[For incentive options
                            granted to employees who
                             are not also directors]

                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  THIS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as
              of  the  day of , 19 , by  and  between  BAY  AREA  BANCSHARES,  a
              California corporation ("Corporation"), and
                               ("Optionee").

                                     RECITAL
                  The  Board  of  Directors  of the  Corporation  (the  "Board")
pursuant  to the Bay Area  Bancshares  1993  Stock  Option  Plan  ("Plan"),  has
determined that it desires to grant to Optionee,  pursuant to the Plan and as an
incentive for increased  efforts during his or her service in the employ of , an
"incentive stock option," as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended,  to purchase  shares of the common stock of the Corporation
on the terms and conditions set forth below.
                  
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
                  
1. Stock Subject to Option.  The Corporation  hereby grants to
Optionee,  under and pursuant to the Plan,  the right and option  ("Option")  to
purchase,  on the terms and conditions  hereinafter  set forth,  an aggregate of
shares of the  Corporation's  common stock,  no par value.  The Option is hereby
designated  as an  "incentive  stock  option,"  as defined in Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
                  
2.  Exercise  of Option.  The Option may be  exercised  at any
time,  in whole or in part,  during the term of the Option,  as provided  for in
Section 4 herein.  OR The Option may be exercised upon such terms and conditions
as the Board shall determine;  provided, however, that the Option shall vest and
be exercisable in installments as follows:  [state installment schedule, if any]
 . [If there is an  installment  schedule  and if  optionee  is an  officer,  add
subsections 7(d) and 8(c)] CONTINUE IN EITHER CASE In no event,  however,  shall
the Corporation be required to issue fractional shares.
                  
3. Option Price.  The purchase  price for shares upon exercise
 of the Option shall be $ per share,  which is 100% of the per share fair market
 value [110% of the per share fair market value, in the
case of a 10% shareholder,] of the shares of the  Corporation's  common stock as
of the date of grant of the Option,  said value having been  established  by the
Board  pursuant to the Plan.  Optionee is in agreement that $ is the fair market
value of the  shares  of the  Corporation's  common  stock as of the date of the
grant of the Option.
                  
4. Term of Option. The term of this Agreement and Option shall
commence  on the date  hereof,  and expire ten (10) years from the date  hereof,
that is, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, on ,
    , or at such earlier time as provided herein.
                  
5.  Manner  of  Exercise.  To the  extent  that  the  right to
purchase shares has vested  hereunder,  the Option may be exercised from time to
time by written  notice to the  Corporation  stating  the number of shares  with
respect to which the  Option is being  exercised,  and the time of the  delivery
thereof, which shall not be less than fifteen (15) days and not more than thirty
(30) days after the  giving of such  notice,  unless an earlier  date shall have
been  mutually  agreed upon.  Shares of common stock  purchased  pursuant to the
exercise of the Option shall,  at the time of the notice  specifying the date of
delivery,  be paid for in  full,  with  cash or  common  stock  that is owned by
Optionee,  or by delivery of the  Optionees's  Note in the form of Exhibit A and
Stock Pledge Agreement in the form of Exhibit B to this Agreement. To the extent
payment is being made with cash,  Optionee shall deliver a certified or official
bank check or the equivalent thereof acceptable to the Corporation. If shares of
common stock are tendered as payment,  such shares shall be valued at their fair
market value, as determined by the Corporation,  on the date of the notice given
to the  Corporation  by  Optionee  with  respect to such  exercise.  At the time
specified in the notice for delivery of the certificate,  the Corporation shall,
without  transfer or issue tax to Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise
the  Option),  deliver to Optionee  (or other  person  entitled to exercise  the
Option) at the principal office of the Corporation, or such other place as shall
be mutually acceptable, a certificate or certificates for such shares; provided,
however,  that the time of such delivery may be postponed by the Corporation for
such period as may be required for it with  reasonable  diligence to comply with
any  requirements  of law. If Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise the
Option)  fails to pay for all or any part of the number of shares  specified  in
such  notice or fails to accept  delivery of such shares upon tender of delivery
thereof,  the right to  exercise  the Option  with  respect to such  undelivered
shares may be terminated.  The Board may require that a partial  exercise of the
Option be for no less than a stated minimum of shares.
                  
6.  Non-Assignability  of  Option  Rights.  During  Optionee's
lifetime,  the  Option  may be  exercised  only by  Optionee,  and the Option is
non-assignable,  except by will or comparable testamentary instrument, or by the
laws of descent and distribution. In the event of any attachment,  execution, or
similar process upon the Option,  the Corporation shall, as soon as practicable,
notify  Optionee of such process  and, if Optionee  does not within a reasonable
time (but not to exceed  sixty (60) days) obtain an  appropriate  release of the
Option from such process,  the  Corporation  may exercise its right to terminate
the Option by notice to  Optionee.  The Option shall  thereupon  become null and
void.
                  
