MONTEREY BAY BANCORP, INC.
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         This AGREEMENT  ("Agreement") is made effective as of March 1, 1995, by
and between Monterey Bay Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Holding  Company"),  a corporation
organized under the laws of Delaware,  with its principal  administrative office
at 36  Brennan  Street,  Watsonville,  California,  and  Marshall  G.  Delk (the
"Executive").  Any  reference to  "Institution"  herein  shall mean  Watsonville
Federal Savings and Loan Association or any successor thereto.

         WHEREAS, the Holding Company wishes to assure itself of the services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Holding
Company on a full-time basis for said period.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the  mutual  covenants  herein
contained,  and upon the other terms and conditions  hereinafter  provided,  the
parties hereby agree as follows:

1.       POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

         During  the period of his  employment  hereunder,  Executive  agrees to
serve as  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer of the Holding  Company.  The
Executive  shall render  administrative  and management  services to the Holding
Company  such as are  customarily  performed  by persons in a similar  executive
capacity.  During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an
officer and director of any subsidiary of the Holding Company.

2.       TERMS.

         (a) The period of Executive's  employment under this Agreement shall be
deemed to have  commenced as of the date first above written and shall  continue
for a period of twenty-four (24) full calendar months thereafter.  Commencing on
March 1, 1995, the term of this agreement shall be extended for one day each day
until such time as the board of directors of the Holding  Company (the  "Board")
or Executive  elects not to extend the term of this  Agreement by giving written
notice to the other party in  accordance  with Section 8 of this  Agreement,  in
which case the term of this Agreement shall be fixed and shall end on the second
anniversary date of such written notice.

         (b) During the period of Executive's  employment hereunder,  except for
~eriods of absence  occasioned  by illness,  reasonable  vacation  periods,  and
reasonable  leaves of absence,  Executive  shall  devote  substantially  all his
business time, attention,  skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
duties hereunder including  activities and services related to the organization,
operation  and  management of the Holding  Company and its,  direct or indirect,
subsidiaries   ("Subsidiaries")   and   participation  in  community  and  civic
organizations;  provided,  however,  that,  with the  approval of the Board,  as
evidenced by a resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve,
or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold

#27938/February 10, 1995




any other offices or positions in,  companies or  organizations,  which, in such
Board's  judgment,  will not present any  conflict of interest  with the Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries, or materially affect the performance of Executive's
duties pursuant to this Agreement.

         (c)   Notwithstanding   anything  herein  contained  to  the  contrary,
Executive's employment with the Holding Company may be terminated by the Holding
Company or Executive during the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

3.       COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

         (a) The  Executive  shall  be  entitled  to a salary  from the  Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries of not less than $94,800 year ("Base Salary").  Base
Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under any
qualified  or  unqualified  plan  maintained  by the  Holding  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries. Such Base Salary shall be payable semi-monthly.  During the period
of this Agreement,  Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually;
the first such  review will be made no later than one year from the date of this
Agreement.  Such review shall be conducted by the Board or by a Committee of the
Board delegated such responsibility by the Board. The Committee or the Board may
increase  Executive's  Base Salary.  The increased  Base Salary shall become the
"Base  Salary" for  purposes of this  Agreement.  In addition to the Base Salary
provided in this Section 3(a), the Holding Company shall also provide Executive,
at no premium cost to Executive,  all such other benefits as provided  uniformly
to permanent full-time employees of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries.

         (b) The  Executive  shall be entitled to  participate  in any  employee
benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in
which Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately
prior to the beginning of the term of this  Agreement,  and the Holding  Company
and its Subsidiaries will not, without  Executive's prior written consent,  make
any changes in such plans,  arrangements or perquisites  which would  materially
adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits thereunder. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing  provisions of this Subsection (b),  Executive shall
be entitled to  participate in or receive  benefits  under any employee  benefit
plans including,  but not limited to, retirement plans,  supplemental retirement
plans, pension plans,  profit-sharing plans,  health-and-accident plans, medical
coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the
Holding Company and its Subsidiaries in the future to its senior  executives and
key management  employees,  subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms,
conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.  Executive
shall be entitled to incentive  compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan
of the Holding  Company and its  Subsidiaries  in which Executive is eligible to
participate.  Nothing paid to the Executive  under any such plan or  arrangement
will be deemed to be in lieu of other  compensation  to which the  Executive  is
entitled under this Agreement.

         (c) In addition to the Base Salary  provided  for by  paragraph  (a) of
this Section 3 and other  compensation  provided  for by  paragraph  (b) of this
Section 3, the Holding Company shall

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        2





pay or  reimburse  Executive  for all  reasonable  travel  and other  reasonable
expenses  incurred by Executive  performing his obligations under this Agreement
and may provide such  additional  compensation  in such form and such amounts as
the Board may from time to time determine.

