account for all purposes of this Plan or, in the case of final payment of all amounts owed to a the Director, paid to him as part of the final payment to reduce the balance in his Deferral Account to zero. For purposes of the foregoing, the average balance in a Deferral Account for a month shall be equal to the quotient determined by dividing (i) the sum of the credit balance in the Deferral Account at the close of business on each day in the month, by (ii) the number of days in such month through and including the Interest Accrual Date. 

7. Payment. 

a. Electing Form of Payments. At the time a Director first makes an election to defer compensation pursuant to Section 4.a, he shall submit a Participant Election Form to elect the form of payments of the amounts credited to his Deferral Account. Thereafter, the election can be changed from time to time, but no change shall be effective unless it satisfies all the requirements of Section 7.e. 

b. Time of Payment. Upon a Director’s Separation from Service, the Bank shall pay him the amounts credited to his Deferral Account as follows: 

(i) If the Director elects as provided herein to receive payments in a lump-sum, then Bank shall pay the Director, within thirty (30) days following his Separation from Service, the amount credited to his Deferral Account, together with interest thereon through the date of payment, as provided in Section 6. 

(ii) If the Director elects as provided herein to receive payments in equal monthly installments, then Bank shall pay the Director, the monthly installments over the period (which may not exceed one hundred twenty (120) months) specified by the Director on a Participant Election Form. The first installment shall be paid within thirty (30) days following the Director’s Separation from Service and subsequent installments shall be paid on a like day in each subsequent month over the number of months so specified. The Administrator shall calculate the amount of each monthly installment payment over the number of months that the payments are required to be made, using the Interest Rate in effect at the time of Separation from Service. If there is a subsequent change in the Interest Rate, the Administrator shall recalculate such amount to properly reflect the new rate. 

 

3 

c. Unforeseeable Emergency. If an Unforeseeable Emergency occurs with respect to a Director, the Director may petition the Board of Directors to receive a distribution from the Plan. The Board of Directors in its sole discretion may grant such petition. If granted, the Director shall receive, within sixty (60) days, a distribution from the Deferral Account maintained for him only to the extent deemed necessary by the Board of Directors to remedy the Unforeseeable Emergency, plus an amount necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution. In any event, the maximum amount which may be paid out pursuant to this Section 7.c is the Deferral Account balance as of the day that the Director petitioned the Board of Directors to receive a distribution under this Section 7.c. 

d. Specified Employee. If a Director is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treas. Reg.§ 1.409A-1(i), then notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Plan any amounts payable to the Director under the Plan on account of a Separation from Service for any reason that could cause the Director to be subject to the gross income inclusion, interest and additional tax provisions of Code § 409A(a)(1) shall not be paid until after the end of the sixth calendar month beginning after such Separation from Service. On the last payroll cycle of the seventh month following the Director’s Separation from Service, Bank shall pay the Director in a lump sum all payments delayed because of the preceding sentence; and thereafter, Bank shall pay the Director any remaining payments under the Plan as if this Section 7.d were a not a part of the Plan. 

e. Change in Time or Form of Payment. A Director may not elect to delay the time of a payment or change the form of a payment under the Plan, unless all of the following conditions are satisfied and such change otherwise satisfies all the requirements of Code § 409A and U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder: 

 

	 	(i)	The election cannot take effect until at least twelve (12) months after it is made; 

 

	 	(ii)	Except in the case of death, disability or an Unforeseeable Emergency, a payment with respect to which the election is made must be deferred for a period of not less than (5) years from the date that the payment would otherwise have been made; and 

 

	 	(iii)	In the case of a payment that is otherwise required to be paid at a specified time or on a fixed schedule specified when the amount is deferred, the election must be made at least twelve (12) months before the time of the first scheduled payment. 

A Director may not elect to delay the time of a payment or change the form of a payment under this Section 7.e until 5 years after he first becomes a plan participant and submits a Participation Election Form to defer any amount hereunder or more than once every five (5) years thereafter. 

 

4 

8. Designated Beneficiaries. 

a. General. The Director may designate a Designated Beneficiary by delivering a Participant Election Form to Bank naming a Designated Beneficiary. The Director may revoke or modify the designation at any time by delivery to Bank a new Participant Election Form. The designation of a Designated Beneficiary will only be effective if signed by the Director and received by Bank during the Director’s lifetime. If the Director is married and selects a Designated Beneficiary other than his or her spouse, the Director’s spouse must also sign the Participant Election Form. The Designated Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Designated Beneficiary predeceases the Director, or if the Director names a spouse as the Designated Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. If the Director dies without a valid Designated Beneficiary, all payments hereunder that would otherwise be made to Designated Beneficiary shall be made to the Director’s estate. 

b. Payments to Minors, Etc. If a payment is otherwise required to be made hereunder to a minor, a person declared incompetent, or a person incapable of handling the disposition of his property, Bank, in its sole discretion, may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or a person having the care or custody of such minor, incapacitated person or incapable person. Bank may require such proof as it deems appropriate, prior to payment of the amount, showing that the person to whom a payment is otherwise required to be made is not a minor, a person declared incompetent, or a person incapable of handling the disposition of his property. Bank shall be fully discharged from all liability with respect to any payments made by it pursuant to this Section 8.b. 

