EXHIBIT 99.2


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                         FIRST COASTAL BANKSHARES, INC.

                                       AND

                               CENTURA BANKS, INC.


                          Dated as of October 28, 1998




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
Parties.......................................................................1
Preamble......................................................................1
ARTICLE 1-TRANSACTIONS AND TERMS OF MERGER....................................2
     1.1      Merger..........................................................2
     1.2      Time and Place of Closing.......................................2
     1.3      Effective Time..................................................2
     1.4      Execution of Stock Option Agreement.............................2
     1.5      Restructure of Transaction......................................2
ARTICLE 2-TERMS OF MERGER.....................................................3
     2.1      Articles of Incorporation.......................................3
     2.2      Bylaws..........................................................3
     2.3      Directors and Officers..........................................3
ARTICLE 3-MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES.........................................3
     3.1      Conversion of Shares............................................3
     3.2      Anti-Dilution Provisions........................................4
     3.3      Shares Held by First Coastal or Centura.........................4
     3.4      Fractional Shares...............................................4
     3.5      Conversion of Stock Rights......................................5
ARTICLE 4-EXCHANGE OF SHARES..................................................6
     4.1      Exchange Procedures.............................................6
     4.2      Rights of Former First Coastal Stockholders.....................7
ARTICLE 5-REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRST COASTAL.....................8
     5.1      Organization, Standing, and Power...............................8
     5.2      Authority; No Breach By Agreement...............................8
     5.3      Capital Stock...................................................9
     5.4      First Coastal Subsidiaries......................................9
     5.5      SEC Filings; Financial Statements...............................10
     5.6      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities..............................11
     5.7      Absence of Certain Changes or Events............................11
     5.8      Tax Matters.....................................................11
     5.9      Assets..........................................................12
     5.10     Environmental Matters...........................................13
     5.11     Compliance with Laws............................................14
     5.12     Labor Relations.................................................14
     5.13     Employee Benefit Plans..........................................15
     5.14     Material Contracts..............................................17
     5.15     Legal Proceedings...............................................18
     5.16     Reports.........................................................18
     5.17     Statements True and Correct.....................................18


                                      -i-


     5.18     Tax and Regulatory Matters......................................19
     5.19     State Takeover Laws.............................................19
     5.20     Charter Provisions..............................................19
     5.21     Derivatives.....................................................19
     5.22     Year 2000.......................................................19
ARTICLE 6-REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CENTURA...........................20
     6.1      Organization, Standing, and Power...............................20
     6.2      Authority; No Breach By Agreement...............................20
     6.3      Capital Stock...................................................21
     6.4      Centura Subsidiaries............................................21
     6.5      SEC Filings; Financial Statements...............................22
     6.6      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities..............................22
     6.7      Absence of Certain Changes or Events............................23
     6.8      Tax Matters.....................................................23
     6.9      Assets..........................................................24
     6.10     Environmental Matters...........................................24
     6.11     Compliance with Laws............................................26
     6.12     Labor Relations.................................................26
     6.13     Legal Proceedings...............................................26
     6.14     Reports.........................................................27
     6.15     Statements True and Correct.....................................27
     6.16     Tax and Regulatory Matters......................................27
     6.17     Derivatives.....................................................27
     6.18     Year 2000.......................................................28
ARTICLE 7-CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CONSUMMATION............................28
     7.1      Affirmative Covenants of First Coastal..........................28
     7.2      Negative Covenants of First Coastal.............................28
     7.3      Covenants of Centura............................................30
     7.4      Adverse Changes in Condition....................................31
     7.5      Reports.........................................................31
ARTICLE 8-ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...............................................31
     8.1      Registration Statement; Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval...31
     8.2      Exchange Listing................................................32
     8.3      Applications....................................................32
     8.4      Filings with State Offices......................................32
     8.5      Agreement as to Efforts to Consummate...........................32
     8.6      Investigation and Confidentiality...............................33
     8.7      Press Releases..................................................33
     8.8      Certain Actions.................................................34
     8.9      Accounting and Tax Treatment....................................34
     8.10     State Takeover Laws.............................................34
     8.11     Charter Provisions..............................................34
     8.12     Agreement of Affiliates.........................................35


                                      -ii-


     8.13     Employee Benefits and Contracts.................................35
     8.14     Indemnification.................................................36
     8.15     Assumption of Agreement.........................................37
ARTICLE 9-CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS TO CONSUMMATE...................37
     9.1      Conditions to Obligations of Each Party.........................37
     9.2      Conditions to Obligations of Centura............................39
     9.3      Conditions to Obligations of First Coastal......................40
ARTICLE 10-TERMINATION........................................................41
     10.1     Termination.....................................................41
     10.2     Effect of Termination...........................................42
     10.3     Non-Survival of Representations and Covenants...................42
ARTICLE 11-MISCELLANEOUS......................................................43
     11.1     Definitions.....................................................43
     11.2     Expenses........................................................51
     11.3     Brokers and Finders.............................................51
     11.4     Entire Agreement................................................52
     11.5     Amendments......................................................52
     11.6     Waivers.........................................................52
     11.7     Assignment......................................................53
     11.8     Notices.........................................................53
     11.9     Governing Law...................................................54
     11.10    Counterparts....................................................54
     11.11    Captions........................................................54
     11.12    Interpretations.................................................54
     11.13    Enforcement of Agreement........................................54
     11.14    Severability....................................................54
Signatures....................................................................55

                                     -iii-



                                LIST OF EXHIBITS
                                ----------------


Exhibit Number    Description
- --------------    -----------

          1.      Form of Stock Option Agreement.

          2.      Form of Affiliate Agreement.


                                      -iv-




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                          ----------------------------


              THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this  "Agreement")  is made and
entered into as of October 28, 1998, by and between  FIRST  COASTAL  BANKSHARES,
INC. ("First Coastal"),  a corporation  organized and existing under the Laws of
the  Commonwealth  of Virginia,  with its principal  office  located in Virginia
Beach,  Virginia;  and CENTURA BANKS, INC. ("Centura"),  a corporation organized
and existing under the Laws of the State of North  Carolina,  with its principal
office located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.


                                    Preamble
                                    --------

              The Boards of  Directors  of First  Coastal and Centura are of the
opinion that the transactions  described herein are in the best interests of the
parties to this  Agreement and their  respective  stockholders.  This  Agreement
provides for the acquisition of First Coastal by Centura  pursuant to the merger
(the "Merger") of First Coastal with and into Centura.  At the effective time of
the Merger,  the outstanding  shares of the capital stock of First Coastal shall
be  converted  into  shares of the common  stock of Centura  (except as provided
herein). As a result, stockholders of First Coastal shall become stockholders of
Centura, and each of the subsidiaries of First Coastal shall continue to conduct
its  business  and  operations  as a  subsidiary  of Centura.  The  transactions
described in this Agreement are subject to the approvals of the  stockholders of
First Coastal, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and certain
state regulatory  authorities,  and the satisfaction of certain other conditions
described  in  this  Agreement.  It is the  intention  of the  parties  to  this
Agreement that the Merger (i) for federal income tax purposes shall qualify as a
"reorganization"  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the Internal  Revenue
Code, and (ii) for accounting  purposes shall qualify for treatment as a pooling
of interests.

              Immediately after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, as
a  condition  and  inducement  to  Centura's  willingness  to  enter  into  this
Agreement,  First Coastal and Centura are entering into a stock option agreement
(the "Stock Option Agreement"), in substantially the form of Exhibit 1, pursuant
to which First  Coastal is  granting to Centura an option to purchase  shares of
First Coastal Common Stock ".

              Certain  terms used in this  Agreement are defined in Section 11.1
of this Agreement.

              NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the above  and the  mutual
warranties,  representations,  covenants,  and agreements set forth herein,  the
Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:





                                   ARTICLE 1
                        TRANSACTIONS AND TERMS OF MERGER
                        --------------------------------

              1.1 Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
at the  Effective  Time,  First Coastal shall be merged with and into Centura in
accordance  with the  provisions  of Section  13.1-722  of the VSCA and with the
effect  provided in Section  13.1-721  of the VSCA and  Section  55-11-07 of the
NCBCA and with the  effect  provided  in  Section  55-11-06  of the  NCBCA  (the
"Merger").  Centura shall be the Surviving Corporation resulting from the Merger
and shall  continue to be  governed by the Laws of the State of North  Carolina.
The Merger shall be consummated  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,  which
has been  approved  and adopted by the  respective  Boards of Directors of First
Coastal and Centura.

              1.2 Time and Place of Closing. The consummation of the Merger (the
"Closing")  shall take place at 9:00 A.M.  on the date that the  Effective  Time
occurs (or the  immediately  preceding day if the Effective Time is earlier than
9:00 A.M.),  or at such other time as the  Parties,  acting  through  their duly
authorized  officers,  may mutually agree. The place of Closing shall be at such
location as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties.

              1.3  Effective  Time.  The  Merger  and  the  other   transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  shall become  effective on the date and at the
time the  Virginia  Articles  of  Merger  reflecting  the  Merger  shall  become
effective  with the Secretary of State of the  Commonwealth  of Virginia and the
North Carolina  Articles of Merger shall become  effective with the Secretary of
State of the State of North  Carolina  (the  "Effective  Time").  Subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing by
the duly  authorized  officers  of each  Party,  the  Parties  shall  use  their
reasonable  efforts to cause the  Effective  Time to occur on or before the 30th
day (as designated by Centura)  following the last to occur of (i) the effective
date  (including  expiration  of any  applicable  waiting  period)  of the  last
required Consent of any Regulatory Authority having authority over and approving
or exempting the Merger,  and (ii) the date on which the  stockholders  of First
Coastal approve the matters  relating to this Agreement  required to be approved
by such stockholders by applicable Law.

              1.4   Execution  of  Stock Option Agreement.  Simultaneously  with
the execution of this Agreement by the Parties and as a condition thereto, First
Coastal is  executing  and  delivering  to Centura the Stock  Option  Agreement,
pursuant  to which  First  Coastal is  granting to Centura an option to purchase
shares of First Coastal Common Stock.

              1.5    Restructure  of  Transaction.   Centura   shall,   in   its
reasonable discretion,  have the unilateral right to revise the structure of the
Merger  contemplated  by this  Agreement in order to achieve Tax benefits or for
any other reason  which  Centura may deem  advisable;  provided,  however,  that
Centura shall not have the right, without the approval of the Board of Directors
of First  Coastal  and,  if  required by  applicable  Law,  the holders of First
Coastal Common Stock, to make any revision to the structure of the Merger which:
(i) changes the amount of the consideration which the holders of shares of First
Coastal Common Stock are entitled to receive  (determined in the manner provided
in Section 4.1 of this Agreement); (ii) changes the intended tax-free effects of
the Merger to Centura,  First Coastal, or the holders of shares of First Coastal

                                      -2-


Common Stock or changes the intended pooling-of-interests  accounting treatment;
(iii) would permit  Centura to pay the  consideration  other than by delivery of
Centura Common Stock registered with the SEC (in the manner described in Section
4.1 of this  Agreement);  (iv) would be  Materially  adverse to the interests of
First Coastal or adverse to the holders of shares of First Coastal Common Stock;
or (v) would Materially impede or delay consummation of the Merger.  Centura may
exercise this right of revision by giving written notice to First Coastal in the
manner  provided in Section 11.8 of this Agreement  which notice shall be in the
form of an amendment to this  Agreement or in the form of an Agreement  and Plan
of Merger.


                                    ARTICLE 2
                                 TERMS OF MERGER
                                 ---------------

              2.1 Articles of  Incorporation.  The Articles of  Incorporation of
Centura in effect  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Articles
of  Incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation  after the Effective Time until
otherwise amended or repealed.

              2.2 Bylaws.  The Bylaws of Centura in effect  immediately prior to
the Effective  Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation  after the
Effective Time until otherwise amended or repealed.

              2.3  Directors  and  Officers.  The directors of Centura in office
immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with one current member of the
Board of Directors of First Coastal, to be jointly selected by First Coastal and
Centura,  and such additional persons as thereafter elected,  shall serve as the
directors of the  Surviving  Corporation  from and after the  Effective  Time in
accordance with the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. The officers of Centura
in office immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with such additional
officers as  thereafter  elected,  shall serve as the officers of the  Surviving
Corporation  from and after the Effective Time in accordance  with the Bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation.


                                    ARTICLE 3
                           MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES
                           ---------------------------

              3.1  Conversion  of  Shares.  Subject  to the  provisions  of this
Article 3, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of Centura or First Coastal,  or the  stockholders  of either of the
foregoing,  the shares of the  constituent  corporations  shall be  converted as
follows:

                  (a) Each share of Centura Common Stock issued and  outstanding
       immediately   prior  to  the  Effective  Time  shall  remain  issued  and
       outstanding from and after the Effective Time.

                  (b) Each share of First Coastal Common Stock (excluding shares
       held by any First Coastal  Company or any Centura  Company,  in each case
       other than in a  fiduciary  capacity


                                      -3-


     or as a result of debts  previously  contracted)  issued and outstanding at
     the Effective Time shall be converted into .34 of a share of Centura Common
     Stock  (subject to adjustment as described  below,  the "Exchange  Ratio");
     provided, however, that: (i) in the event the Average Closing Price is less
     than  $58.7563  and greater  than or equal to  $51.8438,  then the Exchange
     Ratio  shall  equal the  quotient  obtained  by  dividing  (a) the  product
     obtained by multiplying  (1) the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) and (2)
     $58.7563  by (b) the  Average  Closing  Price;  and (ii) in the  event  the
     Average  Closing  Price is greater than  $79.4938 and less than or equal to
     $86.4063,  then the  Exchange  Ratio shall equal the  quotient  obtained by
     dividing (a) the product obtained by multiplying (1) the Exchange Ratio (as
     then in effect) and (2) $79.4938 by (b) the Average Closing Price.

              3.2 Anti-Dilution  Provisions.  In the event First Coastal changes
the number of shares of First Coastal Common Stock issued and outstanding  prior
to  the  Effective  Time  as  a  result  of  a  stock  split,   stock  dividend,
recapitalization,  or  similar  transaction  with  respect  to such  stock,  the
Exchange Ratio shall be proportionately  adjusted.  In the event Centura changes
the number of shares of Centura Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the
Effective Time as a result of a stock split,  stock dividend,  recapitalization,
or similar  transaction  with respect to such stock and the record date therefor
(in the case of a stock  dividend) or the effective date thereof (in the case of
a stock  split  or  similar  recapitalization  for  which a  record  date is not
established)  shall be prior to the Effective  Time, the Exchange Ratio shall be
proportionately adjusted.

              3.3 Shares Held by First Coastal or Centura. Each of the shares of
First Coastal  Common Stock held by any First Coastal  Company or by any Centura
Company, in each case other than in a fiduciary capacity or as a result of debts
previously  contracted,  shall be canceled and retired at the Effective Time and
no consideration shall be issued in exchange therefor.

              3.4 Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement,  each  holder of  shares  of First  Coastal  Common  Stock  exchanged
pursuant  to the  Merger who would  otherwise  have been  entitled  to receive a
fraction of a share of Centura  Common  Stock  (after  taking  into  account all
certificates  delivered by such holder) shall  receive,  in lieu  thereof,  cash
(without  interest)  in an amount  equal to such  fractional  part of a share of
Centura  Common  Stock  multiplied  by the market  value of one share of Centura
Common  Stock at the  Effective  Time.  The market value of one share of Centura
Common Stock at the Effective  Time shall be the closing price of Centura Common
Stock on the NYSE - Composite  Transaction  List (as reported by The Wall Street
Journal or, if not reported thereby,  any other authoritative source selected by
Centura) on the last trading day preceding  the  Effective  Time. No such holder
will  be  entitled  to  dividends,  voting  rights,  or any  other  rights  as a
stockholder in respect of any fractional shares.

              3.5   Conversion of Stock Rights.

                    (a) At the  Effective  Time,  each award,  option,  or other
right to purchase or acquire  shares of First Coastal  Common Stock  pursuant to
stock  options,  stock  appreciation  rights,  or stock awards  ("First  Coastal
Rights") granted by First Coastal under the First Coastal 

                                      -4-


Stock  Plans,  which are  outstanding  at the  Effective  Time,  whether  or not
exercisable,  shall be converted  into and become rights with respect to Centura
Common Stock,  and Centura shall assume each First Coastal Right,  in accordance
with the terms of the First  Coastal  Stock Plan and stock  option  agreement by
which it is  evidenced,  except  that  from and after the  Effective  Time,  (i)
Centura and its  Compensation  Committee  shall be substituted for First Coastal
and  the  Committee  of  First  Coastal's  Board  of  Directors  (including,  if
applicable,  the entire Board of Directors of First Coastal)  administering such
First Coastal  Stock Plan,  (ii) each First Coastal Right assumed by Centura may
be exercised  solely for shares of Centura  Common Stock (or cash in the case of
stock appreciation  rights),  (iii) the number of shares of Centura Common Stock
subject to such First  Coastal  Right  shall be equal to the number of shares of
First Coastal Common Stock subject to such First Coastal Right immediately prior
to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio,  and (iv) the per share
exercise price (or similar  threshold  price, in the case of stock awards) under
each such First  Coastal  Right  shall be  adjusted  by  dividing  the per share
exercise  (or  threshold)  price  under  each such  First  Coastal  Right by the
Exchange  Ratio  and  rounding  up to  the  nearest  cent.  Notwithstanding  the
provisions  of clause  (iii) of the  preceding  sentence,  Centura  shall not be
obligated to issue any fraction of a share of Centura Common Stock upon exercise
of First Coastal Rights and any fraction of a share of Centura Common Stock that
otherwise  would be subject to a converted  First Coastal Right shall  represent
the right to receive a cash  payment  equal to the product of such  fraction and
the difference between the market value of one share of Centura Common Stock and
the per share  exercise  price of such Right.  The market  value of one share of
Centura  Common Stock shall be the closing price of Centura  Common Stock on the
NYSE - Composite  Transactions  List (as reported by The Wall Street Journal or,
if not reported thereby,  any other authoritative source selected by Centura) on
the last trading day preceding the date of exercise of the First Coastal  Right.
In addition,  notwithstanding  the  provisions  of clauses (iii) and (iv) of the
first  sentence  of this  Section  3.5,  each First  Coastal  Right  which is an
"incentive  stock  option"  shall be  adjusted as required by Section 424 of the
Internal  Revenue Code, so as not to constitute a  modification,  extension,  or
renewal of the  option,  within the  meaning of Section  424(h) of the  Internal
Revenue  Code.  Centura  agrees to take all necessary  steps to  effectuate  the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5.

