Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT (10)-1

              THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                             OF THE BANC CORPORATION

1.    Establishment, Purpose and Duration of the Plan.

      (a) Establishment and Purpose. The Banc Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to
be known as the "Third Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan of The
Banc Corporation" (the "Plan"), as set forth herein. The purpose of the Plan is
to further the growth and development of the Company and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries (each a "Subsidiary" and collectively, "Subsidiaries") by
encouraging selected employees, directors, consultants, agents, independent
contractors and other persons who contribute or are expected to contribute
materially to the Company's success (collectively, "Participants") to obtain a
proprietary interest in the Company through the ownership of stock or receipt of
performance-based incentives, thereby providing such persons with added
incentives to promote the best interests of the Company and affording the
Company a means of attracting to its service persons of outstanding ability.

      (b) Effective Date and Duration. The Plan shall be effective on June 1,
1998, the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Effective Date"), and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board
of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to the
provisions hereof, until all shares of Common Stock of the Company subject to
the Plan have been purchased or acquired pursuant to the provisions hereof;
provided, however, that in no event may an Award of an Incentive Option (as such
terms are defined in Sections 2 and 5(a) hereof, respectively) be granted under
the Plan after June 1, 2008, although an Incentive Option granted prior thereto
may extend beyond such date.

2. Stock Subject to the Plan. An aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), shall be reserved
for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options (as defined in
Section 5 hereof) or SARs (as defined in Section 6(a) hereof) or as Restricted
Stock (as defined in Section 6(b) hereof) or Performance Shares (as defined in
Section 6(c) hereof) (such Options, SARS, Restricted Stock and Performance
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as "Awards"). Such shares of
Common Stock may be, in whole or in part, authorized but unissued shares or
issued shares which have been reacquired by the Company. If, for any reason, an
Option or SAR shall lapse, expire or terminate without having been exercised in
full, or if Restricted Stock or Performance Shares are forfeited, the unused
shares of Common Stock covered by such Option, Restricted Stock or Performance
Shares, or the number of shares of Common Stock upon which the SAR is based,
shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.

3. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. If at any time after the date of
grant of an Award, the Company shall by stock dividend, split-up, combination,
reclassification or

<PAGE>

exchange, or through merger, consolidation or otherwise, change its shares of
Common Stock into a different number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property, then the number of shares available for grant under the
Plan or subject to outstanding Awards and, with respect to an Award, the price
thereof, as applicable, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Compensation
Committee (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof), in its sole discretion, to
prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

4.    Administration.

      (a) Administration by Compensation Committee. The Plan shall be
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company ("Compensation Committee"). The Compensation Committee shall be composed
of at least two Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor
rule thereto.

      (b) Powers of Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall
administer the Plan and, subject to the provisions of the Plan and of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, shall have sole
authority in its discretion to determine the types of Awards to be granted, the
persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted, and
the terms, conditions, and provisions of, and restrictions relating to, each
Award, including, without limitation, vesting provisions, and applicable
performance criteria. In making such determinations, the Compensation Committee
may take into account the nature of the services rendered by such Participants,
their present and potential contributions to the Company's success and such
other factors as the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may deem
relevant. The Compensation Committee shall also have the authority to interpret
the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating
thereto, to establish procedures deemed appropriate for the administration
thereof, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective agreements,
which evidence the Awards that are granted (collectively, "Award Agreements"),
and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan, all of which determinations shall be conclusive and
not subject to review. All determinations and decisions made by the Compensation
Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and
binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders, directors,
officers, employees, Participants, and their respective estates and
beneficiaries.

      (c) Definition of "Change in Control." For purposes of the Plan, a "Change
in Control" shall mean any of the following events: (i) the acquisition at any
time by a "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) of
beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities representing more than 50% of the combined
voting power in the election of directors of the then outstanding securities of
the

2
<PAGE>

Company or any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years or less, the individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted a majority of the Board of Directors cease, for any reason other
than death, disability or retirement, to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors, unless the election of or nomination for election of each new
director during such period was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period;
(iii) approval by the stockholders of the Company of any sale or disposition of
substantially all of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv)
approval by the stockholders of the Company of any merger, consolidation, or
statutory share exchange to which the Company is a party and as a result of
which the persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the
effective date of the merger, consolidation or share exchange shall have
beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting power in the
election of directors of the surviving corporation; provided, however, that no
Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, prior to such time as a
Change in Control would otherwise be deemed to have occurred in accordance with
the foregoing, the Board of Directors, by vote of at least 75% of the entire
membership of the Board of Directors, determines that the event otherwise
qualifying as a Change in Control shall not be treated as a Change in Control
hereunder. Each determination concerning whether an event constitutes a Change
in Control under an Award Agreement shall be made in a consistent manner as to
the particular event with respect to all Award Agreements of all Participants in
effect at the time of the event.