7. Termination of Employment.(a) In the event that Optionee is
no longer an  employee of the  Corporation  or one of its  subsidiaries  for any
reason, the Option shall terminate immediately; provided, however, that Optionee
shall have the right, subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof with respect
to the maximum term of the Option,  to exercise  the Option,  at any time within
three (3) months  from the day he or she ceases to be an  employee to the extent
that he or she was entitled to exercise the same immediately  prior to such day,
except as provided below.  Whether an authorized leave of absence on military or
government  service or for other  reasons  shall  constitute  a  termination  of
employment for purposes of this Agreement shall be determined by the Board,  and
such determination of the Board shall be final and conclusive.
                  (b) If Optionee  shall  become  disabled,  the three (3) month
period specified in Subsection 7(a) shall be six (6) months.
                  (c) If  Optionee  shall die while an  employee,  or within not
more  than  three  (3)  months  from the  date  when he or she  ceases  to be an
employee, his or her estate, personal representative,  or beneficiary shall have
the right,  subject to the  provisions  of Section (4) hereof,  to exercise  the
Option,  at any time within six (6) months from the date of death, to the extent
that he or she was entitled to exercise the Option immediately prior to death.
                  [for options granted to officers with  installment  schedules:
(d)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if  the  employment  of the  Optionee  is
"Terminated or Modified",  as defined below, as a result of and within 24 months
of a Change of Control, as defined below, and if this Option is not fully vested
at the time of such Termination or Modification,  the remaining installments may
vest immediately  upon such  Termination or  Modification.  For purposes of this
paragraph,  "Terminated  or Modified"  is defined as a change in the  Optionee's
employment  terms that  results  in a  reduction  of  economic  benefits  to the
Optionee  from the  Corporation,  including  but not limited to a  reduction  in
compensation,  and "Change of Control"  is defined as a merger,  acquisition  or
change of  control  that  requires  notice to or  approval  of State or  Federal
banking regulators.]
                  
8. Adjustments or Changes in Stock; Change in Control.  (a) In
the event that the  outstanding  shares of common stock of the  Corporation  are
hereafter  increased or  decreased or changed into or exchanged  for a different
number or kind of shares or other  securities of the  Corporation  or of another
corporation,    by   reason   of    reorganization,    merger,    consolidation,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, combination of shares, dividend
payable in common stock, or acquisition,  or any similar  transaction,  in which
the Corporation receives no additional  consideration other than shares or other
securities,  appropriate adjustment shall be made by the Board under the Plan in
the number and kind of shares as to which the  Option or  portion  thereof  then
unexercised shall be exercisable,  so that Optionee's  proportionate interest in
the  Corporation  by reason of rights under  unexercised  portions of the Option
shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.  Such  adjustment in
the Option shall be made  without  change in the total price  applicable  to the
unexercised  portion  of the  Option  and with a  corresponding  adjustment,  if
necessary, in the option price per share.
         (b) In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation,  a
merger,  consolidation,  acquisition,  or  other  reorganization  involving  the
Corporation  or a  principal  subsidiary,  in  which  the  Corporation  or  such
principal subsidiary is not the surviving or resulting corporation, or a sale by
the Corporation or by a principal  subsidiary of all or substantially all of its
assets,  the Board shall cause the termination of the Option as of the effective
date of such transaction, provided, however, that advance notice of the expected
effective  date of such  transaction  shall be given to Optionee,  to the extent
practicable,  and Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option until the
date of such  termination  as to all or any part of the  shares  as to which the
Option is at that time exercisable.
                  [for options granted to officers with  installment  schedules:
(c) In the event this  Option is  terminated  under  paragraph  (b)  immediately
above,  any  portion  of this  Option  that is not  vested as of the date of the
advance  notice to Optionee of the expected  effective  date of the  transaction
shall become vested and the Option shall be exercisable in full from the date of
such notice until the date the Option terminates.]
                  
9. Rights as a Shareholder. Optionee shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any shares of common stock of the Corporation  until
the date of issuance of a stock  certificate  to Optionee  for such  shares.  No
adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date
is prior to the date of such issuance, except as otherwise provided in Paragraph
8 herein.

10.  Notification of Sale.  Optionee shall promptly notify the
Corporation in writing of any sale,  transfer or other disposition of any shares
acquired  by Optionee  as a result of  exercising  all or any part of the Option
granted hereunder,  which are sold,  transferred or otherwise disposed of within
two (2) years  from the date of grant of the Option  and/or  within one (1) year
from the date of the acquisition of shares by Optionee  through  exercise of the
Option.
                  
