December 27, 1999 Dear Stockholder: You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the holding company for Fidelity Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank"), which will be held on January 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time at the corporate offices of the Company, located at 5455 West Belmont, Chicago, Illinois. As described in the enclosed Proxy Statement, matters scheduled to be presented for stockholder action at the Annual Meeting include the election of two Class I directors and the ratification of Crowe Chizek LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000. There will also be a report on the operations of the Company and the Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company's directors, executive officers and representatives of the Company's independent auditors will be present to respond to appropriate questions. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that approval of the matters to be considered at the meeting is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" each matter to be considered. We hope you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend, we urge you to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card so that your shares will be represented. On behalf of the Board of Directors and all of the employees of the Company and the Bank, I wish to thank you for your interest and support. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting. Sincerely yours, Raymond S. Stolarczyk Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 5455 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60641 (773) 736-4414 FIDELITY BANCORP, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To Be Held on January 26, 2000 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. will be held on January 26, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. local time at the corporate offices of the Company, located at 5455 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The Annual Meeting is for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following matters: 1. The election of two Class III directors for terms of three years each; 2. The ratification of Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000; and 3. Such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Board of Directors has fixed December 1, 1999 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock (the "Common Stock") as of the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. In the event there are not sufficient votes for a quorum or to approve or ratify any of the foregoing proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed in order to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Company. By Order of the Board of Directors Judith K. Leaf Corporate Secretary Chicago, Illinois December 27, 1999 FIDELITY BANCORP, INC. PROXY STATEMENT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS January 26, 2000 Solicitation and Voting of Proxy This Proxy Statement is being furnished to stockholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting to be held on January 26, 2000 at the corporate offices of the Company, 5455 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois at 10:00 a.m. local time and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The 1999 Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, accompanies this Proxy Statement, which is first being mailed to stockholders on or about December 27, 1999. It is important that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares be represented by proxy or be present in person at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders are requested to vote by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it, signed and dated, in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Stockholders are urged to indicate their vote in the spaces provided on the proxy card. All shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting by properly executed proxies received prior to or at the Annual Meeting, and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions thereon. If no instructions are indicated, properly executed proxies will be voted for the nominees and for adoption of the proposal set forth in this Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Execution of a proxy, however, confers on the designated proxyholders discretionary authority to vote the shares in accordance with their best judgment on such other business, if any, that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by the filing of written notice of revocation with the Secretary of the Company, by delivering to the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Any cost of solicitation of proxies on behalf of management will be borne by the Company. Proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone or telegraph by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company, without additional compensation therefor. The Company will also request persons, firms and corporations holding shares in their names, or in the name of their nominees, which are beneficially owned by others, to send proxy materials to and obtain proxies from such beneficial owners, and will reimburse such holders for their reasonable expenses in so doing. Voting Securities The securities which may be voted at the Annual Meeting consist of shares of Common Stock, with each share entitling its owner to one vote on all matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, except as described below. The close of business on December 1, 1999 has been fixed by the Board of Directors as the record date for the determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date was 2,187,346 shares. As provided in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock who beneficially own in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "limit"), are not entitled to any vote in respect of the shares held in excess of the limit. A person or entity is deemed to beneficially own shares owned by an affiliate of, as well as persons acting in concert with, such person or entity. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board of Directors to: (i) make all determinations necessary to implement and apply the limit, including determining whether persons or entities are acting in concert, and (ii) demand that any person who is reasonably believed to beneficially own Common Stock in excess of the limit supply information to the Company to enable the Board to implement and apply the limit. The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of at least a majority of the total number of shares of Common Stock entitled to vote (after subtracting any shares held in excess of the limit pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation) is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. As to the election of directors, the proxy card being provided by the Board of Directors enables a stockholder to vote for the election of the nominees proposed by the Board, or to withhold authority to vote for one or more of the nominees. Under Delaware law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, without regard to broker non-votes or proxies as to which authority to vote for one or more of the nominees is withheld. Under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, unless otherwise required by law, all such other matters voted on by stockholders at the Annual Meeting shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast, without regard to either broker non-votes or proxies marked "ABSTAIN" as to that matter. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners The following table sets forth certain information as to those persons believed by the Company to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock on the record date. Name and Address of Amount and Nature of Percent of Beneficial Ownership Beneficial Owner Class Fidelity Federal Savings Bank 276,467 12.64% Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust ("ESOP") 5455 W. Belmont Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60641 (1) First Manhattan Co. 210,167 9.61% 437 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022(3) Raymond S. Stolarczyk 180,659 8.26% Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. 5455 W. Belmont Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60641 (2) Franklin Resources, Inc. 128,300 5.87% 777 Mariners Island Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94403 (3) Dimensional Investors 126,300 5.78% 1299 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90401 (3) 1) The Human Resource Policy Committee of the Board of Directors has been appointed to administer the ESOP. An unrelated third party, Glenview State Bank, has been appointed as the corporate trustee for the ESOP ("ESOP Trustee"). The committee may instruct the ESOP Trustee regarding investment of funds contributed to the ESOP. The ESOP Trustee must vote all allocated shares held in the ESOP in accordance with the instructions of the participating employees. As of the record date, 227,722 shares of Common Stock in the ESOP had been allocated to participating employees. Of these, 14,483 shares had been disbursed to retiring participants. Under the ESOP, unallocated shares will be voted by the ESOP Trustee in a manner calculated to most accurately reflect the instructions received from participants regarding the allocated shares so long as such vote is in accordance with the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). 2) Excludes 26,996 shares held by Bonnie J. Stolarczyk. 3) Based upon the institutional holders summary on the nasdaq-amex-online website. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Pursuant to its bylaws, the number of directors of the Company is set at six unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors. Each of the six members of the Board of Directors also presently serves as a director of the Bank. Directors are elected for staggered terms of three years each, with a term of only one of the three classes of directors expiring each year. Directors serve until their successors are elected and qualified. The two nominees proposed for election as Class III Directors at the Annual Meeting are Thomas E. Bentel and Raymond S. Stolarczyk. Such nominations are not being proposed pursuant to any agreement or understanding between any person and the Company. In the event that any nominee is unable to serve or declines to serve for any reason, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as may be designated by the present Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that either of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. Unless authority to vote for the nominees is withheld, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy card, if executed and returned, will be voted FOR the election of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES NAMED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT Information with Respect to the Nominees, Continuing Directors and Other Executive Officers The following table sets forth the names of the nominees, continuing directors and executive officers, as well as their ages; a brief description of their business experience for the past five years, including present occupation and employment; the year in which each became a director and the year in which their term (or in the case of the nominees, their proposed term) as director of the Company expires. The table also sets forth the amount of Common Stock and the percent thereof beneficially owned by each