                    (b) As soon as  reasonably  practicable  after the Effective
Time, Centura shall deliver to the participants in each First Coastal Stock Plan
an appropriate notice setting forth such  participant's  rights pursuant thereto
and the grants  pursuant  to such First  Coastal  Stock Plan shall  continue  in
effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments  required by
Section 3.5(a) after giving effect to the Merger), and Centura shall comply with
the terms of each First Coastal Stock Plan to ensure, to the extent required by,
and subject to the  provisions  of, such First  Coastal  Stock Plan,  that First
Coastal Rights which qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective
Time continue to qualify as incentive stock options after the Effective Time. At
or prior  to the  Effective  Time,  Centura  shall  take  all  corporate  action
necessary to reserve for issuance  sufficient shares of Centura Common Stock for
delivery upon exercise of First Coastal Rights assumed by it in accordance  with
this Section 3.5. As soon as reasonably  practicable  after the Effective  Time,
Centura shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case
may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares
of Centura  Common Stock  subject to such  options and shall use its  reasonable
efforts to

                                      -5-


maintain the  effectiveness  of such  registration  statements (and maintain the
current status of the prospectus or prospectuses  contained therein) for so long
as such  options  remain  outstanding.  With  respect to those  individuals  who
subsequent  to the Merger will be subject to the  reporting  requirements  under
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act, where  applicable,  Centura shall  administer the
First Coastal  Stock Plan assumed  pursuant to this Section 3.5 in a manner that
complies with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act.

                    (c) All restrictions or limitations on transfer with respect
to First Coastal Common Stock awarded under the First Coastal Stock Plans or any
other plan,  program, or arrangement of any First Coastal Company, to the extent
that such restrictions or limitations shall not have already lapsed,  and except
as otherwise  expressly provided in such plan,  program,  or arrangement,  shall
remain in full force and effect with  respect to shares of Centura  Common Stock
into which such  restricted  stock is converted  pursuant to Section 3.1 of this
Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE 4
                               EXCHANGE OF SHARES
                               ------------------

              4.1  Exchange  Procedures.  Promptly  after  the  Effective  Time,
Centura and First  Coastal  shall cause the exchange  agent  selected by Centura
(the  "Exchange  Agent") to mail to the  former  stockholders  of First  Coastal
appropriate  transmittal  materials  (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected,   and  risk  of  loss  and  title  to  the  certificates   theretofore
representing  shares of First Coastal Common Stock shall pass,  only upon proper
delivery of such certificates to the Exchange Agent).  After the Effective Time,
each holder of shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock  (other than shares to be
canceled  pursuant to Section 3.3 of this  Agreement)  issued and outstanding at
the Effective Time shall surrender the certificate or certificates  representing
such shares to the Exchange  Agent and shall  promptly  upon  surrender  thereof
receive in exchange therefor the  consideration  provided in Section 3.1 of this
Agreement,  together with all undelivered  dividends or distributions in respect
of such  shares  (without  interest  thereon)  pursuant  to Section  4.2 of this
Agreement. To the extent required by Section 3.4 of this Agreement,  each holder
of shares of First Coastal Common Stock issued and  outstanding at the Effective
Time also shall  receive,  upon  surrender of the  certificate  or  certificates
representing such shares, cash in lieu of any fractional share of Centura Common
Stock to which such holder may be otherwise entitled (without interest). Centura
shall not be obligated to deliver the  consideration  to which any former holder
of First  Coastal  Common Stock is entitled as a result of the Merger until such
holder  surrenders such holder's  certificate or certificates  representing  the
shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock for exchange as provided in this Section
4.1.  The   certificate  or  certificates  of  First  Coastal  Common  Stock  so
surrendered shall be duly endorsed as the Exchange Agent may require.  Any other
provision of this Agreement  notwithstanding,  neither the Surviving Corporation
nor the Exchange Agent shall be liable to a holder of First Coastal Common Stock
for any amounts paid or property  delivered  in good faith to a public  official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property Law.

              4.2 Rights of Former First Coastal Stockholders.  At the Effective
Time, the stock transfer books of First Coastal shall be closed as to holders of
First  Coastal  Common  Stock  

                                      -6-


immediately  prior to the Effective Time and no transfer of First Coastal Common
Stock  by any  such  holder  shall  thereafter  be  made  or  recognized.  Until
surrendered  for exchange in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section 4.1 of
this  Agreement,  each  certificate  theretofore  representing  shares  of First
Coastal  Common Stock (other than shares to be canceled  pursuant to Section 3.3
of this  Agreement)  shall from and after the Effective  Time  represent for all
purposes  only the right to receive the  consideration  provided in Sections 3.1
and 3.4 of  this  Agreement  in  exchange  therefor,  subject,  however,  to the
Surviving  Corporation's  obligation  to pay any  dividends  or make  any  other
distributions  with a record  date prior to the  Effective  Time which have been
declared  or made by First  Coastal in respect of such  shares of First  Coastal
Common Stock in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement  and which remain
unpaid  at  the  Effective  Time.  To  the  extent   permitted  by  Law,  former
stockholders  of record of First  Coastal  shall be  entitled  to vote after the
Effective Time at any meeting of Centura stockholders the number of whole shares
of Centura  Common  Stock into which their  respective  shares of First  Coastal
Common Stock are  converted,  regardless of whether such holders have  exchanged
their  certificates  representing  First Coastal  Common Stock for  certificates
representing  Centura  Common Stock in  accordance  with the  provisions of this
Agreement.  Whenever a dividend or other  distribution is declared by Centura on
the Centura Common Stock, the record date for which is at or after the Effective
Time, the  declaration  shall include  dividends or other  distributions  on all
shares  issuable  pursuant to this  Agreement,  but  beginning 30 days after the
Effective  Time no  dividend  or other  distribution  payable to the  holders of
record of Centura  Common Stock as of any time  subsequent to the Effective Time
shall be delivered to the holder of any certificate representing shares of First
Coastal  Common Stock issued and  outstanding  at the Effective  Time until such
holder  surrenders  such  certificate for exchange as provided in Section 4.1 of
this  Agreement.  However,  upon  surrender of such First  Coastal  Common Stock
certificate,  both the Centura Common Stock certificate  (together with all such
undelivered   dividends  or  other  distributions   without  interest)  and  any
undelivered  dividends  and  cash  payments  to be  paid  for  fractional  share
interests  (without  interest)  shall be delivered and paid with respect to each
share represented by such certificate.


                                    ARTICLE 5
                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRST COASTAL
                 -----------------------------------------------

              First  Coastal  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to  Centura  as
follows:

              5.1  Organization,   Standing,  and  Power.  First  Coastal  is  a
corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing,  and in good standing under the
Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia,  and has the corporate power and authority
to carry on its business as now  conducted  and to own,  lease,  and operate its
Material  Assets.  First  Coastal is duly  qualified  or  licensed  to  transact
business as a foreign corporation in the States of the United States and foreign
jurisdictions  where the character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its
business  requires  it  to  be  so  qualified  or  licensed,   except  for  such
jurisdictions  in which  the  failure  to be so  qualified  or  licensed  is not
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on First Coastal.

                                      -7-


              5.2   Authority; No Breach By Agreement.

                    (a) First  Coastal  has the  corporate  power and  authority
necessary to execute,  deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery,
and performance of this  Agreement,  and the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated herein, including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized
by all  necessary  corporate  action  in  respect  thereof  on the part of First
Coastal,  subject to the approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority
of the  outstanding  shares of First  Coastal  Common Stock  entitled to be cast
thereon,  which is the only  stockholder  vote  required  for  approval  of this
Agreement  and  consummation  of the  Merger by First  Coastal.  Subject to such
requisite  stockholder  approval,  this Agreement represents a legal, valid, and
binding  obligation  of First  Coastal,  enforceable  against  First  Coastal in
accordance  with its terms  (except in all cases as such  enforceability  may be
limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  receivership,
conservatorship,  moratorium,  or similar  Laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of
creditors'  rights  generally and except that the  availability of the equitable
remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding may be brought).

                    (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
First  Coastal,  nor the  consummation  by  First  Coastal  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby, nor compliance by First Coastal with any of the provisions
hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision
of First Coastal's  Articles of Incorporation  or Bylaws,  or (ii) constitute or
result in a Default under, or require any Consent  pursuant to, or result in the
creation  of any Lien on any  Asset of any  First  Coastal  Company  under,  any
Contract or Permit of any First Coastal Company,  where such Default or Lien, or
any failure to obtain such Consent,  is reasonably likely to have,  individually
or in the  aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect on First  Coastal,  or (iii)
subject to receipt of the requisite  Consents  referred to in Section  9.1(b) of
this Agreement, violate any Law or Order applicable to any First Coastal Company
or any of their respective Material Assets.

                    (c)  Other  than  in  connection  or  compliance   with  the
provisions of the Securities  Laws,  applicable  state  corporate and securities
Laws,  and rules of the NASD, and other than Consents  required from  Regulatory
Authorities,  and other than  notices to or filings  with the  Internal  Revenue
Service or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to any employee
benefit  plans,  or under the HSR Act,  and other  than  Consents,  filings,  or
notifications which, if not obtained or made, are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal, no
notice to, filing with, or Consent of, any public body or authority is necessary
for the  consummation by First Coastal of the Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.

              5.3   Capital Stock.

                    (a) The authorized  capital stock of First Coastal consists,
as of the date of this  Agreement,  of (i)  10,000,000  shares of First  Coastal
Common Stock,  of which  4,986,541  shares are issued and  outstanding as of the
date of this Agreement  and, not more than  5,437,791  shares 

                                      -8-


will be issued and outstanding at the Effective Time, and (ii) 5,000,000  shares
of First Coastal  Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement and no shares of First Coastal  Preferred Stock
will be issued and  outstanding as of the Effective  Time. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of First Coastal Common Stock are duly and validly issued and
outstanding  and are fully paid and  nonassessable  under the VSCA.  None of the
outstanding shares of First Coastal Common Stock has been issued in violation of
any preemptive rights of the current or past stockholders of First Coastal.

                    (b) Except as set forth in Section  5.3(a) of this Agreement
or as provided  pursuant to the First  Coastal  Stock Plans or the Stock  Option
Agreement,  there are no shares of capital  stock or other equity  securities of
First Coastal  outstanding  and no  outstanding  Rights  relating to the capital
stock of First Coastal.

              5.4 First  Coastal  Subsidiaries.  First  Coastal has disclosed in
Section 5.4 of the First Coastal Disclosure  Memorandum all of the First Coastal
Subsidiaries  as of the  date of this  Agreement.  First  Coastal  or one of its
Subsidiaries  owns all of the issued and outstanding  shares of capital stock of
each  First  Coastal  Subsidiary.  No equity  securities  of any  First  Coastal
Subsidiary are or may become  required to be issued (other than to another First
Coastal  Company) by reason of any Rights,  and there are no  Contracts by which
any First  Coastal  Subsidiary  is bound to issue  (other than to another  First
Coastal  Company)  additional  shares of its capital stock or Rights or by which
any First  Coastal  Company  is or may be bound to  transfer  any  shares of the
capital  stock of any First  Coastal  Subsidiary  (other  than to another  First
Coastal  Company).  There are no  Contracts  relating to the rights of any First
Coastal  Company to vote or to dispose of any shares of the capital stock of any
First  Coastal  Subsidiary.  All of the  shares of  capital  stock of each First
Coastal Subsidiary held by a First Coastal Company are duly authorized,  validly
issued,  and fully paid and,  except as provided  in statutes  pursuant to which
depository  institution  Subsidiaries  are  organized,  nonassessable  under the
applicable  corporation  Law of the  jurisdiction  in which such  Subsidiary  is
incorporated  or organized and are owned by the First  Coastal  Company free and
clear  of any  Lien.  Each  First  Coastal  Subsidiary  is  either  a bank  or a
corporation,  and is duly organized,  validly existing, and (as to corporations)
in good standing under the Laws of the  jurisdiction in which it is incorporated
or organized, and has the corporate power and authority necessary for it to own,
lease,  and  operate its Assets and to carry on its  business as now  conducted.
Each First Coastal Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to transact business
as a foreign corporation in good standing in the States of the United States and
foreign jurisdictions where the character of its Assets or the nature or conduct
of its business  requires it to be so  qualified  or  licensed,  except for such
jurisdictions  in which  the  failure  to be so  qualified  or  licensed  is not
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on First  Coastal.  Each First  Coastal  Subsidiary  that is a depository
institution  is an  "insured  institution"  as  defined in the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance Act and applicable regulations  thereunder,  and the deposits in which
are insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund.

                                      -9-


              5.5   SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

                    (a) First  Coastal has filed and made  available  to Centura
all forms, reports, and documents required to be filed by First Coastal with the
SEC since December 31, 1994 (collectively, the "First Coastal SEC Reports"). The
First  Coastal SEC  Reports  (i) at the time  filed,  complied as to form in all
Material respects with the applicable  requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1934
Act,  as the case may be,  and (ii) did not at the time they  were  filed (or if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this  Agreement,  then on
the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a Material fact or omit
to state a Material fact required to be stated in such First Coastal SEC Reports
or necessary in order to make the  statements in such First Coastal SEC Reports,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except
for First  Coastal  Subsidiaries  that are  registered as a broker,  dealer,  or
investment  advisor or filings  required due to fiduciary  holdings of the First
Coastal Subsidiaries,  none of First Coastal's  Subsidiaries is required to file
any forms, reports, or other documents with the SEC.

                    (b)  Each  of  the  First   Coastal   Financial   Statements
(including,  in each case, any related notes) contained in the First Coastal SEC
Reports,  including  any First  Coastal SEC Reports filed after the date of this
Agreement  until the Effective  Time,  complied or will comply as to form in all
Material respects with the applicable published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect  thereto,  was prepared or will be prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent  basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
indicated  in the  notes  to  such  financial  statements,  or,  in the  case of
unaudited  statements,  as  permitted  by Form  10-Q  of the  SEC),  and  fairly
presented or will fairly present the  consolidated  financial  position of First
Coastal and its  Subsidiaries  as at the respective  dates and the  consolidated
results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated,  except that
the unaudited  interim  financial  statements  were or are subject to normal and
recurring year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be Material
in amount or effect.

              5.6 Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  No First Coastal Company
has any Liabilities that are reasonably  likely to have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal,  except Liabilities which
are  accrued or reserved  against in the  consolidated  balance  sheets of First
Coastal as of June 30, 1998, included in the First Coastal Financial  Statements
or reflected  in the notes  thereto and except for  Liabilities  incurred in the
ordinary  course of  business  subsequent  to June 30,  1998.  No First  Coastal
Company has incurred or paid any Liability since June 30, 1998,  except for such
Liabilities  incurred or paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past business practice and which are not reasonably likely to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

              5.7  Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since June 30,  1998,
except as disclosed in the First Coastal Financial  Statements or Section 5.7 of
the First Coastal Disclosure Memorandum, (i) there have been no events, changes,
or occurrences which have had, or are reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal, and (ii) the First
Coastal Companies have conducted their respective businesses in the 

                                      -10-


ordinary and usual course  (excluding  the  incurrence of expenses in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby).

              5.8   Tax Matters.

                    (a) All Tax Returns  required to be filed by or on behalf of
any of the First  Coastal  Companies  have been timely  filed,  or requests  for
extensions have been timely filed,  granted,  and have not expired for the three
tax years ended on or before  December 31, 1997,  and, to the Knowledge of First
Coastal,  all Tax  Returns  filed are  complete  and  accurate  in all  Material
respects.  All Tax Returns for the three tax years  ending on or before the date
of the most recent fiscal year end immediately preceding the Effective Time will
be timely filed or requests for extensions will be timely filed. All Taxes shown
on filed Tax Returns have been paid. There is no audit examination,  deficiency,
or refund  Litigation  with respect to any Taxes,  that is reasonably  likely to
result in a determination that would have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal,  except to the extent reserved against
in the  First  Coastal  Financial  Statements  dated  prior  to the date of this
Agreement.  All Taxes and other  Liabilities  due with respect to completed  and
settled examinations or concluded Litigation have been paid.

                    (b) None of the First  Coastal  Companies  has  executed  an
extension  or  waiver  of  any  statute  of  limitations  on the  assessment  or
collection  of any Tax  due  (excluding  such  statutes  that  relate  to  years
currently under  examination by the Internal Revenue Service or other applicable
taxing authorities) that is currently in effect.

                    (c)  Adequate  provision  for any Taxes due or to become due
for any of the First  Coastal  Companies  for the period or periods  through and
including the date of the respective First Coastal Financial Statements has been
made and is reflected on such First Coastal Financial Statements.

                    (d) Each of the First  Coastal  Companies  is in  compliance
with, and its records contain all information and documents  (including properly
completed IRS Forms W-9) necessary to comply with,  all  applicable  information
reporting and Tax withholding  requirements under federal,  state, and local Tax
Laws, and such records  identify with specificity all accounts subject to backup
withholding  under Section 3406 of the Internal  Revenue  Code,  except for such
instances of  noncompliance  and such omissions as are not reasonably  likely to
have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on First
Coastal.

                    (e)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  5.8(e)  of the First
Coastal Disclosure Memorandum,  none of the First Coastal Companies has made any
payments,  is obligated  to make any  payments,  or is a party to any  contract,
agreement, or other arrangement that could obligate it to make any payments that
would be disallowed as a deduction  under Section 280G or 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code.

                    (f) There are no Material  Liens with  respect to Taxes upon
any of the Assets of the First Coastal Companies.

                                      -11-


                    (g) There has not been an  ownership  change,  as defined in
Internal  Revenue Code  Section  382(g),  of the First  Coastal  Companies  that
occurred during or after any Taxable Period in which the First Coastal Companies
incurred a net  operating  loss that carries over to any Taxable  Period  ending
after December 31, 1997.

                    (h)    No First Coastal Company has filed any consent  under
Section 341(f) of the Internal Revenue Code concerning collapsible corporations.

                    (i) After the date of this Agreement,  no Material  election
with respect to Taxes will be made without the prior  consent of Centura,  which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

                    (j) No  First  Coastal  Company  has or has had a  permanent
establishment in any foreign country, as defined in any applicable tax treaty or
convention between the United States and such foreign country.

              5.9 Assets.  The First Coastal  Companies  have  marketable  title
insurable  at  standard  rates,  free and  clear of all  Liens,  to all of their
respective Assets.  All tangible  properties used in the businesses of the First
Coastal Companies are in good condition,  reasonable wear and tear excepted, and
are usable in the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with First Coastal's
past practices.  All Assets which are Material to First Coastal's  business on a
consolidated  basis,  held under leases or subleases by any of the First Coastal
Companies,  are held under valid Contracts  enforceable in accordance with their
respective  terms  (except  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium, or other Laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally and except that the availability of
the equitable remedy of specific  performance or injunctive relief is subject to
the discretion of the court before which any  proceedings  may be brought),  and
each such  Contract is in full force and  effect.  The First  Coastal  Companies
currently  maintain  insurance  in  amounts,   scope,  and  coverage  reasonably
necessary for their operations. None of the First Coastal Companies has received
notice from any insurance  carrier that (i) such  insurance  will be canceled or
that coverage  thereunder  will be reduced or eliminated,  or (ii) premium costs
with respect to such policies of insurance will be substantially  increased. The
Assets of the First Coastal Companies include all Assets required to operate the
business of the First Coastal Companies as presently conducted.