5.    Options.

      (a) General. The Company may grant options to purchase shares of Common
Stock ("Options") subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable
Award Agreement. The Compensation Committee shall determine whether all or any
portion of such Options shall be incentive stock options ("Incentive Options")
qualifying under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), or stock options which do not so qualify ("Nonqualified Options").
Both Incentive Options and Nonqualified Options may be granted to the same
person at the same time; provided, however, that each type of Option is clearly
designated. Incentive Options shall have a term of not more than ten years.

      (b) Exercise of Options. The exercise of an Option shall be contingent
upon the Company's receipt from the holder thereof of a written representation
that at the time of such exercise it is the optionee's then present intention to
acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option for investment and not
with a view to the distribution or resale thereof (unless a registration
statement covering such shares of Common Stock shall have been declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission), and an Option may not be
exercised for less than ten shares at any one time (or the remaining shares then
purchasable if less than ten) and may not be exercised for fractional shares of
Common Stock. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon exercise of an
Option until full

3
<PAGE>

payment therefore has been made and any withholding obligations of the Company
have been satisfied. The proceeds received by the Company upon exercise of an
Option shall be added to the Company's working capital and be available for
general corporate purposes.

      (c) No Rights as a Stockholder. The holder of an Option shall have none of
the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon exercise of the Option until a certificate for such shares
shall have been issued to the holder upon due exercise of the Option.

      (d) Incentive Options. Incentive Options may be granted only to employees
(including officers) of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that
Incentive Options may not be granted to any person who, at the time the
Incentive Option is granted, owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning
of Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary (a "ten percent Owner"), unless at the time the Incentive Option is
granted, the exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value (as
defined in Section 7 hereof) of the Common Stock and such Incentive Option by
its terms is not exercisable subsequent to five years from the date of grant. A
director or other person who is not an employee of the Company or of a
Subsidiary is not eligible to receive Incentive Options under the Plan. The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date the Award is granted) of
Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Options are exercisable for the
first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000. The exercise price of
an Incentive Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock on the date of grant or 110% of Fair Market Value in the case of
Incentive Options granted to a ten percent Owner.

      (e) Nonqualified Options. Options may be granted to any Company employees
(including employees who have been granted Incentive Options), directors,
consultants, agents, independent contractors and other persons whom the
Compensation Committee determines will contribute to the Company's success.

      (f) Substitute Options. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan,
in the event that the Company or a Subsidiary consummates a transaction
described in Section 424(a) of the Code (e.g., the acquisition of property or
stock from an unrelated corporation), persons who become employees of the
Company or any Subsidiary on account of such transaction may be granted Options
in substitution for the options granted by such former employer. If such
substitute Options are granted, the Compensation Committee, in its sole
discretion, consistent with section 424(a) of the Code, shall determine the
exercise price of such substitute Options.

4
<PAGE>

6.    Other Awards.

      (a) SARs. The Company may grant stock appreciation rights ("SARs"),
subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. An
SAR shall constitute the right of the Participant to receive an amount equal to
the appreciation, if any, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
from the date of grant of such right to the date of payment. Upon exercise of
the SAR, the Company shall pay such amount in cash or shares of Common Stock of
equivalent value or in some combination thereof (as determined by the
Compensation Committee) as soon as practicable after the date on which such
election is made in accordance with the Award Agreement evidencing the SAR.

      (b) Restricted Stock. The Company may grant shares of restricted Common
Stock ("Restricted Stock") under the Plan, subject to the provisions of this
Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Restricted Stock shall be subject to
forfeiture provisions and such other restrictive terms and conditions as may be
determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in
the applicable Award Agreement pursuant to which such Restricted Stock is
issued, and shall not be transferable until all such restrictions and conditions
(other than securities law restrictions) have been satisfied. Restricted Stock
shall be issued and delivered at the time of grant or at such other time as is
determined by the Compensation Committee. Certificates evidencing shares of
Restricted Stock shall bear a restrictive legend referencing the risk of
forfeiture and the non-transferability of such shares. The Compensation
Committee may, in its sole discretion, require the automatic deferral of
dividends or reinvestment of dividends for the purchase of additional shares of
Restricted Stock. During the period of restriction as set forth in the Award
Agreement, the Participant owning shares of Restricted Stock may exercise full
voting rights with respect to such shares.