nominee, director and executive officer and all directors and executive officers as a group as of November 16, 1999. No director is related to any other director or executive officer of the Company by blood, marriage or adoption, except that Bonnie Stolarczyk is the wife of Raymond Stolarczyk, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Amount and Name, Age and Principal Expiration Nature of Occupation at Present of Term Beneficial Percent and for the Past Five Years as Director Ownership (2) of Class Nominees Class III Thomas E. Bentel 2003 85,588 3.91% President and Chief Operating Officer Raymond S. Stolarczyk 2003 180,659 (2) 8.26% Chairmand of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Continuing Directors Class I Paul Bielat 2001 31,229 1.43% Director Bonnie Stolarczyk 2001 26,996 (3) 1.23% Director Class II Patrick J. Flynn 2002 10,229 * Director Raymond J. Horvat 2002 30,343 1.39% Director Other Named Executive Officers James R. Kinney 36,045 1.65% Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons) 401,089 17.87% *Does not exceed 1.0% of the Company's voting securities. (1) Each person effectively exercises sole (or shares with spouse or other immediate family member) voting and dispositive power as to shares reported. Includes 4,982, 4,982, 16,602 and 7,900 presently exercisable options granted to Messrs. Bielat, Flynn, and Horvat and Ms. Stolarczyk, respectively, under the Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the "Directors' Option Plan"). Includes 91,104 and 53,072 presently exercisable options granted to Messrs. Stolarczyk and Bentel, respectively, under the Company's 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Incentive Option Plan"). Includes 15,636, 15,749 and 12,288 shares awarded to Messrs. Stolarczyk, Bentel and Kinney, respectively, under the ESOP as of December 31, 1998. (2) Excludes 26,996 shares held by Bonnie J. Stolarczyk. (3) Excludes 180,659 shares held by Raymond S. Stolarczyk. Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and with the exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are traded. Such persons are also required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon the Company's review of such forms, and if appropriate, representations to the Company by such persons regarding whether a Form 5 was required to be filed for the past fiscal year, the Company is not aware that any of its directors or executive officers failed to comply with the requirements of Section 16(a) during the period from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999. Nominees Class III Thomas E. Bentel, age 53, became the Bank's Chief Operating Officer in 1987, President in 1991 and has held those same positions for the Company since 1993. Mr. Bentel was appointed a director of the Bank in 1988 and of the Company in 1997. Since 1988 he has served as President and director of Fidelity Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Heritage Bancorporation of Chicago. Mr. Bentel is a director of the Illinois League of Financial Institutions and a director and Treasurer of the Chicagoland Association of Financial Insitutions. Raymond S. Stolarczyk, age 61, joined the Bank in 1975 as Vice President Finance. Prior to Fidelity he worked as a Financial Specialist at Ernst & Young. He was promoted to President and director of the Bank in 1981 and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in 1985. In 1991 the Board of Directors appointed him Chairman of the Board for both the Bank and Fidelity Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. In 1993 Mr. Stolarczyk assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for the Company. Mr. Stolarczyk also holds the position of director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and is the Chairman of its Audit Committee. He is a Trustee of the Illinois League of Financial Institutions Trust. Mr. Stolarczyk also maintains memberships in the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Continuing Directors Class I Paul Bielat, age 60, has been a director of the Bank since 1992 and of the Company since 1993. He is a Principal in Compliance Assistance Partners, Inc., a firm engaged in the business of advising banks and thrift institutions regarding regulatory compliance. From 1982 to 1991 he held the position of Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Bonnie Stolarczyk, age 53, has been a director of the Bank since 1978 and of the Company since 1993. Ms. Stolarczyk is self-employed as a certified public accountant. She is a member of the National Association of Tax Practitioners, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Stolarczyk also serves as Treasurer of LaGrange Area Transitional Housing, a non-profit organization. Class II Patrick J. Flynn, age 57, has been a director of the Bank and of the Company since 1993. He holds the position of Executive Vice President Strategic Planning of McDonalds USA. Mr. Flynn is also a director of Chipotle Mexican Grill and Donato's Pizza. He is a director of Link Unlimited and Inroads/Chicago, Inc., both non-profit organizations. Raymond J. Horvat, age 74, has been a director of the Bank since 1978 and of the Company since 1993. Mr. Horvat was the co-founder of a retail and wholesale merchandizing business. He is now retired. Other Named Executive Officers James R. Kinney, age 53, joined the Bank as Vice President Finance in 1986. He presently holds the titles of Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of both the Bank and the Company. Mr. Kinney was also appointed Senior Vice President Finance and Treasurer of Fidelity Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, in 1993. He is a past director of Mission Aviation Fellowship and a present director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, both