9. Funding. 

a. Plan Unfunded. The Plan is intended to be unfunded for federal income tax purposes and, to the extent applicable, for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. All monies used to pay amounts credited to the Deferral Account maintained for a Director shall come from the general funds of Bank. A Director is an unsecured general creditor of Bank with respect to the Deferral Account maintained for him by Bank and shall have no interest, rights or priority in any specific assets of Bank by reason of this Plan. Bank shall not be required to transfer monies to a separate account, create a separate fund, segregate assets, purchase life insurance or annuity contracts, or make other arrangements to fund its liabilities with respect to a Deferral Account or with respect to any other obligations it may have under the Plan. 

b. Informal Funding. If Bank, in its sole and absolute discretion, chooses to transfer monies to a separate account, create a separate fund, segregate assets, purchase life insurance or annuity contracts, or make other arrangements to fund its liabilities with respect to a Deferral Account or with respect to any other obligations it may have under the Plan, then any such separate account, separate fund, segregated assets, life insurance or annuity contracts, or other arrangements shall remain solely the asset of Bank, subject to the claims of its unsecured general creditors; and a Director shall have no interest, rights or priority therein, except as an unsecured general creditor of Bank. 

 

5 

10. Claims Procedures. 

a. General. Bank shall notify any person or entity that makes a claim under the Plan (the “Claimant”) in writing, within ninety (90) days of Claimant’s written application for benefits, of his or her eligibility or non-eligibility for benefits under the Plan. If Bank determines that the Claimant is not eligible for benefits or full benefits, the notice shall set forth (1) the specific reasons for such denial, (2) a specific reference to the provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional information or material necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim, and a description of why it is needed, (4) an explanation of this Plan’s claims review procedure and other appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to have the claim reviewed, and (5) a time within which review must be requested. If Bank determines that there are special circumstances requiring additional time to make a decision, Bank shall notify the Claimant of the special circumstances and the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and may extend the time for up to an additional ninety (90) days. 

b. Review Procedure. If the Claimant is determined by Bank not to be eligible for benefits, or if the Claimant believes that he or she is entitled to greater or different benefits, the Claimant shall have the opportunity to have such claim reviewed by Bank by filing a petition for review with Bank within sixty (60) days after receipt of the notice issued by Bank. Said petition shall state the specific reasons which the Claimant believes entitle him or her to benefits or to greater or different benefits. Within sixty (60) days after receipt by Bank of the petition, Bank shall afford the Claimant (and counsel, if any) an opportunity to present his or her position to Bank verbally or in writing and the Claimant (or counsel) shall have the right to review the pertinent documents. Bank shall notify the Claimant of its decision in writing within the sixty (60) day period, stating the basis of its decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant and referencing the specific provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. If, because of the need for a hearing, the sixty (60) day period is not sufficient, the decision may be deferred for up to another sixty (60) days at the election of Bank, but notice of this deferral shall be given to the Claimant. 

11. Assignment or Pledge. Except to the extent required by law, a Director’s rights to any amounts credited to a Deferral Account maintained for him, or to receive any payments under the Plan (i) may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or otherwise conveyed by the Director, (ii) shall not be subject to levy or seizure for the payments of any debts, liabilities or obligations of the Director (including, without limitation, judgments against, and child support, alimony or separate maintenance obligations of, the Director), and (iii) shall not be transferable in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Director, to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

12. Employment. This Plan shall not (i) create employment rights in a Director, or (ii) limit the right of Bank or the Director to terminate the Director’s services to Bank at any time and for any reason whatsoever. 

13. Applicable State Law. This Plan shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California. 

 

6 

14. Amendment and Termination of Plan. 

a. General. The Board of Directors shall have the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to amend or to terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that any such amendment or termination shall not reduce the credit balance in a Director’s Deferral Account at the time of the amendment or termination or affect Bank’s obligation to distribute to Director the amount of such credit balance under the terms of the Plan in effect immediately before such amendment or termination. In the event the Plan is terminated, no additional compensation may be deferred hereunder. 

b. Election to Distribute on Termination. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained herein, at any time after the Board of Directors terminates the Plan, it may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cause the Bank to distribute the credit balance in a Director’s Deferral Account, provided that (i) the termination and liquidation does not occur proximate in time to a downturn in the financial health of Bank; (ii) Bank terminates and liquidates all agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements sponsored by Bank that would be aggregated with any terminated and liquidated agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c) if the same Director had deferrals of compensation under all of the agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements that are terminated and liquidated; (iii) no payments in liquidation of the Plan are made within twelve (12) months of the date Bank takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Plan, other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the Plan if the action to terminate and liquidate the Plan had not occurred; (iv) all payment are made within twenty-four (24) months of the date Bank takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Plan; and (v) Bank does not adopt a new plan that would be aggregated with any terminated and liquidated plan under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c), if the same Director participated in both plans, at any time within three (3) years following the date Bank takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the Plan. 