      (c) Performance Shares. The Company may grant the right to receive shares
of Common Stock subject to the attainment of performance objectives determined
by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion ("Performance Shares"),
subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. The
performance goals to be met over a specified period (the "Performance Period"),
the amount of payment to be made if the performance goals or other conditions
are met and additional terms and conditions of the issuance of Performance
Shares shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement. The value of a Performance Share at any time shall
be the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock at such time. An Award of
Performance Shares shall be expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock. After
the completion of a Performance Period, the performance of the Company,
subsidiary, division or individual, as the case may be, shall be measured
against the performance goals or other conditions, and the Compensation
Committee shall determine whether all, none or a portion of an Award shall be
paid. The Compensation Committee shall pay any earned Performance Shares as soon
as practicable after they are earned in the form of cash, Common Stock of
equivalent value or in some combination thereof (as determined by the
Compensation Committee) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value
of the earned Performance Shares as of the date they are earned. Any Common
Stock used to pay

5
<PAGE>

earned Performance Shares may be issued subject to any restrictions deemed
appropriate by the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Compensation
Committee, in its discretion, may cancel any earned Performance Shares and grant
Options to the Participant which the Compensation Committee determines to be of
equivalent value based on a conversion formula stated in the applicable Award
Agreement. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may also grant
dividend equivalent rights with respect to earned but unpaid Performance Shares
as evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement. Performance Shares shall have no
voting rights.

6
<PAGE>

7.    Fair Market Value.

      (a) Periods During Which Common Stock is Publicly Traded. For purposes of
the Plan, the "Fair Market Value" as of any date means (i) with respect to an
Award of an Incentive Option and an Award which is intended to qualify under the
"performance-based exception" set forth in section 162(m) of the Code, the
average of the high and low sales price of a share of Common Stock on such date
as reported by any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market
System ("Nasdaq") on which the Common Stock is actively traded or, if no Common
Stock is traded on such exchange or Nasdaq on such date, then on the next
preceding date on which any Common Stock was traded on such exchange or Nasdaq;
and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the closing sales price of a share of
Common Stock on such date as reported by any national securities exchange on
which the Common Stock is actively traded or, if no Common Stock is traded on
such exchange or Nasdaq on such date, then on the next preceding date on which
any Common Stock was traded on such exchange or Nasdaq.

      (b) Periods During Which Common Stock is Not Publicly Traded.
Notwithstanding subsection (a) above with respect to any date on which the
Common Stock (or Common Stock convertible therefrom) is not listed or traded as
set forth in subsection (a), above, "Fair Market Value" for a share of Common
Stock as of any date of reference hereunder (the "Determination Date") shall be
the value per share of Common Stock as determined by the most recent appraisal
conducted by a professional independent appraiser engaged by the Company for the
purpose of determining Fair Market Value under the Plan, which appraisal is as
of a date within 12 months prior to the Determination Date or, if no such
appraisal has been made during such prior 12-month period, the highest of (i)
the book value of the Common Stock as of the last day of the Company's fiscal
year next preceding the Determination Date, (ii) the average price per share of
the Common Stock paid by all persons (other than Participants) during the 12
months prior to the Determination Date in arms-length transactions with the
Company, or (iii) the fair market value per share of the Common Stock as
determined by the Compensation Committee as of the Determination Date.
Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of the occurrence of a Change in
Control involving the Company, for the period beginning with the Change in
Control and extending until the one-year period following the Change in Control,
Fair Market Value shall equal (x) in the case of a Change in Control involving
the sale of Common Stock to an entity, person or group, the average price per
share of Stock paid by the entity, person or group for the shares of Common
Stock purchased by such entity, person or group in the 12-month period ending on
the Change in Control date or, (y) in the case of a Change in Control involving
the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the amount per share
of Common Stock which each holder of record of Common Stock immediately
following such sale would receive as a liquidation distribution.