non-profit organizations. Meetings of the Board and Committees of the Board The Board of Directors of the Company conducts its business through meetings of the Board and through activities of its committees. During fiscal 1999, the Board of Directors held 7 meetings. Each of the directors of the Company attended at least 75% of the total number of the Company's Board meetings held and committee meetings on which such director served during fiscal 1999. The Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank maintain a number of committees, such of which are described below: Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Bielat (Chair) and Flynn and Ms. Stolarczyk. The committee recommends independent auditors to the Board, reviews the results of the auditors' services and reviews with management the systems of internal control and internal audit reports. The Audit committee met four times in fiscal 1999. Human Resource Policy Committee. The Human Resource Policy Committee consists of Messrs. Flynn (Chair), Bielat and Horvat. The purpose of the committee is to recommend the compensation, pension, benefit and other human resource policies and programs for key executive management personnel to the full Board, and to monitor compliance with the Bank's policies and applicable laws and regulations. This committee met four times in fiscal 1999. Nominating Committee. The Company's Nominating Committee for the 2000 Annual Meeting consisted of Messrs. Bielat, Flynn and Horvat. The committee considers and recommends the nominees for director to stand for election at the Company's Annual Meeting. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws also provide for stockholder nominations of directors. Such nominations must be in writing and must otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 6 of the Company's bylaws. See "Additional Information - Notice of Business to Be Conducted at an Annual Meeting." The Nominating Committee met once in fiscal 1999. Directors' Compensation Directors' Fees. The Company pays no fees for service on the Board of Directors. For calendar year 1999, each outside director of the Bank was paid a monthly retainer of $650 plus a fee of $650 for each Board meeting attended. The Chairperson of each committee of the Board of the Bank received $300 for each committee meeting attended; committee members received a fee of $250 for each meeting attended. Directors who are officers or executives of the Bank received no fees for meetings attended. Executive Compensation Human Resource Policy Committee Report of Executive Compensation. The following report of the Human Resource Policy committee and stock performance graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts. Under rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is required to provide certain data and information in regard to the compensation and benefits provided to the Company s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other executive officers. The disclosure requirements for the CEO and executive officers include the use of tables and a report explaining the rationale and considerations that led to fundamental compensation decisions affecting those individuals. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Human Resource Policy Committee, at the direction of the Board of Directors, has prepared the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement. Compensation Report. The Human Resource Policy Committee is responsible for establishing the compensation levels and benefits for executive officers of the Bank who also serve as executive officers of the Company. The committee is comprised solely of independent outside directors. The Board has delegated to the committee the responsibility of assuring that the compensation of the CEO and other executive officers is consistent with the performance of the Company, the compensation policy, competitive practices and the requirements of appropriate regulatory agencies. Non-employee directors who do not sit on the Human Resource Policy Committee also participate in executive compensation decision-making through the review, discussion and ratification of the committee's recommendations. Executive Compensation Policy. For the past fiscal year, the goals established by the committee for executive officer compensation were: To encourage a consistent and competitive return to stockholders; To provide financial rewards for performance of those having a significant impact on corporate profitability; To reward Bank and individual performance; and To provide competitive compensation in order to attract and retain key personnel. When determining the appropriate levels of executive compensation, the committee took into consideration several factors, including the internal value of the executive s function to the Company, the executive s performance for fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and compensation ranges and levels for executive positions in comparable companies. To evaluate the accomplishments achieved by the executives for fiscal year 1998, the committee took into consideration both financial and non-financial goals from customer and business development perspectives. The committee evaluated a number of performance measures, including those related to quality of assets, stockholder return, earnings per share, loan origination and deposit growth. Evaluations for each executive, liting fiscal year accomplishments, were discussed by the committee to determine each executive's respective contribution to the performance measures. Chief Executive Officer. In determining the Chief Executive Officer s compensation for 1999, the committee took into consideration the CEO s performance in relation to the accomplishment of the targeted