              5.10  Environmental Matters.

                    (a) To the  Knowledge of First  Coastal,  each First Coastal
Company,  its  Participation  Facilities,  and its Loan Properties are, and have
been, in compliance with all  Environmental  Laws, except those violations which
are not reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (b) There is no  Litigation  pending or, to the Knowledge of
First Coastal,  threatened before any court,  governmental agency, or authority,
or other forum in which any First  

                                      -12-


Coastal Company or any of its Participation Facilities has been or, with respect
to threatened Litigation,  may reasonably be expected to be named as a defendant
(i)  for  alleged   noncompliance   (including  by  any  predecessor)  with  any
Environmental  Law or (ii) relating to the release into the  environment  of any
Hazardous Material,  whether or not occurring at, on, under, or involving a site
owned,  leased,  or  operated  by  any  First  Coastal  Company  or  any  of its
Participation Facilities,  except for such Litigation pending or threatened that
is not reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material
Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (c) There is no Litigation  pending,  or to the Knowledge of
First Coastal,  threatened before any court,  governmental  agency, or board, or
other forum in which any of its Loan  Properties (or First Coastal in respect of
such Loan  Property)  has been or, with respect to  threatened  Litigation,  may
reasonably  be expected to be named as a defendant  or  potentially  responsible
party (i) for alleged  noncompliance  (including  by any  predecessor)  with any
Environmental  Law or (ii) relating to the release into the  environment  of any
Hazardous Material,  whether or not occurring at, on, under, or involving a Loan
Property,  except  for  such  Litigation  pending  or  threatened  that  is  not
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on First Coastal.

                    (d)  To  the  Knowledge  of  First  Coastal,   there  is  no
reasonable  basis for any Litigation of a type  described in subsections  (b) or
(c),  except such as is not reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (e)  To  the  Knowledge  of  First  Coastal  and  except  as
disclosed in Section 5.10(e) of the First Coastal Disclosure Memorandum,  during
the period of (i) any First Coastal  Company's  ownership or operation of any of
their  respective   current   properties,   (ii)  any  First  Coastal  Company's
participation  in the  management of any  Participation  Facility,  or (iii) any
First Coastal Company's holding of a security interest in a Loan Property, there
have been no releases of Hazardous  Material  in, on,  under,  or affecting  (or
potentially affecting) such properties, except such as are not reasonably likely
to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on First
Coastal.  Prior to the period of (i) any First  Coastal  Company's  ownership or
operation of any of their respective current properties,  (ii) any First Coastal
Company's  participation  in the management of any  Participation  Facility,  or
(iii) any First  Coastal  Company's  holding  of a security  interest  in a Loan
Property,  to the  Knowledge  of First  Coastal,  except as disclosed in Section
5.10(e) of the First Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum,  there were no releases of
Hazardous Material in, on, under, or affecting any such property,  Participation
Facility,  or Loan Property,  except such as are not reasonably  likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

              5.11 Compliance  with Laws.  First Coastal is duly registered as a
savings and loan holding  company under the HOLA. Each First Coastal Company has
in effect all Permits  necessary for it to own,  lease,  or operate its Material
Assets and to carry on its business as now  conducted,  except for those Permits
the absence of which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal, and there has occurred no
Default  under any such Permit,  other than  Defaults  which are not  reasonably
likely

                                      -13-


to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on First
Coastal. None of the First Coastal Companies:

                  (a) is in violation of any Laws, Orders, or Permits applicable
       to  its  business  or  employees  conducting  its  business,  except  for
       violations  which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually or in
       the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal; and

                  (b) has received any  notification or  communication  from any
       agency or  department  of  federal,  state,  or local  government  or any
       Regulatory  Authority or the staff thereof (i)  asserting  that any First
       Coastal Company is not in compliance with any of the Laws or Orders which
       such governmental authority or Regulatory Authority enforces,  where such
       noncompliance  is  reasonably  likely  to  have,  individually  or in the
       aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal,  (ii) threatening
       to revoke any Permits,  the  revocation of which is reasonably  likely to
       have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on
       First Coastal,  or (iii) requiring any First Coastal Company (x) to enter
       into or  consent to the  issuance  of a cease and  desist  order,  formal
       agreement, directive,  commitment, or memorandum of understanding, or (y)
       to adopt any Board  resolution or similar  undertaking,  which  restricts
       materially  the conduct of its business,  or in any manner relates to its
       capital adequacy, its credit or reserve policies, its management,  or the
       payment of dividends.

              5.12 Labor  Relations.  No First Coastal Company is the subject of
any  Litigation  asserting  that  it or any  other  First  Coastal  Company  has
committed an unfair  labor  practice  (within the meaning of the National  Labor
Relations  Act or  comparable  state  Law) or  seeking to compel it or any other
First  Coastal  Company to bargain  with any labor  organization  as to wages or
conditions of employment,  nor is any First Coastal  Company a party to or bound
by  any  collective  bargaining  agreement,  Contract,  or  other  agreement  or
understanding with a labor union or labor organization,  nor is there any strike
or other labor dispute involving any First Coastal Company,  pending,  or to the
Knowledge of First  Coastal,  is there any activity  involving any First Coastal
Company's employees seeking to certify a collective  bargaining unit or engaging
in any other organization activity.

              5.13  Employee Benefit Plans.

                    (a) First  Coastal has disclosed to Centura in writing prior
to the  execution  of the  Agreement  and in Section  5.13 of the First  Coastal
Disclosure  Memorandum,  and has delivered or made available to Centura prior to
the execution of this Agreement correct and complete copies in each case of, all
First Coastal  Benefits Plans.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  "First Coastal
Benefit  Plans"  means  all  pension,   retirement,   profit-sharing,   deferred
compensation,  stock option, employee stock ownership,  severance pay, vacation,
bonus,  or  other  incentive  plan,  all  other  written  employee  programs  or
agreements,  all  medical,  vision,  dental,  or other  health  plans,  all life
insurance  plans,  and all other employee benefit plans or fringe benefit plans,
including, without limitation,  "employee benefit plans" as that term is defined
in Section  3(3) of ERISA  maintained  by,  sponsored in whole or in part by, or
contributed  to by, any First  Coastal  Company  for the  benefit of  employees,
retirees,  dependents,  spouses,  directors, 

                                      -14-


independent  contractors,  or other  beneficiaries  and under  which  employees,
retirees,  dependents,  spouses,  directors,  independent contractors,  or other
beneficiaries  are eligible to  participate.  Any of the First  Coastal  Benefit
Plans which is an "employee  welfare  benefit  plan," as that term is defined in
Section 3(l) of ERISA,  or an "employee  pension  benefit plan," as that term is
defined in Section  3(2) of ERISA,  is  referred  to herein as a "First  Coastal
ERISA Plan." Any First Coastal ERISA Plan which is also a "defined benefit plan"
(as defined in Section  414(j) of the Internal  Revenue Code or Section 3(35) of
ERISA) is referred to herein as a "First  Coastal  Pension  Plan." Neither First
Coastal nor any First Coastal  Company has an  "obligation  to  contribute"  (as
defined in ERISA  Section 4212) to a  "multiemployer  plan" (as defined in ERISA
Sections  4001(a)(3) and 3(37)(A)).  Each  "employee  pension  benefit plan," as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,  ever  maintained by any First Coastal Company
that was intended to qualify under Section  401(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code
and with  respect  to which any First  Coastal  Company  has any  Liability,  is
disclosed as such in Section 5.13 of the First Coastal Disclosure Memorandum.

                    (b) First Coastal has delivered or made available to Centura
prior to the  execution of this  Agreement  correct and  complete  copies of the
following documents:  (i) all trust agreements or other funding arrangements for
such First  Coastal  Benefit  Plans  (including  insurance  contracts),  and all
amendments thereto; (ii) with respect to any such First Coastal Benefit Plans or
amendments,  all determination letters,  rulings,  opinion letters,  information
letters,  or Material  advisory opinions issued by the Internal Revenue Service,
the  United  States  Department  of  Labor,  or  the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation after December 31, 1994; (iii) annual reports or returns, audited or
unaudited financial  statements,  actuarial  valuations and reports, and summary
annual reports  prepared for any First Coastal  Benefit Plan with respect to the
most recent plan year;  and (iv) the most recent summary plan  descriptions  and
any Material modifications thereto.

                    (c)  All  First  Coastal   Benefit  Plans  are  in  material
compliance with the applicable  terms of ERISA,  the Internal  Revenue Code, and
any other applicable Laws, the breach or violation of which is reasonably likely
to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on First
Coastal.  Each First  Coastal ERISA Plan  currently  maintained by First Coastal
which is intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of the Internal  Revenue
Code has received a favorable  determination  letter from the  Internal  Revenue
Service, and First Coastal is not aware of any circumstances which will or could
reasonably result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter. Each
trust  created  under any First  Coastal  ERISA Plan has been  determined  to be
exempt from Tax under  Section  501(a) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code and First
Coastal is not aware of any circumstance  which will or could reasonably  result
in revocation of such exemption. With respect to each First Coastal Benefit Plan
to the  Knowledge of First  Coastal,  no event has occurred  which will or could
reasonably  give  rise to a loss of any  intended  Tax  consequences  under  the
Internal  Revenue Code or to any Tax under  Section 511 of the Internal  Revenue
Code that is reasonably  likely,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  to have a
Material  Adverse Effect on First Coastal.  There is no Material  pending or, to
the  Knowledge of First  Coastal,  threatened  Litigation  relating to any First
Coastal ERISA Plan.


                                      -15-


                    (d) No First  Coastal  Company has engaged in a  transaction
with respect to any First Coastal Benefit Plan that, assuming the Taxable Period
of such transaction expired as of the date of this Agreement,  would subject any
First  Coastal  Company to a Material Tax or penalty  imposed by either  Section
4975 of the Internal  Revenue Code or Section  502(i) of ERISA in amounts  which
are reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material
Adverse Effect on First Coastal.  Neither First Coastal nor any administrator or
fiduciary  of any  First  Coastal  Benefit  Plan  (or  any  agent  of any of the
foregoing)  has  engaged  in any  transaction,  or acted or failed to act in any
manner which could subject First Coastal to any direct or indirect Liability (by
indemnity or otherwise) for breach of any fiduciary, co-fiduciary, or other duty
under  ERISA,  where  such  Liability,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  is
reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on First  Coastal.  To its
Knowledge,  no oral or written  representation or communication  with respect to
any aspect of the First Coastal  Benefit Plans has been made to employees of any
First Coastal  Company which is not in accordance  with the written or otherwise
preexisting terms and provisions of such plans, where any Liability with respect
to such  representation  or disclosure  is reasonably  likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (e) Since the date of the most recent  actuarial  valuation,
there has been (i) no Material change in the financial position or funded status
of any First Coastal Pension Plan,  (ii) no change in the actuarial  assumptions
with  respect  to any First  Coastal  Pension  Plan,  and (iii) no  increase  in
benefits under any First Coastal  Pension Plan as a result of plan amendments or
changes  in  applicable  Law,  any  of  which  is  reasonably  likely  to  have,
individually  or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on First Coastal.
Neither any First Coastal  Pension Plan nor any  "single-employer  plan," within
the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by
any First Coastal Company,  or the  single-employer  plan of any entity which is
considered  one  employer  with First  Coastal  under  Section  4001 of ERISA or
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA (whether or not
waived)  (a  "First  Coastal  ERISA  Affiliate")  has  an  "accumulated  funding
deficiency"  within the meaning of Section 412 of the  Internal  Revenue Code or
Section 302 of ERISA. All contributions  with respect to a First Coastal Pension
Plan or any single-employer plan of a First Coastal ERISA Affiliate have or will
be timely  made and there is no lien or  expected  to be a lien  under  Internal
Revenue  Code  Section  412(n) or ERISA  Section  302(f)  or Tax under  Internal
Revenue Code Section 4971. No First Coastal Company has provided, or is required
to provide,  security to a First Coastal Pension Plan or to any  single-employer
plan of a First Coastal ERISA  Affiliate  pursuant to Section  401(a)(29) of the
Internal Revenue Code. All premiums required to be paid under ERISA Section 4006
have been timely paid by First  Coastal,  except to the extent any failure would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (f) No  Liability  under  Title IV of  ERISA  has been or is
expected to be incurred by any First Coastal Company with respect to any defined
benefit  plan  currently or formerly  maintained  by any of them or by any First
Coastal  ERISA  Affiliate  that  has not  been  satisfied  in full  (other  than
Liability for Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  premiums,  which have been
paid when due,  except  to the  extent  any  failure  would not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on First Coastal).


                                      -16-


                    (g) No First Coastal Company has any obligations for retiree
health and retiree life benefits  under any of the First  Coastal  Benefit Plans
other than with respect to benefit coverage mandated by applicable Law.

                    (h)  Except as  disclosed  in  Section  5.13(h) of the First
Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum,  neither  the  execution  and  delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby will, by
themselves, (i) result in any payment (including, without limitation, severance,
unemployment  compensation,  golden parachute, or otherwise) becoming due to any
director or any employee of any First  Coastal  Company  from any First  Coastal
Company  under any First Coastal  Benefit Plan or  otherwise,  (ii) increase any
benefits otherwise payable under any First Coastal Benefit Plan, or (iii) result
in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefit.

              5.14  Material  Contracts.  Except as disclosed in Section 5.14 of
the First Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum,  none of the First Coastal Companies,
nor any of their respective Assets, businesses, or operations, is a party to, or
is bound or  affected  by,  or  receives  benefits  under,  (i) any  employment,
severance,  termination,   consulting,  or  retirement  Contract  providing  for
aggregate payments to any Person in any calendar year in excess of $50,000, (ii)
any Contract  relating to the borrowing of money by any First Coastal Company or
the guarantee by any First Coastal  Company of any such  obligation  (other than
Contracts   evidencing   deposit   liabilities,   purchases  of  federal  funds,
fully-secured  repurchase  agreements,  and Federal  Home Loan Bank  advances of
depository institution  Subsidiaries,  trade payables, and Contracts relating to
borrowings or guarantees made in the ordinary course of business), and (iii) any
other  Contract or  amendment  thereto  that would be required to be filed as an
exhibit  to a Form 10-K  filed by First  Coastal  with the SEC as of the date of
this  Agreement  that has not been filed as an exhibit to First  Coastal's  Form
10-K filed for the fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1997,  or in another  SEC
Document and identified to Centura  (together with all Contracts  referred to in
Sections 5.8 and 5.13 (a) of this  Agreement,  the "First  Coastal  Contracts").
With respect to each First Coastal  Contract:  (i) the Contract is in full force
and effect; (ii) no First Coastal Company is in Default  thereunder,  other than
Defaults  which  are not  reasonably  likely  to  have,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on First Coastal;  (iii) no First Coastal
Company has  repudiated or waived any Material  provision of any such  Contract;
and (iv) no other  party to any such  Contract  is,  to the  Knowledge  of First
Coastal, in Default in any respect, other than Defaults which are not reasonably
likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on
First Coastal,  or has repudiated or waived any Material  provision  thereunder.
Except for Federal Home Loan Bank advances, all of the indebtedness of any First
Coastal  Company  for money  borrowed  is  prepayable  at any time by such First
Coastal Company without penalty or premium.

              5.15  Legal Proceedings.

                    (a) There is no Litigation instituted or pending, or, to the
Knowledge of First Coastal,  threatened  against any First Coastal  Company,  or
against any Asset,  employee  benefit plan,  interest,  or right of any of them,
that is reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse  Effect on First  Coastal,  nor are there any  Orders of any  Regulatory

                                      -17-


Authorities,  other governmental authorities, or arbitrators outstanding against
any First Coastal Company,  that are reasonably likely to have,  individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on First Coastal.

                    (b)  Section  5.15  (b)  of  the  First  Coastal  Disclosure
Memorandum  includes a summary  report of all  Litigation as of the date of this
Agreement to which any First Coastal  Company is a party and which names a First
Coastal Company as a defendant or cross-defendant and where the maximum exposure
is estimated to be $50,000 or more.

              5.16 Reports.  Since January 1, 1995, or the date of  organization
if later,  to its  Knowledge,  each First  Coastal  Company has timely filed all
reports and  statements,  together with any amendments  required to be made with
respect thereto,  that it was required to file with any Regulatory  Authorities,
except failures to file which are not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the  aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect on First  Coastal.  As of their
respective  dates,  each of such reports and documents,  including the financial
statements,  exhibits, and schedules thereto,  complied in all Material respects
with all applicable Laws.

              5.17 Statements True and Correct. None of the information supplied
or to be  supplied  by  any  First  Coastal  Company  or any  Affiliate  thereof
regarding  First Coastal or such  Affiliate  for  inclusion in the  Registration
Statement  to be  filed by  Centura  with the SEC  will,  when the  Registration
Statement becomes effective, be false or misleading with respect to any Material
fact, or contain any untrue  statement of a Material  fact, or omit to state any
Material  fact  required  to be  stated  thereunder  or  necessary  to make  the
statements  therein not misleading.  None of the  information  supplied or to be
supplied by any First Coastal Company or any Affiliate  thereof for inclusion in
the Proxy Statement to be mailed to First  Coastal's  stockholders in connection
with the  Stockholders'  Meeting will, when first mailed to the  stockholders of
First  Coastal,  be false or  misleading  with respect to any Material  fact, or
contain any  misstatement  of Material  fact, or omit to state any Material fact
required to be stated thereunder or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  or, in
the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement  thereto,
at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting, be false or misleading with respect to
any  Material  fact,  or omit to state any Material  fact  required to be stated
thereunder  or  necessary  to correct  any  Material  statement  in any  earlier
communication   with  respect  to  the   solicitation   of  any  proxy  for  the
Stockholders'  Meeting.  All  documents  that any First  Coastal  Company or any
Affiliate  thereof is responsible  for filing with any  Regulatory  Authority in
connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby will comply as to form in
all Material respects with the provisions of applicable Law.

              5.18 Tax and Regulatory  Matters.  No First Coastal Company or any
Affiliate thereof has taken or agreed to take any action,  and First Coastal has
no  Knowledge  of any fact or  circumstance  that is  reasonably  likely  to (i)
prevent  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including  the  Merger,  from
qualifying  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning  of Section  368(a) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code,  or (ii)  materially  impede  or delay  receipt  of any
Consents  of  Regulatory  Authorities  referred  to in  Section  9.1(b)  of this
Agreement or result in the  imposition of a condition or restriction of the type
referred to in the last sentence of such Section.