      (c) Material Changes Affecting Fair Market Value. Notwithstanding
subsection (b) above, if, as of any Determination Date, subsection (a) above is
inapplicable and,

7
<PAGE>

because of material events occurring prior to the Determination Date but
subsequent to an event to be used to assess Fair Market Value under subsection
(b) above, the Compensation Committee believes in its sole and absolute
discretion that a business development or other event has occurred indicating
that the amount otherwise determined under subsection (b) above does not
accurately reflect the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the
Determination Date, the Compensation Committee has the right in its discretion,
but not the obligation, to obtain an independent appraisal of the Common Stock
as of the Determination Date, and such independent appraisal shall be conclusive
to determine Fair Market Value as of the Determination Date. Pending any such
determination by an independent appraiser, any payments due hereunder that
require Fair Market Value assessment shall be delayed until the appraisal is
complete.

8.    Payment and Withholding.

      (a) Payment. Upon the exercise of an Option or Award that requires payment
by a Participant to the Company, the amount due to the Company shall be paid in
cash or by check payable to the order of the Company for the full purchase price
of the shares of Common Stock for which such election is made. Except as
otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee before the Option is exercised
all or a part of the exercise price may be paid by the Participant by delivery
of shares of the Company's Common Stock owned by the Participant and acceptable
to the Compensation Committee having an aggregate Fair Market Value (valued at
the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of cash that would otherwise
be required.

      (b) Withholding. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all
Awards paid any federal, state, local or employment taxes that the Company deems
are required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. Whenever
shares of Common Stock are to be issued in satisfaction of the exercise of an
Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant (or legal
representative, as applicable) to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to
satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements or make other
arrangements therefore prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates
for such shares. At the election of the Participant, and subject to such rules
and limitations as may be established by the Compensation Committee from time to
time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied through the surrender of
shares of the Company's Common Stock which the Participant already owns, or to
which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan.

9. Non-Transferability of Awards. Except by the laws of descent and distribution
or as provided in an Award Agreement, no benefit provided under this Plan shall
be subject to alienation, assignment or transfer by the Participant (or by any
person entitled to such benefit pursuant to the terms of this Plan), nor shall
it be subject to attachment or other legal process of whatever nature, and any
attempted alienation, assignment, attachment or transfer shall be void and of no
effect whatsoever and, upon any such attempt, the benefit

8
<PAGE>

shall expire and lapse. Each Participant may, from time to time, designate any
beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to
whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of the Participant's
death before the participant receives any or all of such benefit. Each such
designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall
be in a form prescribed by the Company, and shall be effective only when filed
by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant's
lifetime. In the absence of such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the
Participant's death shall be paid to the Participant's estate. Shares of Common
Stock shall be delivered only to the Participant entitled to receive the same or
to the Participant's authorized legal representative. Deposit of any sum in any
financial institution to the credit of any Participant (or of any person
entitled to such sum pursuant to the terms of this Plan) shall constitute
payment to that Participant (or such person).

10.   Termination of Employment; Acceleration of Vesting

      (a) Options. Upon termination of employment for any reason other than
death, Disability (as defined below in this subsection 10(a)), Retirement or a
Change in Control, any Incentive or Nonqualified Option held by the Participant
shall expire on the earlier of (i) the last day of the term of the Option or
(ii) the date which is three months after the date of termination of such
employment. Upon termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or
Retirement, the Option held by such Participant shall expire on the earlier of
(w) the last day of the term of the Option or (x) the date which is one year
after the date of termination of such employment. Upon termination of employment
by reason of a Change in Control, the Option held by such Participant shall
expire on its original expiration date. The term "Disability" with respect to a
Participant means physical or mental inability to perform the normal duties of
his employment or engagement as determined, after examination of the Participant
by a physician, selected by the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that
if such Participant fails or refuses to cooperate in such examination, the
determination of his Disability shall be made by the Compensation Committee in
its sole discretion. The term "Retirement" with respect to a Participant means
the Participant's termination of employment in a manner which qualifies the
Participant to receive immediately payable retirement benefits under any
retirement plan adopted or hereafter adopted by the Company, or which in the
absence of any such retirement plan is determined by the Compensation Committee
to constitute retirement.

      An installment of a Participant's Option shall not become exercisable on
the otherwise applicable vesting date of such Award if the Participant's date of
termination occurs on or before such vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, an Option shall become fully and immediately exercisable upon (y) the
death or Disability of the Participant or (z) or the occurrence of a Change of
Control.

      (b) SAR's. Upon termination of employment for any reason other than death,
Disability, Retirement or a Change in Control, an SAR held by the Participant
shall expire

9
<PAGE>

on the earlier of (i) the last day of the term of the Option or (ii) the date
which is three months after the date of termination of such employment. Upon
termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, the SAR
held by such Participant shall expire on the earlier of (w) the last day of the
term of the SAR or (x) the date which is one year after the date of termination
of such employment. Upon termination of employment by reason of a Change in
Control, the SAR held by such Participant shall expire on its original
expiration date.