measurements outlined above. The committee determined that the CEOs salary be increased by 3%, which became effective January 1, 1999. The committee determined that this increase would maintain the CEO s direct compensation just above the third quartile of the established salary range. Other Executive Officers. All factors used by the committee to determine the direct compensation of the CEO were also used to determine the direct compensation of the other executive officers of the Company. These executives were evaluated on the specific contributions they made in accomplishing the goals listed above and those established in the Company s 1998 Fiscal Financial Plan. The average salary increase awarded to the Company s executive officers for fiscal year 1999 was 3%, which became effective January 1, 1999. The increase placed its executive officer compensation slightly over the mid point of the established salary range. Human Resource Policy Committee: Patrick J. Flynn (Chair) Paul J. Bielat Raymond J. Horvat Stock Performance Graph The following table shows a comparison of the Company's cumulative return for the past five years with the cumulative total returns of both a broad market and a peer group index. The broad market index chosen was the Nasdaq Market Index and the peer group index chosen was the Media General Industry Group, which is comprised of savings and loan holding companies. The data was supplied by Media General Financial Services. COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN AMONG FIDELITY BANCORP, INC., PEER GROUP INDEX AND BROAD MARKET INDEX FIDELITY PEER BROAD BANCORP, GROUP GROUP MEASUREMENT PERIOD INC. INDEX INDEX 9/30/94 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 9/30/95 117.51 128.54 121.41 9/30/96 136.11 154.39 141.75 9/30/97 215.99 261.98 192.67 9/30/98 182.71 231.16 200.23 9/30/99 147.73 222.32 323.92 Summary Compensation Table The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company, including any of its subsidiaries, for services during the past three fiscal years, to the CEO and the two other officers of the Company who received total annual salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 for fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. Annual Compensation Awards Payouts Securities Restricted Underlying All Other Other Annual Stock Options/ LTIP Compen- Name and Principal Fiscal Compensation Awards SARs Payouts Sation Position Year Salary Bonus ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)(1) Raymond S. Stolarczyk 1999 $220,950 $64,890 -- -- -- -- $379,173 Chairman of the 1998 214,251 -- -- -- -- -- 323,528 Board and Chief 1997 206,785 -- -- -- -- -- 149,651 Executive Officer Thomas E. Bentel 1999 $172,249 $42,150 -- -- -- -- $381,913 President and Chief 1998 167,112 -- -- -- -- -- 326,382 Operating Officer 1997 161,556 -- -- -- -- -- 151,572 James R. Kinney 1999 $128,219 $25,100 -- -- -- -- $297,984 Senior Vice 1998 124,237 -- -- -- -- -- 252,298 President Finance, 1997 119,893 -- -- -- -- -- 117,215 Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (1) Represents the fair market value of shares granted under the ESOP on the respective allocation date. Employment Agreements The Company and the Bank have employment agreements with Messrs. Stolarczyk, Bentel and Kinney. The employment agreements are intended to ensure that the Company and the Bank will be able to maintain a stable and competent management team. The employment agreements with Messrs. Stolarczyk and Bentel provide for three year terms and the employment agreement with Mr. Kinney provides for a two year term. Commencing on the first anniversary date and continuing each anniversary date thereafter, the term of each agreement is automatically extended for an additional year unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the Board of Directors after conducting a performance evaluation of the respective executive. In addition to specifying base salary, which is subject to annual review by the Board of Directors, the employment agreements provide for, among other things, disability pay, participation in stock benefit plans and other fringe benefits applicable to executive personnel. The employment agreements provide for termination by the Bank or the Company for cause at any time. In the event the Bank or the Company chooses to terminate the executive's employment for reasons other than for cause or disability, or in the event of the executive's resignation from the Bank and the Company upon: (i) failure to re-elect the executive to his current office; (ii) a material change in the executive's functions, duties or responsibilities, or relocation of his principal place of employment or material reduction in benefits or perquisites; (iii) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or the Company; or (iv) a breach of the agreement by the Bank or the Company, the executive or, in the event of death, his beneficiary, would be entitled to receive an amount equal to the remaining payments, including base salary, bonuses and other payments and health benefits due under the remaining term of the agreement. If termination of employment follows a change in control of the Company or the Bank, as defined in the agreements, the executive or, in the event of death, his beneficiary, would be entitled to a payment equal to the greater of: (i) payments due for the remaining term of the agreement or (ii) three times his average annual compensation over the three years preceding his termination of employment, as to Messrs. Stolarczyk and Bentel, and two times his average annual compensation over the previous two years for Mr. Kinney. The Bank and the Company would also continue the executive's life, health and disability coverage for the remaining unexpired term of the