15. Use of Certain Terms. As required by the context, (i) masculine, feminine and neuter nouns used in the Plan may be substituted for nouns of another gender, and (ii) singular and plural nouns and verbs used in the Plan may be substituted for nouns or verbs of another number. All references in the Plan to “year” shall be deemed to refer to a calendar year. 

16. Code § 409A. This Plan is intended to comply with, and shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with, Code § 409A and U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder. 

17. Tax Withholding. Bank shall have the right to withhold taxes, if any, that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Plan. 

18. Administration. 

a. The Board of Directors shall administer the Plan, but may engage the services of an outside firm to handle day-to-day ministerial tasks relating to the operation of the Plan. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive right to interpret the provision of the Plan and all persons shall be bound by its interpretations. 

 

7 

b. The Bank shall administer the Plan separately from the administration of the 1993 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and shall account for all amounts deferred hereunder separately from amounts deferrals under such other Plan. 

 

8 

CERTIFICATION 

(Bank of Commerce Holdings) 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Board of Directors of Bank of Commerce Holdings duly adopted the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan on the nineteenth day of December, 2013. 

Date: December 23, 2013 

 

	 
	/s/ David H. Scott
	
Print name: David H. Scott

Title: Secretary

CERTIFICATION 

(Redding Bank of Commerce) 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Board of Directors of Redding Bank of Commerce duly adopted the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan on the nineteenth day of December, 2013. 

Date: December 23, 2013 

 

	 
	/s/ David H. Scott
	
Print name: David H. Scott

Title: Secretary

 

9 

EXHIBIT A 

BANK OF COMMERCE HOLDINGS / REDDING BANK OF COMMERCE 

DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN 

Participant Election Form 

The undersigned (“Director”) hereby elects to participate in the Bank of Commerce Holdings / Redding Bank of Commerce Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (“Plan”). Capitalized terms that are used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Plan. 

1. Amount Deferred. Director elects to defer under the Plan the following amount of fees that he or she will receive for services as a director of Bank: 

$                             ; or 

                         % of Director’s fees 

The foregoing election is subject the restriction on the maximum amount that can be deferred that is set forth in Section 4.e of the Plan. 

2. Form of Payments. Director elects to receive payments of amounts credited to his or her Deferral Account in the following manner: 

 ̈       Lump-sum 

 ̈       Equal monthly installments over                      months (maximum 120 months) 

DO NOT CHECK A BOX UNLESS YOU HAVE NEVER MADE AN ELECTION TO DESIGNATE THE DESIRED FORM OF PAYMENTS OR YOU WISH TO CHANGE A PRIOR ELECTION. 

NO ELECTION UNDER THIS “FORM OF PAYMENTS” SHALL BE EFFECTIVE TO CHANGE A PRIOR ELECTION MADE BY YOU UNLESS IT SATISFIES ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 7.e OF THE PLAN. 

3. Designated Beneficiary. Director names the following person as Designated Beneficiaries: 

Primary Designated Beneficiary:                                                           

Secondary Designated Beneficiary:                                                       

After the Director’s death, all payments otherwise required to be made under the Plan to Director shall be made instead to Primary Designated Beneficiary; and after Primary Designated Beneficiary’s death, all such payments shall be made instead to Secondary Designated Beneficiary. 

4. Acknowledgements. Director hereby acknowledges as follows: 

(i) I have received a copy of the Plan. 

(ii) My election to defer compensation hereunder continues until I revoke the election by providing Bank with a new Participant Election Form. Any such revocation will apply only with respect to compensation earned for services performed by me in years after I deliver the new Participant Election Form to Bank. 

(iii) The tax laws impose substantial restrictions on my ability to change the form of payments elected by me hereunder. 

(iv) The terms and conditions of the Plan control all amounts deferred by me hereunder. 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Signature:                                                                                                           	  	 	  	Date:	  	 
	Print name:                                                                                                     	  	 	  	 	  	 

 

1 

EXHIBIT A 

CONSENT OF SPOUSE 

(Only Required if Primary Designated Beneficiary is not Director’s spouse.) 

I hereby consent to the designation the individual named above as the Primary Designated Beneficiary. 

 

	 	 	 
	
Date:                                     
	  	 
	 	  	
 

Signature of Director’s Spouse

 

2

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