[For options which are granted as
                           non-incentive stock options
                    to nonemployee-directors or consultants]


                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  THIS 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  (the  "Board")  of the  Corporation,
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 [as a director/ as a
consultant]  of , an  option  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 granted as
a "non-incentive stock option".
                  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, add sections 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  [85%-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 accrued 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.
                  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 Service as a Director or Consultant. (a) In the
event that Optionee is [no longer a consultant/ and no longer a director] 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 a [director and/or consultant] 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
service as a director or  consultant  for  purposes of this  Agreement  shall be
determined by the Board, and such  determination of the Board shall be final and
conclusive.
[for director  optionees:  (b) If Optionee shall retire, die or become disabled,
the three (3) month period  specified in  Subsection  7(a)(1)  shall be five (5)
years.  If Optionee shall die within five (5) years from the date when he or she
ceases  to be a  director,  his  or  her  estate,  personal  representative,  or
beneficiary shall have the right, subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof,
to exercise the Option until the expiration of such five (5) year period, to the
extent that he or she was  entitled to exercise  the same  immediately  prior to
death.]
[for  consultant  (not also  director)  optionees:  (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 a  consultant  or within not
more  than  three  (3)  months  from  the  date  when he or she  ceases  to be a
consultant,  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  with  installment  schedules:  (c)  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, if the service of Optionee as a [director/consultant]  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
service  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 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 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  Transferability.  (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  shall not be assignable  except to the extent set forth in Paragraph 6
hereof.
                  18.  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