agreement to the extent allowed by the plans or policies maintained by the Company from time to time. In the event of a change in control, based upon the past fiscal year's salary and bonus, Messrs. Stolarczyk, Bentel, and Kinney would receive approximately $641,986, $500,916 and $252,455, respectively, in severance payments, in addition to other cash and noncash benefits, under the agreements. Payments to the executive under the Bank's agreements are guaranteed by the Company in the event that payments or benefits are not paid by the Bank. Defined Benefit Plan The Bank maintains a non-contributory defined benefit plan ("Retirement Plan"). All employees credited with 1,000 or more hours of employment during a twelve month period with the Bank and have attained age 21 are eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan. At the normal retirement age of 65 years old, the Retirement Plan is designed to provide a life annuity guaranteed for 10 years. The retirement benefit provided is based on the highest consecutive five-year average salary and years of benefit service, as shown in the following table. Retirement Plan benefits are also payable upon termination due to late retirement and death. Upon termination of employment other than as specified above, a participant who was employed by the Bank for a minimum of five years is eligible to receive his or her accrued benefit, reduced for early retirement, or a deferred retirement benefit commencing on the participant's normal retirement date. Benefits are payable in various annuity forms, as well as in the form of a single lump sum payment. No contributions were made to the plan for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. Under applicable accounting rules, the Bank accrued $129,128 with respect to the Retirement Plan for the twelve month period ended September 30, 1999. The following table indicates the annual retirement benefit that would be payable under the plan upon retirement at age 65 to a participant electing to receive his or her retirement benefit in the standard form, assuming various specified levels of plan compensation and various specified years of credited service. 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years 35 Years Average Credited Credited Credited Credited Credited Compensation Service Service Service Service Service $25,000 $3,750 $5,000 $6,250 $7,000 $8,750 50,000 7,500 10,000 12,500 15,000 17,500 75,000 11,250 15,000 18,750 22,500 26,250 100,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 150,000 22,500 30,000 37,500 45,000 52,500 The following table sets forth the years of credit service (i.e., benefit service) as of the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, for each of the executive officers. Credited Service Years Months Raymond S. Stolarczyk 23 0 Thomas E. Bentel 17 0 James R. Kinney 12 0 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan The Bank also maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP"), a nonqualified, unfunded retirement program within the meaning of ERISA. The SERP is intended to provide retirement benefits and preretirement death and disability benefits to those employees named in the Summary Compensation Table. The Bank accrued $129,231 with respect to the SERP for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. At the normal retirement age of 65 years old, the SERP is designed to provide a 20 year fixed annuity payable monthly. This amount shall represent 55% of the average compensation of the participant as of his normal retirement date, reduced by the actuarial equivalent of the benefit actually payable to the participant under the Retirement Plan. A participant who separates from service prior to the normal retirement date shall be entitled to a benefit equal to the actuarial equivalent of the participant's accrued benefit, determined at the time of separation. Accrued benefit means the supplemental benefit of a participant, payable in the normal form, multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of completed years of participation on the date of determination and the denominator of which is the number of his or her expected completed years of participation projected to his or her normal retirement date. A participant shall, at all times, be 100 percent vested in his or her accrued benefit. If a participant dies prior to the time benefits under the SERP commence, the amount of his preretirement death benefit shall be equal to the value of the supplemental benefit calculated as if the participant had terminated his employment on his or her normal retirement date. If a participant becomes disabled prior to the normal retirement date, he or she shall be entitled to a benefit equal to the actuarial equivalent of the participant's accrued benefit, calculated as if such participant had terminated employment on that date. Incentive Stock Option Plan The Company maintains the Incentive Stock Option Plan, which provides discretionary awards to certain officers and key employees as determined by the Human Resource Policy Committee, which administers the plan. No grants were made under the Incentive Stock Option Plan in the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. The following table provides certain information with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock represented by outstanding stock options held by the named executive officers as of September 30, 1999. Also reported are the values for "in-the-money" options, which amounts represent the positive spread between the exercise price of any such existing stock options and the fiscal year-end price of Common Stock. During fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, Messrs. Stolarczyk, Bentel and Kinney exercised 1,500, 0 and 9,088 options