                                      -18-


              5.19 State Takeover Laws. Each First Coastal Company has taken all
necessary action to exempt the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement from
any  applicable   "moratorium,"   "control   share,"  "fair  price,"   "business
combination," or other anti-takeover laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of
Virginia (collectively, "Takeover Laws").

              5.20 Charter Provisions.  Each First Coastal Company has taken all
action so that the entering into of this Agreement and the  consummation  of the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will
not  result  in the grant of any  rights to any  Person  under the  Articles  of
Incorporation,  Bylaws,  or other  governing  instruments  of any First  Coastal
Company or restrict or impair the ability of Centura or any of its  Subsidiaries
to vote, or otherwise to exercise the rights of a  stockholder  with respect to,
shares of any First Coastal Company that may be directly or indirectly  acquired
or controlled by it.

              5.21 Derivatives.  All interest rate swaps, caps,  floors,  option
agreements,  futures and forward  contracts,  and other similar risk  management
arrangements,  whether entered into for First Coastal's own account,  or for the
account of one or more the First Coastal  Subsidiaries or their customers,  were
entered  into  (i)  in  accordance  with  prudent  business  practices  and  all
applicable  Laws,  and  (ii)  with  counterparties  believed  to be  financially
responsible.

              5.22 Year 2000.  First Coastal has disclosed to Centura a complete
and  accurate  copy of  First  Coastal's  plan,  including  an  estimate  of the
anticipated associated costs, for implementing  modifications to First Coastal's
hardware, software, and computer systems, chips, and microprocessors,  to ensure
proper execution and accurate  processing of all date-related data, whether from
years in the same  century or in different  centuries.  Between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective  Time,  First Coastal shall endeavor to continue its
efforts to implement such plan.


                                    ARTICLE 6
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CENTURA
                    -----------------------------------------

              Centura  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to  First  Coastal  as
follows:

              6.1 Organization,  Standing,  and Power.  Centura is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing,  and in good standing under the Laws of the
State of North  Carolina,  and has the corporate power and authority to carry on
its  business as now  conducted  and to own,  lease,  and  operate its  Material
Assets.  Centura is duly qualified or licensed to transact business as a foreign
corporation  in good  standing  in the States of the United  States and  foreign
jurisdictions  where the character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its
business  requires  it  to  be  so  qualified  or  licensed,   except  for  such
jurisdictions  in which  the  failure  to be so  qualified  or  licensed  is not
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Centura.

                                      -19-


              6.2   Authority; No Breach By Agreement.

                    (a) Centura has the corporate power and authority  necessary
to execute,  deliver,  and perform its  obligations  under this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby. The execution,  delivery,  and
performance  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated herein, including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized
by all  necessary  corporate  action in respect  thereof on the part of Centura.
This Agreement  represents a legal,  valid,  and binding  obligation of Centura,
enforceable against Centura in accordance with its terms (except in all cases as
such  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  receivership,  conservatorship,  moratorium,  or  similar  Laws
affecting the  enforcement  of creditors'  rights  generally and except that the
availability  of the  equitable  remedy of specific  performance  or  injunctive
relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may
be brought).

                    (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by
Centura,  nor the  consummation  by  Centura  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  nor compliance by Centura with any of the provisions  hereof,  will (i)
conflict  with or result in a breach of any  provision of Centura's  Articles of
Incorporation  or  Bylaws,  (ii)  constitute  or result in a Default  under,  or
require any Consent  pursuant  to, or result in the  creation of any Lien on any
Asset of any  Centura  Company  under,  any  Contract  or Permit of any  Centura
Company,  where such Default or Lien, or any failure to obtain such Consent,  is
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Centura,  (iii) subject to receipt of the requisite  Consents referred
to in Section 9.1(b) of this Agreement,  violate any Law or Order  applicable to
any Centura Company or any of their respective  Material Assets, or (iv) require
the approval of Centura stockholders.

                    (c)  Other  than  in  connection  or  compliance   with  the
provisions of the Securities  Laws,  applicable  state  corporate and securities
Laws,  and rules of the NYSE, and other than Consents  required from  Regulatory
Authorities,  and other than  notices to or filings  with the  Internal  Revenue
Service or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to any employee
benefit  plans,  or under the HSR Act,  and other  than  Consents,  filings,  or
notifications which, if not obtained or made, are not reasonably likely to have,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on Centura,  no
notice to, filing with, or Consent of, any public body or authority is necessary
for the  consummation  by  Centura  of the  Merger  and the  other  transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.

              6.3  Capital  Stock.  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  Centura
consists, as of the date of this Agreement,  of (i) 50,000,000 shares of Centura
Common Stock, of which 26,536,602  shares were issued and outstanding as of June
30, 1998, and (ii) 25,000,000  shares of Centura  Preferred Stock, none of which
are issued and outstanding.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of Centura
Common Stock are, and all of the shares of Centura  Common Stock to be issued in
exchange  for shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock upon  consummation  of the
Merger,  when issued in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  will be,
duly and validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and  nonassessable  under
the NCBCA. None of the outstanding  shares of Centura Common Stock has been, and
none of the shares of Centura 

                                      -20-


Common Stock to be issued in exchange for shares of First  Coastal  Common Stock
upon  consummation  of the Merger will be, issued in violation of any preemptive
rights of the current or past stockholders of Centura.

              6.4  Centura  Subsidiaries.  Except as set forth in Section 6.4 of
the Centura Disclosure  Memorandum,  Centura or one of its Subsidiaries owns all
of  the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  of  each  Centura
Subsidiary.  No equity  securities of any Centura  Subsidiary  are or may become
required to be issued (other than to another  Centura  Company) by reason of any
Rights,  and there are no Contracts by which any Centura  Subsidiary is bound to
issue (other than to another Centura Company)  additional  shares of its capital
stock or Rights or by which any  Centura  Company is or may be bound to transfer
any shares of the capital stock of any Centura Subsidiary (other than to another
Centura Company).  There are no Contracts  relating to the rights of any Centura
Company to vote or to dispose of any shares of the capital  stock of any Centura
Subsidiary.  All of the shares of capital stock of each Centura  Subsidiary held
by a Centura Company are fully paid and, except as provided in statutes pursuant
to which depository institution Subsidiaries are organized,  nonassessable under
the applicable  corporation Law of the  jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is
incorporated or organized and are owned by the Centura Company free and clear of
any Lien. Each Centura Subsidiary is either a bank or a corporation, and is duly
organized, validly existing, and (as to corporations) in good standing under the
Laws of the  jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or organized,  and has the
corporate power and authority  necessary for it to own,  lease,  and operate its
Assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each Centura Subsidiary is
duly qualified or licensed to transact business as a foreign corporation in good
standing in the States of the United States and foreign  jurisdictions where the
character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its business  requires it to
be so qualified or licensed,  except for such jurisdictions in which the failure
to be so qualified or licensed is not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on Centura. Each Centura Subsidiary
that is a depository  institution is an "insured  institution" as defined in the
Federal Deposit  Insurance Act and applicable  regulations  thereunder,  and the
deposits in which are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or Savings  Association
Insurance Fund.

              6.5   SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

                    (a) Centura has filed and made  available  to First  Coastal
all forms,  reports,  and documents required to be filed by Centura with the SEC
since December 31, 1994 (collectively,  the "Centura SEC Reports").  The Centura
SEC Reports (i) at the time filed,  complied in all Material  respects  with the
applicable  requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act,  as the case may be,
and (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or if amended or  superseded  by a
filing  prior to the date of this  Agreement,  then on the date of such  filing)
contain any untrue statement of a Material fact or omit to state a Material fact
required to be stated in such  Centura SEC Reports or necessary in order to make
the statements in such Centura SEC Reports,  in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.  Except for Centura  Subsidiaries that are
registered as a broker, dealer, or investment advisor or filings required due to
fiduciary holdings of the Centura Subsidiaries,  none of Centura Subsidiaries is
required to file any forms, reports, or other documents with the SEC.

                                      -21-


                    (b) Each of the Centura Financial Statements (including,  in
each case,  any related notes)  contained in the Centura SEC Reports,  including
any  Centura  SEC  Reports  filed  after  the date of this  Agreement  until the
Effective Time, complied or will comply as to form in all Material respects with
the applicable  published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto,
was or will be prepared in  accordance  with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis
throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes to such
financial  statements or, in the case of unaudited  statements,  as permitted by
Form  10-Q of the  SEC),  and  fairly  presented  or  will  fairly  present  the
consolidated  financial  position  of  Centura  and its  Subsidiaries  as at the
respective dates and the  consolidated  results of its operations and cash flows
for  the  periods  indicated,   except  that  the  unaudited  interim  financial
statements  were or are  subject to normal and  recurring  year-end  adjustments
which were not or are not expected to be Material in amount or effect.

              6.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. No Centura Company has any
Liabilities  that  are  reasonably  likely  to  have,  individually  or  in  the
aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on Centura,  except  Liabilities which are
accrued or reserved against in the consolidated  balance sheets of Centura as of
June 30, 1998, included in the Centura Financial  Statements or reflected in the
notes  thereto and except for  Liabilities  incurred in the  ordinary  course of
business  subsequent to June 30, 1998.  No Centura  Company has incurred or paid
any Liability since June 30, 1998, except for such Liabilities  incurred or paid
in the ordinary course of business  consistent  with past business  practice and
which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

              6.7  Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since June 30,  1998,
except as disclosed in the Centura Financial  Statements  delivered prior to the
date of this  Agreement,  (i) there have been no events,  changes or occurrences
which  have  had,  or are  reasonably  likely  to have,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on Centura, and (ii) the Centura Companies
have  conducted  their  respective  businesses  in the ordinary and usual course
(excluding the incurrence of expenses in connection  with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby).

              6.8   Tax Matters.

                    (a) All Tax Returns  required to be filed by or on behalf of
any of the Centura  Companies have been timely filed, or requests for extensions
have been timely  filed,  granted,  and have not expired for the three tax years
ended on or before December 31, 1997, and, to the Knowledge of Centura,  all Tax
Returns  filed are  complete  and  accurate in all  Material  respects.  All Tax
Returns for the three tax years  ending on or before the date of the most recent
fiscal year end immediately preceding the Effective Time will be timely filed or
requests  for  extensions  will be timely  filed.  All Taxes  shown on filed Tax
Returns  have  been  paid.  Except as set forth in  Section  6.8 of the  Centura
Disclosure  Memorandum,  there is no audit  examination,  deficiency,  or refund
Litigation with respect to any Taxes,  that is reasonably  likely to result in a
determination  that would have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Material
Adverse Effect on Centura,  except to the extent reserved against in the Centura
Financial  Statements  dated prior to the date of this

                                      -22-


Agreement.  All Taxes and other  Liabilities  due with respect to completed  and
settled examinations or concluded Litigation have been paid.

                    (b)  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  6.8 of the  Centura
Disclosure  Memorandum,  none of the Centura Companies has executed an extension
or waiver of any statute of  limitations  on the assessment or collection of any
Tax  due  (excluding   such  statutes  that  relate  to  years  currently  under
examination  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or  other  applicable   taxing
authorities) that is currently in effect.

                    (c)  Adequate  provision  for any Taxes due or to become due
for any of the Centura Companies for the period or periods through and including
the date of the  respective  Centura  Financial  Statements has been made and is
reflected on such Centura Financial Statements.

                    (d) Each of the Centura Companies is in compliance with, and
its records contain all information and documents  (including properly completed
IRS Forms W-9) necessary to comply with, all  applicable  information  reporting
and Tax withholding  requirements under federal,  state, and local Tax Laws, and
such  records   identify  with   specificity  all  accounts  subject  to  backup
withholding  under Section 3406 of the Internal  Revenue  Code,  except for such
instances of  noncompliance  and such omissions as are not reasonably  likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

                    (e) None of the Centura Companies has made any payments,  is
obligated to make any  payments,  or is a party to any contract,  agreement,  or
other  arrangement  that could  obligate it to make any  payments  that would be
disallowed as a deduction  under Section 280G or 162(m) of the Internal  Revenue
Code.

                    (f) There are no Material  Liens with  respect to Taxes upon
any of the Assets of the Centura Companies.

                    (g) There has not been an  ownership  change,  as defined in
Internal  Revenue Code Section  382(g),  of the Centura  Companies that occurred
during or after any Taxable Period in which the Centura Companies incurred a net
operating loss that carries over to any Taxable Period ending after December 31,
1997.

                    (h)    No  Centura  Company  has  filed  any  consent  under
Section   341(f)   of   the   Internal  Revenue  Code   concerning   collapsible
corporations.

                    (i) After the date of this Agreement,  no Material  election
with respect to Taxes will be made without the prior  consent of First  Coastal,
which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

                    (j)  Except as set forth in  Section  6.8(j) of the  Centura
Disclosure   Memorandum,   no  Centura  Company  has  or  has  had  a  permanent
establishment in any foreign 

                                      -23-


country,  as defined in any  applicable  tax treaty or  convention  between  the
United States and such foreign country.

              6.9 Assets.  The Centura Companies have good and marketable title,
free and clear of all Liens,  to all of their  respective  Assets.  All tangible
properties  used  in  the  businesses  of the  Centura  Companies  are  in  good
condition,  reasonable  wear and tear  excepted,  and are usable in the ordinary
course of business  consistent with Centura's past  practices.  All Assets which
are Material to Centura's business on a consolidated basis, held under leases or
subleases  by any of the  Centura  Companies,  are held  under  valid  Contracts
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms (except as  enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
or other Laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of creditors'  rights  generally and
except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific  performance or
injunctive  relief is subject to the  discretion  of the court  before which any
proceedings may be brought), and each such Contract is in full force and effect.
The Centura Companies  currently maintain  insurance similar in amounts,  scope,
and coverage  reasonably  necessary  for their  operations.  None of the Centura
Companies has received notice from any insurance carrier that (i) such insurance
will be canceled or that coverage  thereunder will be reduced or eliminated,  or
(ii)  premium  costs  with  respect  to  such  policies  of  insurance  will  be
substantially  increased. The Assets of the Centura Companies include all Assets
required  to  operate  the  business  of  the  Centura  Companies  as  presently
conducted.

              6.10  Environmental Matters.

                    (a) To the Knowledge of Centura,  each Centura Company,  its
Participation  Facilities,  and its  Loan  Properties  are,  and have  been,  in
compliance with all  Environmental  Laws,  except those violations which are not
reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Centura.

                    (b) There is no  Litigation  pending or, to the Knowledge of
Centura,  threatened before any court,  governmental  agency,  or authority,  or
other forum in which any Centura Company or any of its Participation  Facilities
has been or, with respect to threatened  Litigation,  may reasonably be expected
to be named as a  defendant  (i) for  alleged  noncompliance  (including  by any
predecessor) with any Environmental Law or (ii) relating to the release into the
environment of any Hazardous  Material,  whether or not occurring at, on, under,
or involving a site owned,  leased, or operated by any Centura Company or any of
its Participation  Facilities,  except for such Litigation pending or threatened
that is not  reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

                    (c) There is no  Litigation  pending or, to the Knowledge of
Centura,  threatened before any court,  governmental  agency, or board, or other
forum in which any of its Loan  Properties  (or  Centura in respect of such Loan
Property) has been or, with respect to threatened Litigation,  may reasonably be
expected to be named as a defendant  or  potentially  responsible  party (i) for
alleged noncompliance  (including by any predecessor) with any Environmental Law
or (ii) relating to the release into the environment of any Hazardous  Material,
whether or not occurring at, on, under, or involving a Loan Property, except for
such  

                                      -24-


Litigation  pending  or  threatened  that  is not  reasonably  likely  to  have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

                    (d) To the  Knowledge  of  Centura,  there is no  reasonable
basis for any Litigation of a type described in subsections  (b) or (c),  except
such as is not reasonably  likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

                    (e) To the  Knowledge  of Centura,  during the period of (i)
any Centura Company's  ownership or operation of any of their respective current
properties,  (ii) any Centura  Company's  participation in the management of any
Participation  Facility,  or (iii) any Centura  Company's  holding of a security
interest in a Loan Property,  there have been no releases of Hazardous  Material
in, on, under, or affecting (or potentially  affecting) such properties,  except
such as are not reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a
Material  Adverse  Effect on  Centura.  Prior to the  period of (i) any  Centura
Company's  ownership or operation of any of their respective current properties,
(ii) any Centura Company's  participation in the management of any Participation
Facility,  or (iii) any Centura  Company's  holding of a security  interest in a
Loan Property, to the Knowledge of Centura,  there were no releases of Hazardous
Material in, on, under, or affecting any such property,  Participation Facility,
or Loan Property, except such as are not reasonably likely to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

              6.11  Compliance  with Laws.  Centura is duly registered as a bank
holding  company  under the BHC Act.  Each  Centura  Company  has in effect  all
Permits  necessary for it to own,  lease,  or operate its Material Assets and to
carry on its business as now conducted,  except for those Permits the absence of
which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on Centura,  and there has occurred no Default under any
such  Permit,  other  than  Defaults  which are not  reasonably  likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on Centura. None of
the Centura Companies:

                  (a) is in violation of any Laws, Orders, or Permits applicable
       to  its  business  or  employees  conducting  its  business,  except  for
       violations  which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually or in
       the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura; and

                  (b) has received any  notification or  communication  from any
       agency or  department  of  federal,  state,  or local  government  or any
       Regulatory  Authority or the staff thereof (i) asserting that any Centura
       Company is not in  compliance  with any of the Laws or Orders  which such
       governmental  authority  or  Regulatory  Authority  enforces,  where such
       noncompliance  is  reasonably  likely  to  have,  individually  or in the
       aggregate,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on Centura,  (ii)  threatening to
       revoke any Permits, the revocation of which is reasonably likely to have,
       individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on Centura,
       or (iii)  requiring  any Centura  Company (x) to enter into or consent to
       the issuance of a cease and desist order,  formal  agreement,  directive,
       commitment,  or  memorandum of  understanding,  or (y) to adopt any Board
       resolution or similar undertaking, which restricts materially the conduct
       of its business,  or in any manner relates to its capital  adequacy,  its
       credit or reserve policies, its management, or the payment of dividends.

                                      -25-


              6.12 Labor  Relations.  No Centura  Company is the  subject of any
Litigation  asserting  that it or any other  Centura  Company has  committed  an
unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act or
comparable  state Law) or seeking to compel it or any other  Centura  Company to
bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor
is any  Centura  Company  a  party  to or  bound  by any  collective  bargaining
agreement,  Contract,  or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or
labor organization, nor is there any strike or other labor dispute involving any
Centura Company, pending or threatened, or to the Knowledge of Centura, is there
any activity  involving  any Centura  Company's  employees  seeking to certify a
collective bargaining unit or engaging in any other organization activity.