      An installment of an SAR shall not become exercisable on the otherwise
applicable vesting date if the Participant's date of termination occurs before
such vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, an SAR shall become
fully and immediately exercisable upon (y) the death or Disability of the
Participant or (z) the occurrence of a Change in Control.

      (c) Restricted Stock. If the Participant's date of termination does not
occur during the restricted period set forth in the Award Agreement (the
"Restricted Period"), then, at the end of the Restricted Period, the Participant
shall become vested in the shares of Restricted Stock, and shall own the shares
free of all restrictions otherwise imposed. The Participant shall become vested
in the shares of Restricted Stock, and become owner of the shares free of all
restrictions otherwise imposed by this Agreement, prior to the end of the
Restricted Period if the Participant's date of termination occurs by reason of
the Participant's death, Disability or a Change in Control.

      Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged
or otherwise encumbered until the expiration of the Restricted Period or, if
earlier, until the Participant is vested in the shares. Except as otherwise
provided in this subsection 10(c), if the Participant's date of termination
occurs prior to the end of the Restricted Period, the Participant shall forfeit
the Restricted Stock as of the Participant s date of termination.

      (d) Performance Shares. If the Participant's employment with the Company
terminates during the Performance Period because of the Participant's
Retirement, Disability, or death, the Participant shall be entitled to a
prorated value of the Performance Shares earned, determined at the end of the
Performance Period, and based on the ratio of the number of days the Participant
is employed during the Performance Period to the total number of days in the
Performance Period. If a Change in Control occurs during the Performance Period,
and the Participant's date of termination does not occur before the Change in
Control date, the Participant shall earn the Performance Shares that would have
been earned by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award as if
100% of the Performance measures set forth in the Award Agreement for the
Performance Period had been achieved, but prorated based on the ratio of the
number of days the Participant is employed during the Performance Period through
the date of the Change in Control, to the total number of days in the
Performance Period.

10
<PAGE>

      (e) Forfeiture by Reason of Misconduct. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof to the contrary, if the Compensation Committee determines that
a Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, breach of
fiduciary duty or deliberate disregard of any rules of the Company or any
Subsidiary which results in loss, damage or injury to the Company or any
Subsidiary, neither the Participant nor his representative or estate shall be
entitled to exercise any Award. In making such determination, the Compensation
Committee shall act fairly and shall give the Participant an opportunity to
appear before the Compensation Committee and present evidence on his behalf.

11. Deferrals. The Compensation Committee may permit a Participant to defer such
Participant's receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Common Stock
that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an
Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted
Stock or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to
Performance Shares. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the
Compensation Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and
procedures for such payment deferral.

12. No Right to Continued Employment or Engagement. Nothing contained in this
Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant any right to
continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or obligate the Company
or any Subsidiary to continue the engagement of any Participant or interfere in
any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate such
Participant's employment or engagement at any time.

13. Vesting of Rights Under Awards. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors shall constitute the vesting of any
rights under any Award. The vesting of such rights shall take place only
pursuant to a written Award Agreement with respect to such Award, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company, which shall be duly executed and
delivered by and on behalf of the Company and the Participant to whom the Award
shall be granted.

14. Agreement to Refrain from Sales. Holders of Options, Restricted Stock and
Performance Shares shall agree, pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement, to
refrain from selling or offering to sell the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Options or the unrestricted shares of Common Stock upon
termination of the forfeiture and other restrictive provisions of the
Restrictive Stock and Performance Shares for such reasonable period of time
after the effective date of any registration statement relating to an
underwritten offering of securities of the Company, as may be requested by the
managing underwriter of such underwritten offering and approved by the Board of
Directors.

15. Termination, Amendment and Modification. The Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee may at any time and from time to time alter, amend,
suspend or terminate this Plan in whole or in part, except (i) without such
stockholder approval as may

11
<PAGE>

be required by law, no such action may be taken which changes the minimum
Incentive Option price, increases the maximum term of Incentive Options,
materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants receiving Incentive
Options hereunder, materially increases the number of securities which may be
issued pursuant to Incentive Options, extends the period for granting Incentive
Options past the tenth anniversary of the initial effective date of the Plan or
materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for receipt of Incentive
Options hereunder, and (ii) without the consent of the Participant to whom any
Award shall theretofore have been granted, no such action may be taken which
adversely affects the rights of such Participant concerning such Award, except
to the extent such action is required by statute, or rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, or as otherwise permitted hereunder.