11. Withholding Taxes. Whenever the Corporation proposes or is
required to issue or transfer shares of common stock under this  Agreement,  the
Corporation shall have the right to require Optionee to remit to the Corporation
an amount sufficient to satisfy any Federal,  state and/or local withholding tax
requirements  prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates  for such
shares.  Alternatively,  the  Corporation  may issue or transfer  such shares of
common stock net of the number of shares  sufficient to satisfy the  withholding
tax requirements. For withholding tax purposes, the shares of common stock shall
be valued on the date the withholding obligation is incurred.
                  
12. No  Obligation  to  Exercise.  The  granting of the Option
hereunder  shall impose no obligation upon Optionee to exercise the Option as to
the shares or any portion thereof covered thereby.

13.  Incorporation  of Bay Area  Bancshares  1993 Stock Option
Plan. The Option is granted by the Corporation  pursuant to the Plan, adopted by
the Board and  approved  by the  shareholders  of the  Corporation.  The parties
hereby agree that the terms and conditions of the Plan, as now in effect, shall,
by this reference,  be incorporated in this Incentive Stock Option  Agreement as
though set forth in full. Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. A
copy of the  Plan  shall  also be  maintained  at the  principal  office  of the
Corporation  and made available to Optionee for  inspection  during the business
hours of the Corporation. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of
this Agreement and the  provisions of the Plan,  then the provisions of the Plan
shall be controlling.

14. Restrictions on Tranferability. (a) If the shares of stock
covered  by the Plan have  been  registered  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  pursuant to Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and qualified or
registered   under  any   applicable   blue  sky  laws,  the   restrictions   on
transferability of such shares set forth in Section 14(b) shall not apply.
         (b) Unless the shares of stock covered by the Plan have been registered
with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to  Section  5 of the
Securities Act of 1933 and qualified or registered under any applicable blue sky
laws,  Optionee by accepting the Option  represents  and agrees,  for himself or
herself  and  his or her  transferees,  that  all  stock  will be  acquired  for
investment and not for resale or  distribution.  Upon exercise of any portion of
the Option,  the person entitled to exercise the same shall, upon request of the
Corporation,  furnish  evidence  satisfactory  to the  Corporation  (including a
written  and  signed  representation)  to the  effect  that  the  stock is being
acquired  in good  faith for  investment  and not for  resale  or  distribution.
Furthermore,  the Corporation,  at its sole discretion,  may take all reasonable
steps,  including affixing a legend, which may be in substantially the following
form, on certificates embodying the shares:
         The shares  represented by this  certificate  have not been  registered
         under the  Securities  Act of 1933 [or qualified  under the  California
         Corporate  Securities  Law of  1968]  and  may  not be  sold,  pledged,
         hypothecated  or  otherwise  transferred  or  offered  for  sale in the
         absence of an  effective  registration  statement  with respect to them
         under the Act and  qualification  under  applicable  blue sky law, or a
         written  opinion of counsel for the  optionee  which  opinion  shall be
         acceptable   to  counsel   for  the  issuer   that   registration   and
         qualification are not required.

to assure itself  against any sale or  distribution  by Optionee  which does not
comply with the Plan or any federal or state  securities laws. In the event that
Optionee at any time  contemplates  the disposition of any of the stock acquired
upon the exercise of the Option (whether by sale,  exchange,  gift or other form
of  transfer),  he or she shall first notify the  Corporation  of such  proposed
disposition  and shall  thereafter  cooperate with the  Corporation in complying
with  all  applicable   requirements  of  law  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the
Corporation,  must be satisfied prior to the making of such disposition.  Before
consummating  such  disposition,  Optionee  shall provide to the  Corporation an
opinion of Optionee's counsel, of which both such opinion and such counsel shall
be satisfactory to the  Corporation,  that such disposition will not result in a
violation of any state or federal securities laws or regulations.

15. Notices.  Any notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail to
, in the  case of  Optionee,  and to its  principal  office  in the  case of the
Corporation,  or such  other  address  as one may  communicate  to the  other in
writing.  

16. Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by either party of the breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by any such party. 
17. Assignment.  The rights and obligations
of the  Corporation and Optionee under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and shall be binding upon their successors and assigns, except that the right
to exercise the Option herein provided for shall not be assignable except to the
extent set forth in Paragraph
6 hereof.
18. Incentive Stock Option Tax Treatment.  It is understood by
Optionee  that in  granting  the Option and by  executing  this  Agreement,  the
Corporation  desires and intends to qualify  the Option as an  "incentive  stock
option,"  as defined in Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended.  However,  Optionee further understands that, by taking such steps, the
Corporation  does not guarantee  that the  favorable tax treatment  available to
incentive stock options will in fact be obtained by Optionee.
                  
19.  Entire  Agreement.  This  instrument  contains the entire
Agreement of the parties. It may not be changed orally, but only by agreement in
writing signed by the parties  against whom  enforcement of any waiver,  change,
modification, extension, or discharge is sought.
                  
IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day 
of , 19 .

BAY AREA BANCSHARES,
a California corporation



By

Its
Optionee