              6.13  Legal  Proceedings.  There is no  Litigation  instituted  or
pending,  or, to the  Knowledge  of  Centura,  threatened  against  any  Centura
Company, or against any Asset,  employee benefit plan, interest, or right of any
of them, that is reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate, a
Material  Adverse Effect on Centura,  nor are there any Orders of any Regulatory
Authorities,  other governmental authorities, or arbitrators outstanding against
any Centura Company, that are reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura.

              6.14 Reports.  Since January 1, 1995, or the date of  organization
if later,  each  Centura  Company has timely  filed all reports and  statements,
together with any amendments  required to be made with respect thereto,  that it
was required to file with any Regulatory  Authorities,  except  failures to file
which are not reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect on Centura.  As of their respective  dates, each of such
reports  and  documents,  including  the  financial  statements,  exhibits,  and
schedules thereto, complied in all Material respects with all applicable Laws.

              6.15 Statements True and Correct. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied  by any Centura  Company or any  Affiliate  thereof  regarding
Centura or such  Affiliate  for  inclusion in the  Registration  Statement to be
filed by Centura  with the SEC will,  when the  Registration  Statement  becomes
effective,  be false or misleading with respect to any Material fact, or contain
any untrue  statement of a Material  fact,  or omit to state any  Material  fact
required to be stated thereunder or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.  None of the  information  supplied or to be supplied by any Centura
Company or any  Affiliate  thereof for  inclusion  in the Proxy  Statement to be
mailed to First  Coastal's  stockholders  in connection  with the  Stockholders'
Meeting,  will, when first mailed to the stockholders of First Coastal, be false
or misleading with respect to any Material fact, or contain any  misstatement of
Material  fact,  or omit to  state  any  Material  fact  required  to be  stated
thereunder  or  necessary  to make  the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, in the case of the
Proxy Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement  thereto,  at the time of
the Stockholders'  Meeting,  be false or misleading with respect to any Material
fact,  or omit to state any Material  fact  required to be stated  thereunder or
necessary to correct any Material  statement in any earlier  communication  with
respect to the  solicitation of any proxy for the  Stockholders'  Meetings.  All
documents that any Centura  Company or any Affiliate  thereof is 

                                      -26-


responsible  for filing with any  Regulatory  Authority in  connection  with the
transactions contemplated hereby will comply as to form in all Material respects
with the provisions of applicable Law.

              6.16  Tax  and  Regulatory  Matters.  No  Centura  Company  or any
Affiliate  thereof  has taken or agreed to take any  action,  and Centura has no
Knowledge of any fact or circumstance  that is reasonably  likely to (i) prevent
the transactions  contemplated hereby, including the Merger, from qualifyingr as
a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal  Revenue
Code, or (ii)  materially  impede or delay receipt of any Consents of Regulatory
Authorities  referred to in Section  9.1(b) of this  Agreement  or result in the
imposition  of a condition or  restriction  of the type  referred to in the last
sentence of such Section.

              6.17 Derivatives.  All interest rate swaps, caps,  floors,  option
agreements,  futures and forward  contracts,  and other similar risk  management
arrangements, whether entered into for Centura's own account, or for the account
of one or more the Centura  Subsidiaries or their  customers,  were entered into
(i) in accordance with prudent  business  practices and all applicable Laws, and
(ii) with counterparties believed to be financially responsible.

              6.18 Year 2000.  Centura has disclosed to First Coastal a complete
and accurate copy of Centura's  plan,  including an estimate of the  anticipated
associated  costs,  for  implementing   modifications  to  Centura's   hardware,
software,  and computer systems,  chips, and  microprocessors,  to ensure proper
execution and accurate  processing of all date-related  data, whether from years
in the  same  century  or in  different  centuries.  Between  the  date  of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, Centura shall endeavor to continue its efforts
to implement such plan.


                                    ARTICLE 7
                    CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CONSUMMATION
                    ----------------------------------------

              7.1  Affirmative  Covenants  of First  Coastal.  Unless  the prior
written  consent  of the duly  authorized  officer  of  Centura  shall have been
obtained,  and except as otherwise expressly  contemplated herein, First Coastal
shall  and  shall  cause  each of its  Subsidiaries  to,  from  the date of this
Agreement until the Effective Time or termination of this Agreement, (i) operate
its business  only in the usual,  regular,  and ordinary  course,  (ii) preserve
intact in all  Material  respects  its  business  organization  and  Assets  and
maintain  its rights and  franchises,  and (iii) take no action  which would (x)
materially  adversely  affect the  ability  of any Party to obtain any  Consents
required  for the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  without  imposition  of a
condition  or  restriction  of the type  referred  to in the last  sentences  of
Section 9.1(b) and (c) of this Agreement, or (y) materially adversely affect the
ability  of any  Party to  perform  its  covenants  and  agreements  under  this
Agreement.

              7.2 Negative Covenants of First Coastal. Except as contemplated by
this Agreement or the Supplemental Letter, from the date of this Agreement until
the earlier of the Effective Time or the  termination of this  Agreement,  First
Coastal  covenants  and agrees  that it 

                                      -27-


will not do or agree or commit to do, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do or
agree or commit to do, any of the following without the prior written consent of
the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of Centura, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld:

                  (a) amend the  Articles  of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  or other
       governing  instruments  of  any  First  Coastal  Company  or,  except  as
       expressly  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  the  First  Coastal  Rights
       Agreement, or

                  (b) incur, guarantee, or otherwise become responsible for, any
       additional debt obligation or other  obligation for borrowed money (other
       than  indebtedness  of a First  Coastal  Company to another First Coastal
       Company) in excess of an  aggregate  of $350,000  (for the First  Coastal
       Companies on a  consolidated  basis),  except in the  ordinary  course of
       business and  consistent  with past practices  (which shall include,  for
       First Coastal Subsidiaries that are depository institutions,  creation of
       deposit  liabilities,  purchases  of  federal  funds,  advances  from the
       Federal Reserve Bank or Federal Home Loan Bank, and entry into repurchase
       agreements  fully secured by U.S.  government or agency  securities),  or
       impose,  or suffer  the  imposition,  on any  Asset of any First  Coastal
       Company  of any Lien or  permit  any such  Lien to exist  (other  than in
       connection with deposits,  repurchase  agreements,  bankers  acceptances,
       "treasury tax and loan" accounts  established  in the ordinary  course of
       business, the satisfaction of legal requirements in the exercise of trust
       powers,  and Liens in effect as of the date hereof that are  disclosed in
       the First Coastal Disclosure Memorandum); or

                  (c)  repurchase,  redeem,  or  otherwise  acquire or  exchange
       (other than  exchanges in the  ordinary  course  under  employee  benefit
       plans), directly or indirectly, any shares, or any securities convertible
       into any shares,  of the capital stock of any First Coastal  Company,  or
       declare or pay any dividend or make any other  distribution in respect of
       First  Coastal's  capital stock,  provided that First Coastal may (to the
       extent  legally and  contractually  permitted to do so), but shall not be
       obligated to,  declare and pay regular  quarterly  cash  dividends on the
       shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock at a rate of $0.06 per share with
       usual and  regular  record  and  payment  dates in  accordance  with past
       practice as disclosed in Section  7.2(c) of the First Coastal  Disclosure
       Memorandum  and such dates may not be changed  without the prior  written
       consent of Centura;  provided,  that,  notwithstanding  the provisions of
       Section 1.3 of this  Agreement,  the Parties shall cooperate in selecting
       the Effective Time to ensure that,  with respect to the quarterly  period
       in which the Effective  Time occurs,  the holders of First Coastal Common
       Stock do not receive  both a dividend  in respect of their First  Coastal
       Common Stock and a dividend in respect of Centura Common Stock or fail to
       receive any dividend; or

                  (d) except for this Agreement, or pursuant to the Stock Option
       Agreement  or pursuant to the  exercise of Rights  outstanding  as of the
       date of this  Agreement and pursuant to the terms thereof in existence on
       the date of this Agreement, issue, sell, pledge, encumber,  authorize the
       issuance of, enter into any Contract to issue, sell, pledge, encumber, or
       authorize the issuance of, or otherwise permit to become outstanding, any
       additional  shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock or any other  capital
       stock of any First 

                                      -28-


       Coastal  Company,  or  any  stock  appreciation  rights, or  any  option,
       warrant,  conversion,  or other  right to acquire  any such stock, or any
       security convertible into any such stock; or

                  (e) adjust, split, combine, or reclassify any capital stock of
       any First Coastal Company or issue or authorize the issuance of any other
       securities in respect of or in  substitution  for shares of First Coastal
       Common  Stock,  or sell,  lease,  mortgage,  or  otherwise  dispose of or
       otherwise  encumber (i) any shares of capital  stock of any First Coastal
       Subsidiary  (unless  any  such  shares  of stock  are  sold or  otherwise
       transferred  to another  First  Coastal  Company) or (ii) any Asset other
       than in the  ordinary  course of business  for  reasonable  and  adequate
       consideration; or

                  (f) except for purchases of U.S.  Treasury  securities or U.S.
       Government  agency  securities,  which in either case have  maturities of
       three  years or  less,  purchase  any  securities  or make  any  Material
       investment,  either by purchase of stock or securities,  contributions to
       capital, Asset transfers,  or purchase of any Assets, in any Person other
       than a wholly-owned First Coastal Subsidiary, or otherwise acquire direct
       or indirect  control over any Person,  other than in connection  with (i)
       foreclosures  in the ordinary  course of business,  (ii)  acquisitions of
       control by a depository institution Subsidiary in its fiduciary capacity,
       or (iii) the  creation  of new  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  organized  to
       conduct or continue activities otherwise permitted by this Agreement; or

                  (g) grant any  increase  in  compensation  or  benefits to the
       employees or officers of any First Coastal Company,  except in accordance
       with past practice and consistent with budget data previously provided to
       Centura or as required by Law; pay any  severance or  termination  pay or
       any bonus other than pursuant to written policies or written Contracts in
       effect on the date of this  Agreement;  enter into or amend any severance
       agreements with officers of any First Coastal Company; grant any Material
       increase in fees or other  increases in compensation or other benefits to
       directors of any First Coastal  Company  except in  accordance  with past
       practice  disclosed  in Section  7.2(g) of the First  Coastal  Disclosure
       Memorandum; or voluntarily accelerate the vesting of any stock options or
       other stock-based compensation or employee benefits; or

                  (h) enter into or amend any  employment  Contract  between any
       First Coastal  Company and any Person  (unless such amendment is required
       by Law) that the First  Coastal  Company does not have the  unconditional
       right to terminate  without  Liability (other than Liability for services
       already rendered), at any time on or after the Effective Time; or

                  (i) adopt any new employee  benefit plan of any First  Coastal
       Company  or make  any  Material  change  in or to any  existing  employee
       benefit  plans of any First  Coastal  Company  other than any such change
       that is required by Law or that, in the opinion of counsel,  is necessary
       or advisable to maintain the tax qualified status of any such plan; or

                                      -29-


                  (j)  make  any  significant  change  in any Tax or  accounting
       methods or  systems of  internal  accounting  controls,  except as may be
       appropriate  to conform to changes in Tax Laws or  regulatory  accounting
       requirements or GAAP; or

                  (k) commence any  Litigation  other than as necessary  for the
       prudent operation of its business or settle any Litigation  involving any
       Liability  of any First  Coastal  Company for Material  money  damages or
       restrictions upon the operations of any First Coastal Company; or

                  (l) except in the ordinary course of business,  modify, amend,
       or terminate  any Material  Contract or waive,  release,  compromise,  or
       assign any Material rights or claims.

              7.3 Covenants of Centura.  From the date of this  Agreement  until
the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement,  Centura
covenants and agrees that it shall and shall cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to
(i) continue to conduct its business and the business of its  Subsidiaries  in a
manner designed in its reasonable judgment to enhance the long-term value of the
Centura Common Stock and the business prospects of the Centura  Companies,  (ii)
take no action which would (x)  materially  adversely  affect the ability of any
Party to obtain any Consents required for the transactions  contemplated  hereby
without  imposition of a condition or restriction of the type referred to in the
last  sentences of Section 9.1(b) and (c) of this  Agreement,  or (y) materially
adversely  affect  the  ability  of any  Party  to  perform  its  covenants  and
agreements under this Agreement;  provided, that the foregoing shall not prevent
any Centura  Company  from  discontinuing  or  disposing of any of its Assets or
business if such action is, in the judgment of Centura, desirable in the conduct
of the business of Centura and its Subsidiaries,  and (z) not amend the Articles
of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of Centura,  in each case,  in any manner  which is
adverse  to, and  discriminates  against,  the holders of First  Coastal  Common
Stock.

              7.4  Adverse  Changes  in  Condition.  Each  Party  agrees to give
written notice promptly to the other Party upon becoming aware of the occurrence
or impending  occurrence of any event or  circumstance  relating to it or any of
its Subsidiaries which (i) is reasonably likely to have,  individually or in the
aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on it or (ii) would cause or constitute a
Material  breach  of  any  of  its  representations,  warranties,  or  covenants
contained  herein,  and to use its reasonable  efforts to prevent or promptly to
remedy the same.

              7.5  Reports.  Each  Party  and its  Subsidiaries  shall  file all
reports required to be filed by it with Regulatory  Authorities between the date
of this  Agreement and the  Effective  Time and shall deliver to the other Party
copies of all such  reports  promptly  after the same are  filed.  If  financial
statements  are contained in any such reports filed with the SEC, such financial
statements will fairly present the consolidated financial position of the entity
filing such statements as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
operations, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the periods then
ended  in  accordance  with  GAAP  (subject  in the  case of  interim  financial
statements to normal recurring year-end  adjustments that are not Material).  As
of their  respective  dates,  such reports filed with the SEC will comply in all
Material  respects  with the  Securities  Laws and will not  contain  any untrue
statement  of a Material  fact or omit to state a Material  fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to

                                      -30-


make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Any financial statements contained in any other reports to
another  Regulatory   Authority  shall  be  prepared  in  accordance  with  Laws
applicable to such reports.


                                   ARTICLE 8
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
                              ---------------------

              8.1 Registration Statement; Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval.
As soon as reasonably  practicable  after execution of this  Agreement,  Centura
shall file the Registration Statement with the SEC, and shall use its reasonable
efforts to cause the  Registration  Statement to become effective under the 1933
Act and take any action required to be taken under the applicable state Blue Sky
or  securities  Laws in  connection  with the  issuance of the shares of Centura
Common Stock upon  consummation  of the Merger.  First Coastal shall furnish all
information  concerning  it and the holders of its capital  stock as Centura may
reasonably  request in connection  with such action.  First Coastal shall call a
Stockholders'  Meeting,  to be held as soon as reasonably  practicable after the
Registration  Statement  is declared  effective  by the SEC,  for the purpose of
voting upon  approval of this  Agreement  and such other  related  matters as it
deems  appropriate.  In connection  with the  Stockholders'  Meeting,  (i) First
Coastal  shall  prepare  and file with the SEC a Proxy  Statement  and mail such
Proxy  Statement to its  stockholders,  (ii) the Parties  shall  furnish to each
other  all  information  concerning  them that they may  reasonably  request  in
connection  with such Proxy  Statement,  (iii) the Board of  Directors  of First
Coastal shall  recommend to their  respective  stockholders  the approval of the
matters submitted for approval,  and (iv) the Board of Directors and officers of
First Coastal shall use their  reasonable  efforts to obtain such  stockholders'
approval,  provided  that First Coastal may  withdraw,  modify,  or change in an
adverse manner to Centura its recommendations if the Board of Directors of First
Coastal,  after  having  consulted  with and based  upon the  advice of  outside
counsel,  determines in good faith that the failure to so withdraw,  modify,  or
change its  recommendation  could constitute a breach of the fiduciary duties of
First Coastal's Board of Directors under applicable Law.

              8.2 Exchange Listing.  Centura shall use its reasonable efforts to
list,  prior to the Effective  Time, on the NYSE,  subject to official notice of
issuance,  the shares of  Centura  Common  Stock to be issued to the  holders of
First Coastal Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.

              8.3  Applications.  Centura shall  promptly  prepare and file, and
First Coastal shall cooperate in the preparation and, where appropriate,  filing
of,  applications with all Regulatory  Authorities having  jurisdiction over the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  seeking the  requisite  Consents
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

              8.4 Filings with State Offices.  Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement,  Centura shall execute and file the North Carolina
Articles of Merger with the  Secretary  of State of the State of North  Carolina
and  Centura  shall  execute and file the  Virginia  

                                      -31-


Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the  Commonwealth  of Virginia
in connection with the Closing.

              8.5  Agreement as to Efforts to  Consummate.  Subject to the terms
and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  each Party agrees to use, and to cause its
Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable  efforts to take, or cause to be taken,  all
actions,  and to do,  or cause to be done,  all  things  necessary,  proper,  or
advisable under  applicable  Laws to consummate and make  effective,  as soon as
reasonably  practicable  after  the  date of this  Agreement,  the  transactions
contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  using  its
reasonable efforts to lift or rescind any Order adversely  affecting its ability
to consummate the transactions  contemplated herein and to cause to be satisfied
the  conditions  referred  to in  Article 9 of this  Agreement;  provided,  that
nothing herein shall preclude either Party from exercising its rights under this
Agreement.  Each Party shall use,  and shall cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to
use, its  reasonable  efforts to obtain all Consents  necessary or desirable for
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

              8.6   Investigation and Confidentiality.

                    (a) Prior to the Effective  Time,  each Party shall keep the
other Party advised of all Material developments relevant to its business and to
consummation  of the Merger and shall permit the other Party to make or cause to
be  made  such  investigation  of the  business  and  properties  of it and  its
Subsidiaries and of their respective financial and legal conditions as the other
Party reasonably requests,  provided that such investigation shall be reasonably
related  to  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  shall  not  interfere
unnecessarily with normal  operations.  No investigation by a Party shall affect
the representations and warranties of the other Party.

                    (b) Each  Party  shall,  and shall  cause its  advisers  and
agents  to,  maintain  the  confidentiality  of  all  confidential   information
furnished  to it by  the  other  Party  concerning  its  and  its  Subsidiaries'
businesses,   operations,  and  financial  positions  and  shall  not  use  such
information   for  any  purpose  except  in  furtherance  of  the   transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement.  If this Agreement is terminated  prior to the
Effective  Time,  each Party shall promptly return or certify the destruction of
all documents and copies thereof,  and all work papers  containing  confidential
information received from the other Party.

                    (c) Each Party agrees to give the other Party notice as soon
as practicable after any determination by it of any fact or occurrence  relating
to  the  other  Party  which  it  has  discovered  through  the  course  of  its
investigation and which represents, or is reasonably likely to represent, either
a Material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement of the
other Party or which has had or is reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the other Party.