16. Indemnification. Each person who is or at any time serves as a member of the
Compensation Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed
upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from
any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in
which such person may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act
under this Plan; and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such person in
satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding relating to the
Plan. Each person covered by this indemnification shall give the Company an
opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such
person undertakes to handle and defend the same on such person's own behalf. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the charter or
bylaws of the Company, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the
Company may have to indemnify such person or hold such person harmless.

17. Reliance On Reports. Each member of the Compensation Committee shall be
fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any report made by the
independent public accountants of the Company, any independent appraisal of the
Common Stock and any other information furnished in connection with this Plan.
In no event shall any such person be liable for any determination made or other
action taken or any omission to act in reliance upon any such report or
information, or for any action taken, including the furnishing of information,
or failure to act, if on good faith, all consistent with and subject to the
requirements of Section 141(e) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.

18.   Miscellaneous.

      (a) Gender and Number. Whenever the context so requires, the singular
shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular and the
gender of any pronoun shall include the other gender.

12
<PAGE>

      (b) Severability. The invalidity of this Plan with respect to one or more
persons shall not affect the rights and obligations of any other person
hereunder in any manner whatsoever. The invalidity of one or more provisions of
this Plan shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Plan in
any manner whatsoever as long as the fundamental benefits and obligations of the
parties hereto are not materially modified by such invalidity.

      (c) Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Common
Stock under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be
required.

      (d) Governing Law. All matters relating to this Plan or to Awards granted
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to the principles of conflict of laws thereof, except to the extent preempted by
the laws of the United States.

13<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT (10)-18

                    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

      This Employment Agreement Standstill Agreement ("Standstill Agreement") is
entered into as of January 24, 2005, by and among The Banc Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), The Bank, an Alabama banking
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Bank"), and David
R. Carter an individual resident of Alabama (the "Executive").

      Whereas each of the Executive, the Bank and the Corporation is a party to
that Employment Agreement (the "Employment Agreement") made as of the 19th day
of September, 2000, which Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

      Whereas the Corporation acknowledges that it is making certain management
changes that give rise to the Executive's rights under Section 4 (a)(iv) and 4(
c ) of the Employment Agreement.

      Whereas Executive is willing to continue to serve the Corporation as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to the Employment
Agreement, subject to this Standstill Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do
hereby agree as follows:

      1. The Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
entitling the Executive to all of the rights, payments, privileges and benefits
under the Employment Agreement, which will not be modified or changed in any way
without Executive's written consent, except as set forth herein. The Executive
shall continue to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of the Corporation under the Employment Agreement.

      2. On or before the first anniversary of this Standstill Agreement,
Executive and the Corporation will discuss Executive's continued employment
relationship with the Corporation.

      3. At anytime following the first anniversary of this Standstill
Agreement, in his sole discretion, for any reason, or even for no reason, the
Executive may terminate his employment under the Employment Agreement pursuant
to Section 4(a)(iv) of the Employment Agreement by delivering a Notice of
Termination specifying only the effective date of termination and Executive will
be entitled to, and the Corporation and the Bank expressly acknowledge and agree
that Executive shall be due and the Corporation and the Bank will cause the
Executive to receive, all rights, payments,

<PAGE>

privileges and benefits under the Employment Agreement, specifically including,
but not limited to, those included in Sections 4 (c), (d) and (e) of the
Employment Agreement.

      4. Except as specifically modified by this Standstill Agreement, all terms
and conditions of the Employment Agreement remain in full force and effect.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Standstill Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, and the Executive has signed and sealed this Standstill Agreement,
effective as of the date first above written.

                                                   THE BANK

                                By: /s/F. Hampton McFadden, Jr.
                                ____________________________________

                                Name: F. Hampton McFadden, Jr.
                                _____________________________

                                Its:Executive Vice President and General Counsel
                                ________________________________________________

                                         THE BANC CORPORATION

                                By: /s/ Michael E. Stephens
                                ____________________________________

                                Name: Michael E. Stephens, as
                                      Chairman of the Compensation
                                      Committee of the Board of Directors
ATTEST:

/s/ Deborah R. Peoples
________________________________
Corporate Secretary

(CORPORATE SEAL)

                                     EXECUTIVE:

                                     /s/ David R. Carter
                                     ______________________________________
                                             David R. Carter

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00080-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00080-of-00352.parquet"}]]