respectively. AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES Number of Securities Value of Unexercised Shares Underlying Unexercised In-The-Money Options Acquired Options at Fiscal at Fiscal Year End on Value Year End (#)(1) ($)(2) Exercise Realized Name (3) ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable Raymond S. Stolarczyk 2,420 $16,486 90,684 0 $617,785 $0 Thomas E. Bentel 0 0 53,072 0 361,553 0 James R. Kinney 9,088 136,888 0 0 0 0 (1) All options will expire on December 15, 2003, ten years from the date of grant. (2) Represents the per share market value of the Common Stock at fiscal year end ($16.8125) minus the exercise price ($10.00) per share. Transactions With Certain Related Persons The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), requires that all loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with the general public, and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. In addition, loans made to a director or executive officer in excess of the greater of $25,000 or 5% of the Bank's capital and surplus (up to a maximum of $500,000) must be approved in advance by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors. Any loans made by the Bank to its directors and officers would be made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. As of September 30, 1999, there were no loans outstanding to directors or executive officers. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS On September 20, 1999, the Company decided that KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ("KPMG"), who were the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ended Septemer 30, 1999, would be replaced by Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP ("Crowe Chizek") as its independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000. The decision to engage new auditors was recommended by the Company's Audit Committee and approved by the Company's Board of Directors based upon the period review by the Company of its accounting and tax service providers. The reports of KPMG on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and the reports were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for each of the two fiscal years ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999, and in the subsequent interim period, there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG would cause KPMG to make reference to the matter in their report, and KPMG did not advise the Company that any of the events described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K had occurred. During the Company's fiscal years ended September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1999, the Company (or anyone on the company's behalf) did not consult Crowe Chizek regarding (i) either the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements; and as such no written report was provided to the Company and no oral advise was provided that the new accountant concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject or disagreement or a reportable event. Representatives of Crowe Chizek will be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders present at the Annual Meeting. If the appointment of the new auditors is not ratified, the matter of the appointment of auditors will be considered by the Board of Directors. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Other Matters Which May Properly Come before the Annual Meeting The Board of Directors knows of no business that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than as stated in this Proxy Statement and the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the proxy holders to vote the shares represented thereby on such matters in accordance with their best judgment. Stockholder Proposals To be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and proxy relating to the Annual Meeting to be held in 2001, stockholder proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement, not later than August 29, 2000. Any such proposal will be subject to the provisions of the Company's bylaws and 17 C.F.R. Section 240.14a-8 of the Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. Notice of Business to be Conducted at an Annual Meeting Section 6 of the bylaws of the Company provides an advance notice procedure for a stockholder to properly nominate directors or bring other business before an annual meeting. The stockholder must give advance written notice to the Secretary of the Company not less than 90 days before the date originally fixed for such meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 100 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which the Company's notice to stockholders of the annual meeting date was mailed or such public disclosure was made. The advance notice by stockholders must include the stockholder's name and address, as they appear on the Company's record of stockholders, a brief description of the proposed business, the reason for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, the class and number of shares of the Company's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder in the proposed business. In the case of nominations to the Board, certain additional information regarding the nominee must also be provided, as set forth in Section 6 of the bylaws. Additionally, the Company is not required to include in its Proxy Statement and proxy relating to an annual meeting any stockholder proposal which does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established under applicable state laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC in effect at the time such proposal is received. By Order of the Board of Directors Judith K. Leaf Secretary Chicago, Illinois December 27, 1999 YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.