                    (d) Neither Party nor any of their  respective  Subsidiaries
shall be required to provide  access to or to  disclose  information  where such
access or disclosure  would  violate or prejudice  the rights of its  customers,
jeopardize  the  attorney-client  or  similar  privilege  with 

                                      -32-


respect to such  information  or contravene any Law,  rule,  regulation,  Order,
judgment, decree, fiduciary duty, or agreement entered into prior to the date of
this  Agreement.   The  Parties  will  use  their  reasonable  efforts  to  make
appropriate substitute disclosure  arrangements,  to the extent practicable,  in
circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence apply.

              8.7 Press Releases. Prior to the Effective Time, Centura and First
Coastal  shall consult with each other as to the form and substance of any press
release or other public disclosure  materially  related to this Agreement or any
other transaction  contemplated hereby;  provided,  that nothing in this Section
8.7 shall be deemed to prohibit any Party from making any  disclosure  which its
counsel deems necessary or advisable in order to satisfy such Party's disclosure
obligations imposed by Law.

              8.8 Certain Actions. Except with respect to this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  no First Coastal  Company nor any Affiliate
thereof nor any  Representatives  thereof  retained by any First Coastal Company
shall directly or indirectly  solicit or engage in  negotiations  concerning any
Acquisition Proposal, or provide any confidential  information or assistance to,
or have  any  discussions  with,  any  Person  with  respect  to an  Acquisition
Proposal.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  First Coastal may, and may authorize
and  permit  its   Representatives   to,  provide   Persons  with   confidential
information,  have discussions or negotiations with, or otherwise  facilitate an
effort or attempt by such Person to make or  implement an  Acquisition  Proposal
not  solicited  in  violation  of this  Agreement  if First  Coastal's  Board of
Directors,  after having  consulted  with, and based upon the advice of, outside
counsel,  determines  in good faith that the failure to take such actions  could
constitute  a  breach  of the  fiduciary  duties  of  First  Coastal's  Board of
Directors  under  applicable  Law;  provided,  that First Coastal shall promptly
advise  Centura  following  the  receipt  of any  Acquisition  Proposal  and the
Material  details  thereof;  and,  provided  further,  that prior to delivery of
confidential  information relating to First Coastal or access to First Coastal's
books,  records,  or properties in connection  herewith,  the other Person shall
have  entered  into a  confidentiality  agreement  substantially  similar to the
Confidentiality  Agreement  previously  entered into between  First  Coastal and
Centura..  Nothing  contained  in this  Section 8.8 shall  prohibit the Board of
Directors of First Coastal from complying with Rule 14e-2, promulgated under the
1934  Act.  First  Coastal  shall  (i)  immediately  following  the date of this
Agreement cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions,
or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to any of the
foregoing,  and (ii) direct and use its  reasonable  efforts to cause of all its
Representatives not to engage in any of the foregoing.

              8.9 Accounting and Tax Treatment.  Each of the Parties  undertakes
and agrees to use its  reasonable  efforts to cause the  Merger,  and to take no
action  which would cause the Merger not, to qualify for  treatment as a pooling
of interests for accounting purposes or as a "reorganization" within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for federal income tax purposes.

              8.10 State  Takeover Laws.  Each First Coastal  Company shall take
all necessary  steps to exempt the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
from, or if necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any applicable
Takeover Laws.


                                      -33-


              8.11 Charter Provisions. Each First Coastal Company shall take all
necessary  action to ensure that the  entering  into of this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby do not
and will not result in the grant of any rights to any Person  under the Articles
of Incorporation,  Bylaws,  or other governing  instruments of any First Coastal
Company or restrict or impair the ability of Centura or any of its  Subsidiaries
to vote, or otherwise to exercise the rights of a  stockholder  with respect to,
shares of any First Coastal Company that may be directly or indirectly  acquired
or controlled by it.

              8.12  Agreement  of  Affiliates.  First  Coastal has  disclosed in
Section  8.12 of the First  Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum  each Person whom it
reasonably  believes may be deemed an  "affiliate" of First Coastal for purposes
of Rule 145 under the 1933 Act. First Coastal shall use its  reasonable  efforts
to cause each such  Person to deliver to Centura not later than 30 days prior to
the Effective Time, a written agreement, in substantially the form of Exhibit 2,
providing that such Person will not sell, pledge, transfer, or otherwise dispose
of the  shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock  held by such  Person  except as
contemplated  by such agreement or by this Agreement and will not sell,  pledge,
transfer,  or  otherwise  dispose of the shares of  Centura  Common  Stock to be
received by such Person upon  consummation  of the Merger  except in  compliance
with  applicable  provisions  of the  1933  Act and the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder and until such time as financial results covering at least 30 days of
combined  operations of Centura and First Coastal have been published within the
meaning of  Section  201.01 of the SEC's  Codification  of  Financial  Reporting
Policies.  Shares of Centura  Common  Stock issued to such  affiliates  of First
Coastal  in  exchange  for shares of First  Coastal  Common  Stock  shall not be
transferable  until such time as financial  results covering at least 30 days of
combined  operations of Centura and First Coastal have been published within the
meaning of  Section  201.01 of the SEC's  Codification  of  Financial  Reporting
Policies,  regardless  of whether each such  affiliate  has provided the written
agreement  referred to in this Section  8.12 (and  Centura  shall be entitled to
place  restrictive  legends upon certificates for shares of Centura Common Stock
issued to affiliates of First Coastal  pursuant to this Agreement to enforce the
provisions of this Section 8.12).  Centura shall not be required to maintain the
effectiveness of the Registration  Statement under the 1933 Act for the purposes
of resale of Centura Common Stock by such affiliates.

              8.13  Employee  Benefits and  Contracts.  Following  the Effective
Time,  Centura  shall  provide  generally to officers and employees of the First
Coastal  Companies,  who at or after the  Effective  Time become  employees of a
Centura Company (the "Continuing  Employees"),  employee benefits under employee
benefit  plans  on  terms  and  conditions  which  when  taken  as a  whole  are
substantially  similar to those currently  provided by the Centura  Companies to
their similarly  situated  officers and employees.  For purposes of eligibility,
participation  and vesting  (but not accrual of  benefits)  under such  employee
benefit plans,  (i) service under any qualified  defined  benefit plans of First
Coastal shall be treated as service under  Centura's  qualified  defined benefit
plans,  (ii) service under any  qualified  defined  contribution  plans of First
Coastal  shall  be  treated  as  service  under  Centura's   qualified   defined
contribution  plans, and (iii) service under any other employee benefit plans of
First  Coastal shall be treated as service  under any similar  employee  benefit
plans  maintained by Centura.  Centura shall cause the Centura  welfare  benefit

                                      -35-


plans that cover the Continuing Employees and dependents of such employees after
the  Effective  Time to (i)  waive  any  waiting  period  and  restrictions  and
limitations  for  preexisting  conditions  or  insurability,  and (ii) cause any
deductible,   co-insurance,  or  maximum  out-of-pocket  payments  made  by  the
Continuing  Employees under First  Coastal's  welfare benefit plans for the plan
year in  effect  as of the  Effective  Time to be  credited  to such  Continuing
Employees under the Centura welfare benefit plans, so as to reduce the amount of
any deductible,  co-insurance,  or maximum out-of-pocket payments payable by the
Continuing  Employees  under the Centura  welfare  benefit plans.  The continued
coverage  of  the  Continuing   Employees  under  the  employee  benefits  plans
maintained by First  Coastal  and/or any First  Coastal  Subsidiary  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time  during a  transition  period  shall be  deemed to
provide the  Continuing  Employees with benefits that are no less favorable than
those offered to other employees of Centura and its Subsidiaries,  provided that
after the  Effective  Time  there is no  Material  reduction  (determined  on an
overall basis) in the benefits provided under the First Coastal employee benefit
plans.  Centura shall,  and shall cause First Coastal and its  Subsidiaries  to,
honor all employment,  severance,  consulting,  and other compensation Contracts
disclosed in Section 8.13 of the First Coastal Disclosure  Memorandum to Centura
between any First Coastal Company and any current or former  director,  officer,
or employee thereof, and all provisions of the First Coastal Benefit Plans.

              8.14  Indemnification.

                    (a) Subject to the  conditions  set forth in  paragraph  (b)
below,  for a period of six (6) years after the Effective  Time,  Centura shall,
and shall cause First  Coastal to,  indemnify,  defend,  and hold  harmless each
Person  entitled to  indemnification  from a First  Coastal  Company  (each,  an
"Indemnified Party") against all Liabilities arising out of actions or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including,  without limitation, the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement) to the full extent  permitted by
Virginia Law and First Coastal's  Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws,
in each case as in effect on the date hereof,  including  provisions relating to
advances of expenses incurred in the defense of any Litigation. Without limiting
the  foregoing,  in any case in which  approval by First  Coastal is required to
effectuate any indemnification,  Centura shall cause First Coastal to direct, at
the  election  of the  Indemnified  Party,  that the  determination  of any such
approval  shall be made by  independent  counsel  mutually  agreed upon  between
Centura and the Indemnified Party.

                    (b) Any Indemnified  Party wishing to claim  indemnification
under  paragraph (a), upon learning of any such  Liability or Litigation,  shall
promptly  notify  Centura  thereof,  provided,  however,  that the failure of an
Indemnified Party to provide such notice shall not relieve Centura of any of its
obligations  under  this  Section  8.14,  except to the  extent the lack of such
notice  may  materially   prejudice  Centura's  position  with  respect  to  the
underlying Liability or Litigation. In the event of any such Litigation (whether
arising before or after the Effective  Time), (i) Centura or First Coastal shall
have the right to assume the defense  thereof and Centura shall not be liable to
such  Indemnified  Parties for any legal  expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses  subsequently  incurred by such Indemnified  Parties in connection with
the  defense  thereof,  except  that if Centura or First  Coastal  elects not to
assume such defense or counsel for the  Indemnified  Parties  advises that there
are  substantive  issues which raise  conflicts of interest 

                                      -35-


between  Centura or First Coastal and the Indemnified  Parties,  the Indemnified
Parties may retain  counsel  satisfactory  to them, and Centura or First Coastal
shall pay all reasonable  fees and expenses of such counsel for the  Indemnified
Parties promptly as statements therefor are received;  provided,  however,  that
Centura  shall be obligated  pursuant to this  paragraph (b) to pay for only one
firm of  counsel  for all  Indemnified  Parties  in any  jurisdiction,  (ii) the
Indemnified  Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such  Litigation,  and
(iii) Centura shall not be liable for any settlement  effected without its prior
written  consent;  and provided  further that First  Coastal  shall not have any
obligation  hereunder to any Indemnified  Party when and if a court of competent
jurisdiction shall determine,  and such  determination  shall have become final,
that the  indemnification  of such Indemnified Party in the manner  contemplated
hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.

                    (c)  Centura  shall use its  reasonable  efforts  (and First
Coastal  shall  cooperate  prior  to the  Effective  Time in these  efforts)  to
maintain  in effect for a period of one year  after the  Effective  Time,  First
Coastal's existing directors' and officers' liability insurance policy (provided
that Centura may substitute  therefor policies of at least the same coverage and
amounts  containing  terms  and  conditions  which  are  substantially  no  less
advantageous) with respect to claims arising from facts or events which occurred
prior to the Effective  Time and covering  persons who are currently  covered by
such insurance.

                    (d) If Centura  or any of its  successors  or assigns  shall
consolidate  with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing
or surviving  Person of such  consolidation  or merger or shall  transfer all or
substantially  all of its Assets to any  Person,  then and in each case,  proper
provision  shall be made so that the  successors  and  assigns of Centura  shall
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 8.14.

                    (e)   The provisions of this Section 8.14 are intended to be
for the benefit of and shall be enforceable  by, each Indemnified Party, his  or
her heirs and representatives.

              8.15  Assumption of Agreement.  In the event Centura or any of its
successors  or  assigns  (i)  shall  consolidate  with or merge  into any  other
corporation or entity and shall not be the  continuing or surviving  corporation
or entity  of such  consolidation  or  merger,  or (ii)  shall  transfer  all or
substantially  all of its properties and assets to any individual,  corporation,
or other entity,  then, in each such case,  Centura or such  successor or assign
shall take such actions as shall be necessary  for the  successors or assigns of
Centura to assume the obligations of Centura under this Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE 9
                CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS TO CONSUMMATE
                -------------------------------------------------

              9.1  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Each  Party.  The  respective
obligations of each Party to perform this Agreement and to consummate the Merger
and the other transactions  contemplated  hereby are subject to the satisfaction
of the following  conditions,  unless waived by both Parties pursuant to Section
11.6 of this Agreement:

                                      -36-


                  (a) Stockholder  Approval.  The  stockholders of First Coastal
       shall  have  approved  this  Agreement,   and  the  consummation  of  the
       transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including the Merger,  as and to the
       extent  required by Law, by the provisions of any governing  instruments,
       and by the rules of the NASD.

                  (b)  Regulatory  Approvals.   All  Consents  of,  filings  and
       registrations  with, and  notifications  to, all  Regulatory  Authorities
       required  for  consummation  of the Merger and the Bank Merger shall have
       been  obtained  or made and  shall be in full  force and  effect  and all
       waiting periods  required by Law shall have expired.  No Consent obtained
       from any  Regulatory  Authority  which is  necessary  to  consummate  the
       transactions  contemplated hereby shall be conditioned or restricted in a
       manner  (excluding  requirements  relating to the  raising of  additional
       capital or the disposition of Assets or deposits) which in the reasonable
       good  faith  judgment  of the  Board of  Directors  of  Centura  would so
       materially  adversely  impact the  economic or  business  benefits of the
       transactions  contemplated by this Agreement so as to render  inadvisable
       the consummation of the Merger.

                  (c) Consents and Approvals. Each Party shall have obtained any
       and all Consents  required  for  consummation  of the Merger  (other than
       those  referred  to in  Section  9.1(b)  of  this  Agreement)  or for the
       preventing  of any  Default  under any  Contract  or Permit of such Party
       which,   if  not  obtained  or  made,  is  reasonably   likely  to  have,
       individually  or in the  aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect on such
       Party.  No  Consent   obtained  which  is  necessary  to  consummate  the
       transactions  contemplated hereby shall be conditioned or restricted in a
       manner  which in the  reasonable  good  faith  judgment  of the  Board of
       Directors of Centura would so materially adversely impact the economic or
       business  benefits of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement so
       as to render inadvisable the consummation of the Merger.

                  (d) Legal Proceedings.  No court or governmental or Regulatory
       Authority  of  competent   jurisdiction   shall  have  enacted,   issued,
       promulgated,  enforced,  or entered any Law or Order (whether  temporary,
       preliminary,  or  permanent)  or taken any other action which  prohibits,
       restricts, or makes illegal consummation of the transactions contemplated
       by this Agreement.

                  (e) Registration  Statement.  The Registration Statement shall
       be  effective  under  the  1933  Act,  no  stop  orders   suspending  the
       effectiveness  of the Registration  Statement shall have been issued,  no
       action,  suit,  proceeding,  or  investigation  by the SEC to suspend the
       effectiveness  thereof shall have been initiated and be  continuing,  and
       all necessary  approvals  under state  securities Laws or the 1933 Act or
       1934 Act  relating  to the  issuance  or trading of the shares of Centura
       Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger shall have been received.

                  (f)  Exchange  Listing.  The  shares of Centura  Common  Stock
       issuable  pursuant to the Merger shall have been  approved for listing on
       the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

                                      -37-


                  (g) Tax  Matters.  Each Party  shall  have  received a written
       opinion  or  opinions  from  Alston  & Bird  LLP,  in a  form  reasonably
       satisfactory  to such Party (the "Tax  Opinion"),  to the effect that (i)
       the Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section
       368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code,  (ii) the exchange in the Merger of
       First Coastal Common Stock for Centura Common Stock will not give rise to
       gain or loss to the  stockholders  of First  Coastal with respect to such
       exchange (except to the extent of any cash received), (iii) the tax basis
       of the Centura  Common Stock  received by holders of First Coastal Common
       Stock  in the  Merger  will be the  same as the tax  basis  of the  First
       Coastal Common Stock surrendered in exchange for the Centura Common Stock
       (reduced by an amount  allocable to a fractional  share for which cash is
       received),  and (iv) the  holding  period  of the  Centura  Common  Stock
       received by holders who  exchange  their First  Coastal  Common Stock for
       Centura Common Stock in the Merger will be the same as the holding period
       of the First Coastal Common Stock  surrendered in exchange  therefor.  In
       rendering  such Tax Opinion,  such counsel shall be entitled to rely upon
       representations  of  officers of First  Coastal  and  Centura  reasonably
       satisfactory in form and substance to such counsel.

                  (h) Pooling  Letter.  Each Party shall have received a letter,
       dated as of the Effective Time, in a form  reasonably  acceptable to such
       Party,  from KPMG Peat Marwick to the effect that the Merger will qualify
       for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment.

              9.2  Conditions to  Obligations  of Centura.  The  obligations  of
Centura  to  perform  this  Agreement  and  consummate  the Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby  are  subject  to  the  satisfaction  of  the
following  conditions,  unless waived by Centura  pursuant to Section 11.6(a) of
this Agreement:

                  (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  For  purposes  of this
       Section  9.2(a),  the accuracy of the  representations  and warranties of
       First  Coastal  set forth in this  Agreement  shall be assessed as of the
       date of this  Agreement and as of the Effective Time with the same effect
       as though all such representations and warranties had been made on and as
       of the Effective Time (provided that representations and warranties which
       are confined to a specified  date shall speak only as of such date).  The
       representations  and warranties of First Coastal set forth in Section 5.3
       of this  Agreement  shall be true and correct  (except  for  inaccuracies
       which are de minimis in amount).  The  representations  and warranties of
       First  Coastal  set  forth  in  Sections  5.18,  5.19,  and  5.20 of this
       Agreement shall be true and correct in all Material respects. There shall
       not exist  inaccuracies  in the  representations  and warranties of First
       Coastal set forth in this Agreement  (including the  representations  and
       warranties set forth in Sections 5.3, 5.18, 5.19, and 5.20) such that the
       aggregate  effect of such  inaccuracies  has, or is reasonably  likely to
       have, a Material  Adverse  Effect on First  Coastal;  provided  that, for
       purposes of this sentence  only,  those  representations  and  warranties
       which are qualified by references to  "material,"  "Material,"  "Material
       Adverse  Effect," or variations  thereof,  or to the "Knowledge" of First
       Coastal or to a matter being "known" by First Coastal shall be deemed not
       to include such qualifications.

                                      -38-


                  (b)  Performance of Agreements and Covenants.  Each and all of
       the  agreements  and  covenants  of First  Coastal  to be  performed  and
       complied  with  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  and the  other  agreements
       contemplated  hereby  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall have been duly
       performed and complied with in all Material respects.

                  (c)  Certificates.  First  Coastal  shall  have  delivered  to
       Centura (i) a  certificate,  dated as of the Effective Time and signed on
       its  behalf  by its duly  authorized  officers,  to the  effect  that the
       conditions of its  obligations  set forth in Section 9.2(a) and 9.2(b) of
       this  Agreement  have  been  satisfied,  and  (ii)  certified  copies  of
       resolutions  duly  adopted  by First  Coastal's  Board of  Directors  and
       stockholders  evidencing the taking of all corporate  action necessary to
       authorize the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement, and
       the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  all in such
       reasonable detail as Centura and its counsel shall request.

                  (d)  Affiliate  Agreements.  Centura  shall have received from
       each affiliate of First Coastal the affiliates  agreement  referred to in
       Section 8.12 of this Agreement,  to the extent necessary to assure in the
       reasonable judgment of Centura that the transactions  contemplated hereby
       will qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment.

              9.3 Conditions to Obligations of First Coastal. The obligations of
First Coastal to perform this  Agreement and  consummate the Merger and the Bank
Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  are  subject  to the
satisfaction  of the  following  conditions,  unless  waived  by  First  Coastal
pursuant to Section 11.6(b) of this Agreement:

                  (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  For  purposes  of this
       Section  9.3(a),  the accuracy of the  representations  and warranties of
       Centura set forth in this  Agreement  shall be assessed as of the date of
       this  Agreement  and as of the  Effective  Time  with the same  effect as
       though all such representations and warranties had been made on and as of
       the Effective Time (provided that  representations  and warranties  which
       are confined to a specified  date shall speak only as of such date).  The
       representations  and  warranties  of Centura  set forth in Section 6.3 of
       this Agreement shall be true and correct (except for  inaccuracies  which
       are de minimis in amount).  The representations and warranties of Centura
       set forth in Section 6.16 of this Agreement  shall be true and correct in
       all  Material  respects.  There  shall  not  exist  inaccuracies  in  the
       representations  and  warranties  of Centura set forth in this  Agreement
       (including the  representations  and warranties set forth in Sections 6.3
       and 6.16) such that the aggregate effect of such  inaccuracies has, or is
       reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Centura; provided
       that,  for purposes of this  sentence  only,  those  representations  and
       warranties  which are qualified by references to "material,"  "Material,"
       "Material Adverse Effect," or variations  thereof,  or to the "Knowledge"
       of Centura or to a matter being "known" by Centura shall be deemed not to
       include such qualifications.

                  (b)  Performance of Agreements and Covenants.  Each and all of
       the agreements and covenants of Centura to be performed and complied with
       pursuant to this Agreement 

                                      -39-


       and the other agreements contemplated  hereby prior to the Effective Time
       shall  have  been  duly  performed  and  complied  with  in  all Material
       respects.

                  (c)  Certificates.  Centura  shall  have  delivered  to  First
       Coastal (i) a  certificate,  dated as of the Effective Time and signed on
       its  behalf  by its duly  authorized  officers,  to the  effect  that the
       conditions of its  obligations  set forth in Section 9.3(a) and 9.3(b) of
       this  Agreement  have  been  satisfied,  and  (ii)  certified  copies  of
       resolutions duly adopted by Centura's Board of Directors and stockholders
       evidencing the taking of all corporate  action necessary to authorize the
       execution,   delivery,  and  performance  of  this  Agreement,   and  the
       consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  all  in  such
       reasonable detail as First Coastal and its counsel shall request.

                  (d) Fairness  Opinion.  First  Coastal  shall have  received a
       letter from  Trident  Financial  Corp.  dated not more than five (5) days
       prior  to the  date of the  Proxy  Statement  to the  effect  that in the
       opinion of such firm, the Exchange Ratio is fair to the  stockholders  of
       First Coastal from a financial point of view.


                                   ARTICLE 10
                                   TERMINATION
                                   -----------

              10.1  Termination.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this
Agreement,   and   notwithstanding   the  approval  of  this  Agreement  by  the
stockholders  of First Coastal or Centura,  this Agreement may be terminated and
the Merger abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time:

                  (a) By mutual consent of the Board of Directors of Centura and
the Board of Directors of First Coastal; or

                  (b) By the Board of Directors of either Party  (provided  that
       the  terminating  Party is not then in  breach of any  representation  or
       warranty  contained in this Agreement  under the applicable  standard set
       forth in Section  9.2(a) of this  Agreement in the case of First  Coastal
       and  Section  9.3(a)  of this  Agreement  in the  case of  Centura  or in
       Material  breach of any  covenant or other  agreement  contained  in this
       Agreement)  in  the  event  of an  inaccuracy  of any  representation  or
       warranty of the other Party  contained in this Agreement  which cannot be
       or has not been cured  within 30 days after the giving of written  notice
       to the breaching  Party of such  inaccuracy  and which  inaccuracy  would
       provide the  terminating  Party the ability to refuse to  consummate  the
       Merger under the applicable  standard set forth in Section 9.2(a) of this
       Agreement  in the  case of  First  Coastal  and  Section  9.3(a)  of this
       Agreement in the case of Centura; or

                  (c) By the Board of Directors of either Party  (provided  that
       the  terminating  Party is not then in  breach of any  representation  or
       warranty  contained in this Agreement  under the applicable  standard set
       forth in Section  9.2(a) of this  Agreement in the case of First  Coastal
       and  Section  9.3(a) in the case of  Centura)  in the event of a Material
       breach by the other 

                                      -40-


       Party of any covenant or agreement  contained  in  this  Agreement  which
       cannot  be  or  has  not  been  cured  within 30 days after the giving of
       written  notice to the breaching Party of such breach; or

                  (d) By the Board of Directors of either Party in the event (i)
       any Consent of any Regulatory  Authority required for consummation of the
       Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall have been
       denied by final  nonappealable  action of such authority or if any action
       taken by such authority is not appealed within the time limit for appeal,
       or (ii) the  stockholders of First Coastal fail to vote their approval of
       the  matters  submitted  for the  approval  by such  stockholders  at the
       Stockholders'  Meeting  where the  transactions  were  presented  to such
       stockholders for approval and voted upon; or

                  (e) By the Board of  Directors  of  either  Party in the event
       that the Merger shall not have been consummated by April 30, 1999, if the
       failure to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby on or before
       such date is not  caused by any  breach  of this  Agreement  by the Party
       electing to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(e); or

                  (f) By the Board of Directors of either Party  (provided  that
       the  terminating  Party is not then in  breach of any  representation  or
       warranty  contained in this Agreement  under the applicable  standard set
       forth in Section  9.2(a) of this  Agreement in the case of First  Coastal
       and  Section  9.3(a)  of this  Agreement  in the  case of  Centura  or in
       Material  breach of any  covenant or other  agreement  contained  in this
       Agreement)  in the  event  that any of the  conditions  precedent  to the
       obligations of such Party to consummate the Merger cannot be satisfied or
       fulfilled by the date specified in Section 10.1(e) of this Agreement; or

                  (g)  By  the  Board  of  Directors  of  First  Coastal,  if it
       determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire Board, at
       any time during the  three-day  period  ending  immediately  prior to the
       Effective Time, if the Average Closing Price is greater than $86.4063; or

                  (h) By the Board of Directors of Centura,  if it determines by
        a vote of a  majority  of its  entire  Board,  at any  time  during  the
        three-day  period ending  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, that
        the Average Closing Price is less than $51.8438.

              10.2 Effect of  Termination.  In the event of the  termination and
abandonment of this Agreement  pursuant to Section 10.1 of this Agreement,  this
Agreement  and the  Supplemental  Letter  shall  become void and have no effect,
except that (i) the  provisions  of this Section 10.2 and Article 11 and Section
8.6(b) of this Agreement shall survive any such termination and abandonment, and
(ii) a termination  pursuant to Sections  10.1(b),  10.1(c),  or 10.1(f) of this
Agreement  shall not relieve the breaching  Party from  Liability for an uncured
willful breach of a representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement giving rise
to such  termination.  The Stock Option  Agreement  shall be governed by its own
terms.

              10.3 Non-Survival of Representations and Covenants. The respective
representations,  warranties,  obligations,  covenants,  and  agreements  of the
Parties  shall not 

                                      -41-


survive the Effective Time except this Section 10.3 and Articles 2, 3, 4, and 11
and  Sections  8.12 and 8.14 of this  Agreement.  The terms of the  Supplemental
Letter shall survive the Effective Time.


                                   ARTICLE 11
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

              11.1  Definitions.

                  (a)  Except as  otherwise  provided  herein,  the  capitalized
terms set forth  below  shall have the  following meanings:

                  "Acquisition  Proposal" with respect to a Party shall mean any
       tender offer or exchange offer or any proposal for a merger,  acquisition
       of all of the stock or Assets of, or other business combination involving
       such Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the acquisition of a substantial
       equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the Assets of, such Party
       or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  "Affiliate"  of a Person  shall  mean:  (i) any  other  Person
       directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,  controlling,
       controlled by or under common control with such Person; (ii) any officer,
       director,  partner,  employer,  or direct or indirect beneficial owner of
       any 10% or greater equity or voting interest of such Person; or (iii) any
       other Person for which a Person described in clause (ii) acts in any such
       capacity.

                  "Agreement"  shall  mean this  Agreement  and Plan of  Merger,
       including  the  Exhibits  (and  excepting  the  Stock  Option  Agreement)
       delivered pursuant hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

                  "Assets" of a Person shall mean all of the assets, properties,
       businesses,  and rights of such Person of every kind, nature,  character,
       and  description,   whether  real,  personal,   or  mixed,   tangible  or
       intangible,  accrued or contingent,  or otherwise relating to or utilized
       in such Person's business,  directly or indirectly,  in whole or in part,
       whether or not  carried  on the books and  records  of such  Person,  and
       whether or not owned in the name of such Person or any  Affiliate of such
       Person and wherever located.

                  "Average  Closing  Price"  shall mean the average of the daily
       last  sales  prices of Centura  Common  Stock as  reported  on the NYSE -
       Composite  Transactions  List (as reported by The Wall Street Journal or,
       if not  reported  thereby,  another  authoritative  source  as  chosen by
       Centura) for the ten  consecutive  full trading days in which such shares
       are traded on the NYSE - Composite  Transactions List ending at the close
       of trading on the third full trading day preceding the Effective Time.

                  "BHC Act" shall mean the federal Bank  Holding  Company Act of
       1956, as amended.

                                      -42-


                  "Centura Bank" shall  mean the wholly-owned banking subsidiary
       of Centura.

                 "Centura Common Stock" shall mean the no par value common stock
       of Centura.

                  "Centura Companies" shall mean, collectively, Centura and  all
       Centura Subsidiaries.

                  "Centura   Disclosure   Memorandum"  shall  mean  the  written
       information entitled "Centura Disclosure  Memorandum"  delivered prior to
       the execution of this Agreement to First Coastal describing in reasonable
       detail the matters contained therein and, with respect to each disclosure
       made therein, specifically referencing each Section or subsection of this
       Agreement  under  which  such  disclosure  is  being  made.   Information
       disclosed with respect to one Section or subsection shall be deemed to be
       disclosed for all purposes hereunder. The inclusion of any matter in this
       document  shall not be deemed an admission or otherwise to imply that any
       such matter is Material for purposes of this Agreement.

                  "Centura Financial Statements" shall mean (i) the consolidated
       statements of condition  (including related notes and schedules,  if any)
       of Centura as of June 30, 1998, and as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and
       the related  statements of income,  changes in stockholders'  equity, and
       cash flows  (including  related notes and schedules,  if any) for the six
       months  ended  June 30,  1998,  and for  each of the  three  years  ended
       December 31, 1997,  1996, and 1995, as filed by Centura in SEC Documents,
       and (ii) the consolidated  statements of condition of Centura  (including
       related notes and  schedules,  if any) and related  statements of income,
       changes in stockholders'  equity, and cash flows (including related notes
       and  schedules,  if any) included in SEC Documents  filed with respect to
       periods ended subsequent to June 30, 1998.

                 "Centura Preferred Stock" shall mean the no par value preferred
       stock of Centura.

                  "Centura  Subsidiaries" shall mean the Subsidiaries of Centura
       and any corporation,  bank,  savings  association,  or other organization
       acquired as a Subsidiary of Centura in the future and owned by Centura at
       the Effective Time.

                  "Confidentiality   Agreements"   shall  mean   those   certain
       Confidentiality  Agreements,  entered  into  prior  to the  date  of this
       Agreement, between First Coastal and Centura.

                  "Consent"  shall mean any  consent,  approval,  authorization,
       clearance,  exemption,  waiver,  or  similar  affirmation  by any  Person
       pursuant to any Contract, Law, Order, or Permit.

                  "Contract"   shall  mean  any   written  or  oral   agreement,
       arrangement, authorization,  commitment, contract, indenture, instrument,
       lease,  obligation,  plan,  practice,   restriction,   understanding,  or
       undertaking  of any kind or  character,  or other  document  to which any
       Person is a party or that is binding on any Person or its capital  stock,
       Assets, or business.

                                      -43-


                  "Default" shall mean (i) any breach or violation of or default
       under any Contract,  Order,  or Permit,  (ii) any occurrence of any event
       that with the  passage  of time or the  giving  of  notice or both  would
       constitute a breach or violation of or default under any Contract, Order,
       or Permit,  or (iii) any occurrence of any event that with or without the
       passage  of time or the  giving of notice  would  give rise to a right to
       terminate or revoke,  change the current terms of, or renegotiate,  or to
       accelerate, increase, or impose any Liability under, any Contract, Order,
       or Permit, where, in any such event, such Default is reasonably likely to
       have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect on a
       Party.

                  "Environmental Laws" shall mean all Laws relating to pollution
       or protection of human health or the environment  (including ambient air,
       surface  water,  ground water,  land surface,  or subsurface  strata) and
       which are  administered,  interpreted,  or enforced by the United  States
       Environmental  Protection  Agency  and  state  and  local  agencies  with
       jurisdiction  over, and including  common law in respect of, pollution or
       protection of the environment,  including the Comprehensive Environmental
       Response  Compensation and Liability Act, as amended,  42 U.S.C.  9601 et
       seq. ("CERCLA"),  the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended,
       42 U.S.C.  6901 et seq.  ("RCRA"),  and other Laws relating to emissions,
       discharges,  releases,  or threatened releases of any Hazardous Material,
       or otherwise relating to the manufacture,  processing, distribution, use,
       treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or handling of any Hazardous
       Material.

                  "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
       of 1974, as amended.

                  "Exhibits" 1 through 3, inclusive,  shall mean the Exhibits so
       marked, copies of which are attached to this Agreement. Such Exhibits are
       hereby  incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof,  and may
       be referred to in this  Agreement  and any other  related  instrument  or
       document without being attached hereto.

                  "First  Coastal  Bank"  shall  mean the  wholly-owned  banking
       subsidiary of First Coastal.

                  "First Coastal Capital Stock" shall mean, collectively,  First
       Coastal Common Stock and First Coastal Preferred Stock.

                  "First  Coastal  Common  Stock"  shall mean the $.01 par value
       common stock of First Coastal.

                  "First  Coastal  Companies"  shall mean,  collectively,  First
       Coastal and all First Coastal Subsidiaries.

                  "First Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum" shall mean the written
       information  entitled  "First Coastal  Disclosure  Memorandum"  delivered
       prior  to the  execution  of this  Agreement  to  Centura  describing  in
       reasonable detail the matters contained therein and,

                                      -44-


       with respect to each disclosure made therein,   specifically  referencing
       each Section or subsection of this Agreement under which such  disclosure
       is being made. Information  disclosed with  respect  to  one  Section  or
       subsection shall be deemed to be disclosed for  all  purposes  hereunder.
       The inclusion of  any  matter  in  this  document  shall not be deemed an
       admission  or  otherwise  to  imply  that any such matter is Material for
       purposes of this Agreement.

                  "First  Coastal  Financial  Statements"  shall  mean  (i)  the
       consolidated   statements  of  condition  (including  related  notes  and
       schedules,  if any) of  First  Coastal  as of June  30,  1998,  and as of
       December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related statements of income, changes
       in  stockholders'  equity,  and cash flows  (including  related notes and
       schedules,  if any) for the six months ended June 30, 1998,  and for each
       of the three years ended  December 31, 1997,  1996, and 1995, as filed by
       First Coastal in SEC Documents,  and (ii) the consolidated  statements of
       condition of First Coastal  (including  related notes and  schedules,  if
       any) and related statements of income,  changes in stockholders'  equity,
       and cash flows (including  related notes and schedules,  if any) included
       in SEC Documents  filed with respect to periods ended  subsequent to June
       30, 1998.

                  "First Coastal  Preferred Stock" shall mean the $.01 par value
       preferred stock of First Coastal.

                  "First  Coastal  Stock Plans"  shall mean the  existing  stock
       option and other stock-based compensation plans of First Coastal.

                  "First Coastal  Subsidiaries"  shall mean the  Subsidiaries of
       First  Coastal,  which  shall  include  the  First  Coastal  Subsidiaries
       described in Section 5.4 of this  Agreement  and any  corporation,  bank,
       savings  association,  or other organization  acquired as a Subsidiary of
       First  Coastal in the future and owned by First  Coastal at the Effective
       Time.
                  "GAAP" shall mean generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
       consistently applied during the periods involved.

                  "Hazardous  Material" shall mean (i) any hazardous  substance,
       hazardous  material,  hazardous  waste,  regulated  substance,  or  toxic
       substance  (as those  terms are defined by any  applicable  Environmental
       Laws)  and  (ii)  any  chemicals,  pollutants,  contaminants,  petroleum,
       petroleum  products,  or oil (and  specifically  shall  include  asbestos
       requiring   abatement,   removal,   or  encapsulation   pursuant  to  the
       requirements   of  governmental   authorities  and  any   polychlorinated
       biphenyls).

                "HOLA" shall mean the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "HSR Act" shall mean  Section 7A of the Clayton  Act, as added
       by Title II of the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
       as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                      -45-


                  "Internal  Revenue Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code
       of  1986,  as  amended,   and  the  rules  and  regulations   promulgated
       thereunder.

                  "Knowledge"  as  used  with  respect  to a  Person  (including
       references to such Person being aware of a particular  matter) shall mean
       the  personal  knowledge  of the  chairman,  president,  chief  financial
       officer, chief accounting officer, chief credit officer, general counsel,
       or any executive vice president of such Person.

                  "Law"  shall  mean  any  code,  law,  ordinance,   regulation,
       reporting or licensing  requirement,  rule,  or statute  applicable  to a
       Person  or  its  Assets,  Liabilities,   or  business,   including  those
       promulgated, interpreted, or enforced by any Regulatory Authority.

                  "Liability"  shall  mean any  direct or  indirect,  primary or
       secondary, liability, indebtedness, obligation, penalty, cost, or expense
       (including  costs of  investigation,  collection,  and  defense),  claim,
       deficiency,  guaranty,  or  endorsement  of or by any Person  (other than
       endorsements of notes, bills, checks, and drafts presented for collection
       or deposit  in the  ordinary  course of  business)  of any type,  whether
       accrued, absolute or contingent,  liquidated or unliquidated,  matured or
       unmatured, or otherwise.

                  "Lien" shall mean any conditional  sale agreement,  default of
       title, easement, encroachment, encumbrance, hypothecation,  infringement,
       lien,  mortgage,  pledge,  reservation,  restriction,  security interest,
       title retention,  or other security arrangement,  or any adverse right or
       interest,  charge,  or claim of any  nature  whatsoever  of,  on, or with
       respect to any  property or property  interest,  other than (i) Liens for
       property  Taxes  not  yet  due  and  payable,  and  (ii)  for  depository
       institution  Subsidiaries  of a Party,  pledges to secure  deposits,  and
       other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of the banking business.

                  "Litigation"  shall  mean any  action,  arbitration,  cause of
       action,   claim,   complaint,   criminal   prosecution,   demand  letter,
       governmental or other  examination or  investigation,  hearing,  inquiry,
       administrative  or other  proceeding,  or notice (written or oral) by any
       Person alleging potential Liability or requesting information relating to
       or  affecting a Party,  its  business,  its Assets  (including  Contracts
       related to it), or the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  but
       shall  not  include   regular,   periodic   examinations   of  depository
       institutions and their Affiliates by Regulatory Authorities.

                  "Loan  Property"  shall mean any property  owned,  leased,  or
       operated  by the Party in question  or by any of its  Subsidiaries  or in
       which  such  Party or  Subsidiary  holds a  security  or  other  interest
       (including an interest in a fiduciary  capacity),  and, where required by
       the context,  includes the owner or operator of such  property,  but only
       with respect to such property.

                  "Material" for purposes of this Agreement  shall be determined
       in light of the  facts  and  circumstances  of the  matter  in  question;
       provided that any specific monetary amount stated in this Agreement shall
       determine materiality in that instance.

                                      -46-


                  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  on a Party  shall  mean an event,
       change,  or  occurrence  which,  individually  or together with any other
       event,  change,  or occurrence,  has a Material adverse impact on (i) the
       financial condition, results of operations, or business of such Party and
       its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of such Party to
       perform its obligations  under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger
       or the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  provided that
       "Material  Adverse  Effect"  shall not be deemed to include the impact of
       (a)  changes in banking  and  similar  Laws of general  applicability  or
       interpretations  thereof  by  courts  or  governmental  authorities,  (b)
       changes in GAAP or regulatory  accounting principles generally applicable
       to banks and their  holding  companies,  (c) actions and  omissions  of a
       Party (or any of its Subsidiaries)  taken with the prior informed consent
       of the other  Party in  contemplation  of the  transactions  contemplated
       hereby,  including  actions related to the increase of reserves,  and (d)
       the Merger and  compliance  with the  provisions of this Agreement on the
       operating performance of the Parties.

                 "NASD"  shall  mean  the  National  Association  of  Securities
       Dealers, Inc.

                 "NCBCA" shall mean the North Carolina Business Corporation Act.

                 "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

                 "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                 "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of  1934,  as
       amended.

                 "Order"  shall  mean  any  administrative  decision  or  award,
       decree,  injunction,  judgment, order,  quasi-judicial decision or award,
       ruling, or writ of any federal,  state, local, or foreign or other court,
       arbitrator,  mediator,  tribunal,  administrative  agency,  or Regulatory
       Authority.

                  "Participation  Facility"  shall mean any facility or property
       in which the Party in question or any of its Subsidiaries participates in
       the  management  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  participating  in a
       fiduciary  capacity) and, where required by the context,  said term means
       the owner or operator of such facility or property, but only with respect
       to such facility or property.

                  "Party"  shall  mean  either  First  Coastal or  Centura,  and
       "Parties" shall mean both First Coastal and Centura.

                  "Permit"  shall mean any federal,  state,  local,  and foreign
       governmental  approval,  authorization,  certificate,  easement,  filing,
       franchise,  license,  notice,  permit,  or right to which any Person is a
       party or that is or may be  binding  upon or inure to the  benefit of any
       Person or its securities, Assets, or business.

                                      -47-


                  "Person" shall mean a natural person or any legal, commercial,
       or  governmental  entity,  such as, but not  limited  to, a  corporation,
       general  partnership,   joint  venture,   limited  partnership,   limited
       liability company, trust, business association,  group acting in concert,
       or any person acting in a representative capacity.

                  "Proxy Statement" shall mean the proxy statement used by First
       Coastal to solicit the approval of its  stockholders of the  transactions
       contemplated  by this  Agreement,  which shall include the  prospectus of
       Centura  relating to the issuance of the Centura  Common Stock to holders
       of First Coastal Common Stock.

                  "Registration Statement" shall mean the Registration Statement
       on Form S-4, or other  appropriate  form,  including any pre-effective or
       post-effective  amendments or supplements thereto,  filed with the SEC by
       Centura  under the 1933 Act with respect to the shares of Centura  Common
       Stock to be issued to the  stockholders  of First  Coastal in  connection
       with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  "Regulatory Authorities" shall mean, collectively, the Federal
       Trade Commission,  the United States Department of Justice,  the Board of
       the  Governors  of  the  Federal  Reserve  System,   the  Office  of  the
       Comptroller of the Currency,  the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation,
       the Office of Thrift  Supervision,  all state regulatory  agencies having
       jurisdiction  over the Parties  and their  respective  Subsidiaries,  the
       NASD, the NYSE, and the SEC.

                  "Representative"  shall mean any investment banker,  financial
       advisor, attorney,  accountant,  consultant, or other representative of a
       Person.

                  "Rights"  shall  mean all  arrangements,  calls,  commitments,
       Contracts,  options,  rights  to  subscribe  to,  scrip,  understandings,
       warrants,  or  other  binding  obligations  of any  character  whatsoever
       relating to, or securities  or rights  convertible  into or  exchangeable
       for,  shares of the capital  stock of a Person or by which a Person is or
       may be bound to issue  additional  shares of its  capital  stock or other
       Rights.

                  "SEC" shall  mean  the  United  States Securities and Exchange
       Commission.

                  "SEC  Documents"  shall  mean  all  forms,  proxy  statements,
       registration statements,  reports,  schedules, and other documents filed,
       or required to be filed, by a Party or any of its  Subsidiaries  with any
       Regulatory Authority pursuant to the Securities Laws.

                  "Securities  Laws" shall mean the 1933 Act,  the 1934 Act, the
       Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,  the Investment  Advisors Act
       of 1940, as amended, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the
       rules and regulations of any Regulatory Authority promulgated thereunder.

                                      -48-


                  "Stockholders' Meetings" shall mean the respective meetings of
       the  stockholders  of Centura  and First  Coastal to be held  pursuant to
       Section 8.1 of this Agreement,  including any adjournment or adjournments
       thereof.

                  "Subsidiaries"  shall  mean  all  those  corporations,  banks,
       associations,  or other  entities of which the entity in question owns or
       controls 50% or more of the outstanding equity securities either directly
       or through an unbroken  chain of entities as to each of which 50% or more
       of the outstanding  equity  securities is owned directly or indirectly by
       its  parent;  provided,  there  shall  not be  included  any such  entity
       acquired through  foreclosure or any such entity the equity securities of
       which are owned or controlled in a fiduciary capacity.

                  "Supplemental  Letter" shall mean the  supplemental  letter of
       even date herewith between the Parties relating to certain understandings
       and agreements in addition to those included in this Agreement.

                  "Surviving Bank" shall mean Centura Bank as the surviving bank
       resulting from the Merger.

                  "Surviving  Corporation"  shall mean Centura as the  surviving
       corporation resulting from the Merger.

                  "Tax" or "Taxes"  shall mean all federal,  state,  local,  and
       foreign  taxes,  charges,  fees,  levies,   imposts,   duties,  or  other
       assessments, including income, gross receipts, excise, employment, sales,
       use, transfer, license, payroll, franchise, severance, stamp, occupation,
       windfall profits,  environmental,  federal highway use,  commercial rent,
       customs duties,  capital stock,  paid-up capital,  profits,  withholding,
       Social  Security,  single  business and  unemployment,  disability,  real
       property,  personal  property,  registration,  ad valorem,  value  added,
       alternative or add-on  minimum,  estimated,  or other tax or governmental
       fee of any kind  whatsoever,  imposed or  required  to be withheld by the
       United States or any state,  local, or foreign  government or subdivision
       or agency  thereof,  including  any  interest,  penalties,  or  additions
       thereto.

                  "Taxable  Period"  shall  mean any  period  prescribed  by any
       governmental authority,  including the United States or any state, local,
       or foreign  government or  subdivision  or agency thereof for which a Tax
       Return is required to be filed or Tax is required to be paid.

                  "Tax  Return"  shall  mean  any  report,  return,  information
       return,  or  other  information  required  to  be  supplied  to a  taxing
       authority in connection with Taxes, including any return of an affiliated
       or combined or unitary group that includes a Party or its Subsidiaries.

                  "Virginia  Articles  of  Merger"  shall mean the  Articles  of
       Merger to be executed by Centura and filed with the Secretary of State of
       the  Commonwealth  of Virginia  relating to the Merger as contemplated by
       Section 1.1 of this Agreement.

                                      -49-


                  "VSCA" shall mean the Virginia Stock Corporation Act.

                    (b) The  terms  set  forth  below  shall  have the  meanings
ascribed thereto in the referenced sections:

                    Centura SEC Reports               Section 6.5(a)
                    Closing                           Section 1.2
                    Effective Time                    Section 1.3
                    Exchange Agent                    Section 4.1
                    Exchange Ratio                    Section 3.1(b)
                    First Coastal Benefit Plans       Section 5.13(a)
                    First Coastal Contracts           Section 5.14
                    First Coastal ERISA Affiliate     Section 5.13(e)
                    First Coastal ERISA Plan          Section 5.13(a)
                    First Coastal Rights              Section 3.6(a)
                    First Coastal Pension Plan        Section 5.13(a)
                    First Coastal SEC Reports         Section 5.5(a)
                    Indemnified Party                 Section 8.15
                    Merger                            Section 1.1
                    Takeover Laws                     Section 5.19
                    Tax Opinion                       Section 9.1(g)

                    (c) Any singular term in this  Agreement  shall be deemed to
include  the  plural,  and any  plural  term the  singular.  Whenever  the words
"include," "includes," or "including" are used in this Agreement,  they shall be
deemed followed by the words "without limitation."

              11.2  Expenses.

                    (a) Except as otherwise  provided in this Section 11.2, each
of the Parties  shall bear and pay all direct costs and expenses  incurred by it
or on its behalf in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder,
including filing,  registration,  and application fees,  printing fees, and fees
and expenses of its own  financial  or other  consultants,  investment  bankers,
accountants,  and counsel,  except that Centura  shall bear and the printing and
mailing  costs  incurred in  connection  with the  printing of the  Registration
Statement and the mailing of the Proxy Statement.

                    (b) Nothing  contained in this Section 11.2 shall constitute
or shall be deemed to constitute  liquidated damages for the willful breach by a
Party of the  terms of this  Agreement  or  otherwise  limit  the  rights of the
nonbreaching Party.

              11.3 Brokers and Finders. Except for Trident Financial Corporation
as to First Coastal, each of the Parties represents and warrants that neither it
nor any of its officers,  directors,  employees,  or Affiliates has employed any
broker or finder or incurred any  Liability  for any  financial  advisory  fees,
investment  bankers'  fees,  brokerage  fees,  commissions,  or finders' fees in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions  contemplated  hereby. In the
event  of

                                      -50-


a claim by any broker or finder  based upon his,  her,  or its  representing  or
being retained by or allegedly  representing  or being retained by First Coastal
or Centura,  each of First  Coastal and Centura,  as the case may be,  agrees to
indemnify and hold the other Party harmless of and from any Liability in respect
of any such claim.

              11.4 Entire  Agreement.  Except as  otherwise  expressly  provided
herein,  this  Agreement  (including the documents and  instruments  referred to
herein) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the
transactions  contemplated  hereunder and supersedes all prior  arrangements  or
understandings  with respect thereto,  written or oral (including the respective
Confidentiality  Agreements,  but excluding the Supplemental Letter). Nothing in
this  Agreement  expressed  or  implied,  is intended to confer upon any Person,
other than the Parties or their  respective  successors,  any rights,  remedies,
obligations,  or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, other than as
provided in Sections 8.12 and 8.14 of this Agreement.

              11.5  Amendments.  To the extent  permitted by Law, this Agreement
may be amended by a  subsequent  writing  signed by each of the Parties upon the
approval of the Boards of Directors of each of the  Parties,  whether  before or
after stockholder approval of this Agreement has been obtained;  provided,  that
the provisions of this Agreement relating to the manner or basis in which shares
of First Coastal  Common Stock will be exchanged for Centura  Common Stock shall
not be amended after the Stockholders' Meeting without the requisite approval of
the holders of the issued and  outstanding  shares of Centura  Common  Stock and
First Coastal Common Stock, as the case may be, entitled to vote thereon.

              11.6  Waivers.

                    (a)  Prior  to or at the  Effective  Time,  Centura,  acting
through  its  Board of  Directors,  chief  executive  officer,  chief  financial
officer, or other authorized officer,  shall have the right to waive any Default
in the  performance of any term of this Agreement by First Coastal,  to waive or
extend the time for the  compliance or  fulfillment  by First Coastal of any and
all of its  obligations  under  this  Agreement,  and to waive any or all of the
conditions precedent to the obligations of Centura under this Agreement,  except
any condition which, if not satisfied, would result in the violation of any Law.
No such waiver shall be effective  unless in writing signed by a duly authorized
officer of Centura.

                    (b) Prior to or at the Effective Time, First Coastal, acting
through  its  Board of  Directors,  chief  executive  officer,  chief  financial
officer, or other authorized officer,  shall have the right to waive any Default
in the performance of any term of this Agreement by Centura,  to waive or extend
the time for the  compliance  or  fulfillment  by  Centura of any and all of its
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  and to waive any or all of the  conditions
precedent to the obligations of First Coastal under this  Agreement,  except any
condition which, if not satisfied,  would result in the violation of any Law. No
such waiver shall be  effective  unless in writing  signed by a duly  authorized
officer of First Coastal.

                                      -51-


                    (c) The failure of any Party at any time or times to require
performance of any provision  hereof shall in no manner affect the right of such
Party  at a later  time to  enforce  the  same or any  other  provision  of this
Agreement.  No waiver of any condition or of the breach of any term contained in
this Agreement in one or more instances  shall be deemed to be or construed as a
further  or  continuing  waiver of such  condition  or breach or a waiver of any
other condition or of the breach of any other term of this Agreement.

              11.7 Assignment.  Except as expressly contemplated hereby, neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights,  interests, or obligations hereunder shall
be  assigned by any Party  hereto  (whether by  operation  of Law or  otherwise)
without the prior written  consent of the other Party.  Subject to the preceding
sentence,  this Agreement will be binding upon,  inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

              11.8  Notices.  All  notices  or other  communications  which  are
required or permitted  hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered
by hand, by facsimile  transmission,  by registered or certified  mail,  postage
pre-paid,  or by courier or overnight  carrier,  to the persons at the addresses
set forth  below (or at such other  address as may be provided  hereunder),  and
shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so delivered:

    First Coastal:          FIRST COASTAL BANKSHARES, INC.
                            2101 Parks Avenue
                            Virginia Beach, Virginia  23451
                            Telecopy Number:  (757) 428-2452
                            Attention:     John A. B. Davies, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

    Copy to Counsel:        MALIZIA, SPIDI, SLOANE & FISCH, P.C.
                            One Franklin Square
                            1301 K Street, N.W.
                            Suite 700E
                            Washington, D.C.  20005
                            Telecopy Number:  (202) 434-4661
                            Attention:     John J. Spidi

    Centura:                CENTURA BANKS, INC.
                            134 North Church Street
                            Rocky Mount, North Carolina  27804
                            Telecopy Number:  (252) 977-4800
                            Attention:     Cecil W. Sewell, Jr.
                                           Chairman of the Board and
                                           Chief Executive Officer

                                      -52-


    Copy to Counsel:        CENTURA BANKS, INC.
                            134 North Church Street
                            Rocky Mount, North Carolina  27804
                            Telecopy Number:  (252) 977-8283
                            Attention:     Joseph A. Smith, Jr.

              11.9  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed  by and
construed in accordance  with the Laws of the State of North  Carolina,  without
regard to any applicable  conflicts of Laws,  except to the extent that the Laws
of the  Commonwealth  of Virginia and federal Law relate to the  consummation of
the Merger.

             11.10 Counterparts.  This Agreement  may be executed in two or more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

             11.11 Captions.  The captions  contained  in this Agreement are for
reference  purposes  only  and are not part of this Agreement.

             11.12 Interpretations. Neither this Agreement nor  any  uncertainty
or ambiguity  herein shall be construed or resolved  against any Party,  whether
under any rule of construction or otherwise. No Party to this Agreement shall be
considered the draftsman.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement
has been reviewed,  negotiated,  and accepted by all Parties and their attorneys
and shall be construed and interpreted  according to the ordinary meaning of the
words  used so as  fairly to  accomplish  the  purposes  and  intentions  of the
Parties.

             11.13 Enforcement  of Agreement.  The  Parties  hereto  agree  that
irreparable  damage would occur in the event that any of the  provisions of this
Agreement  was not  performed  in  accordance  with  its  specific  terms or was
otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or  injunctions  to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to
enforce  specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
States or any state  having  jurisdiction,  this being in  addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

             11.14 Severability. Any term or provision of this  Agreement  which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction  shall, as to that jurisdiction,
be  ineffective  to the extent of such  invalidity or  unenforceability  without
rendering  invalid or  unenforceable  the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or affecting  the  validity or  enforceability  of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this
Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted
to be only so broad as is enforceable.

                                      -53-



              IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the Parties has caused this Agreement
to be executed on its behalf and its corporate  seal to be hereunto  affixed and
attested by officers thereunto as of the day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                        FIRST COASTAL BANKSHARES, INC.


By:  /s/Allene S. Cheatham     By:  /s/John A. B. Davies, Jr.          
     -----------------------        --------------------------------------------
     Allene S. Cheatham             John A. B. Davies, Jr.
     Secretary                      President and Chief Executive Officer

[CORPORATE SEAL]


ATTEST:                        CENTURA BANKS, INC.


By:  /s/Joseph A. Smith, Jr.    By: /s/Cecil W. Sewell, Jr.
     -----------------------        --------------------------------------------
     Joseph A. Smith, Jr.           Cecil W. Sewell, Jr.
     Corporate Secretary            Chairman of the Board and
                                    Chief Executive Officer

[CORPORATE SEAL]

                                      -54-