4.       PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.

         (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination  (as herein defined)
during the Executive's term of employment  under this Agreement,  the provisions
of  this  Section  shall  apply.  As  used  in  this  Agreement,  an  "Event  of
Termination"  shall mean and include any one or more of the  following:  (i) the
termination by the Holding Company of Executive's full-time employment hereunder
for any reason other than a termination  governed by Section 5(a) hereof, or for
Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof,  (ii)  Executive's  resignation  from the
Holding Company's employ, upon any (A) failure to elect or reelect or to appoint
or  reappoint  Executive  as  President  and  Chief  Operating  Officer,  unless
consented to by the Executive,  (B) a material  change in Executive's  function,
duties, or responsibilities with the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries, which
change would cause Executive's position to become one of lesser  responsibility,
importance,  or scope from the  position  and  attributes  thereof  described in
Section 1, above,  unless  consented to by the  Executive,  (C) a relocation  of
Executive's  principal  place  of  employment  by more  than 50  miles  from its
location at the effective  date of this  Agreement,  unless  consented to by the
Executive,  (D) a material  reduction  in the benefits  and  perquisites  to the
Executive from those being provided as of the effective date of this  Agreement,
unless  consented to by the  Executive,  (E) a liquidation or dissolution of the
Holding  Company  or the  Institution,  or (F) breach of this  Agreement  by the
Holding Company. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A), (B),
(C), (D) (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate
his employment under this Agreement by resignation upon not less than sixty (60)
days prior written notice given within six full calendar  months after the event
giving rise to said right to elect.

         (b) Upon the  occurrence  of an  Event of  Termination,  on the Date of
Termination,  as defined in Section 8, the Holding Company shall be obligated to
pay Executive,  or, in the event of his  subsequent  death,  his  beneficiary or
beneficiaries,  or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to the sum of (i)
the amount of the remaining  payments that the Executive would have earned if he
had continued his employment with the  Institution  during the remaining term of
this Agreement at the Executive's  Base Salary at the Date of  Termination;  and
(ii) the amount equal to the annual  contributions  that would have been made on
Executive's  behalf to any  employee  benefit  plans of the  Institution  or the
Holding   Company  during  the  remaining  term  of  this  Agreement   based  on
contributions  made (on an annualized basis) at the Date of Termination.  At the
election  of the  Executive,  which  election is to be made prior to an Event of
Termination,  such  payments  shall be made in a lump sum as of the  Executive's
Date of  Termination.  In the event  that no  election  is made,  payment to the
Executive will be made on a monthly basis in  approximately  equal  installments
during the remaining term of the  Agreement.  Such payments shall not be reduced
in the event the Executive  obtains other  employment  following  termination of
employment.

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        3




         (c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Holding Company
will  cause to be  continued  life,  medical,  dental  and  disability  coverage
substantially  equivalent to the coverage  maintained by the Holding  Company or
its  Subsidiaries  for Executive  prior to his termination at no premium cost to
the  Executive.  Such coverage  shall cease upon the expiration of the remaining
term of this Agreement.

5.       CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         (a) For  purposes  of this Plan,  a "Change in  Control" of the Holding
Company or the  Institution  shall mean an event of a nature that;  (i) would be
required to be  reported in response to Item 1(a) of the Current  Report on Form
8-K,  as in effect on the date  hereof,  pursuant  to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange  Act");  or (ii)  results in a
Change in Control of the Holding  Company within the meaning of the Home Owners'
Loan Act of 1933, as amended,  the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act, and the Rules
and  Regulations  promulgated  by the  Office  of  Thrift  Supervision  (or  its
predecessor agency), as in effect on the date hereof (provided, that in applying
the definition of change in control as set forth under the rules and regulations
of the OTS, the Board shall  substitute  its  judgment for that of the OTS);  or
(iii)  without  limitation  such a Change  in  Control  shall be  deemed to have
occurred at such time as (A) any "person" (as the term is used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial  owner" (as defined
in Rule  13d-3  under the  Exchange  Act),  directly  or  indirectly,  of voting
securities of the Institution or the Holding Company representing 20% or more of
the Institution's or the Holding Company's  outstanding voting securities or the
right to  acquire  such  securities  except  for any  voting  securities  of the
Institution purchased by the Holding Company and any securities purchased by any
employee  benefit  plan of the Holding  Company's or its  Subsidiaries';  or (B)
individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent  Board")
cease for any reason to  constitute at least a majority  thereof,  provided that
any person becoming a director  subsequent to the date hereof whose election was
approved by a vote of at least  three-quarters  of the directors  comprising the
Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company's  stockholders
was  approved by a Nominating  Committee  solely  composed of members  which are
Incumbent Board members,  shall be, for purposes of this clause (B),  considered
as  though  he  were  a  member  of  the  Incumbent  Board;  or  (C) a  plan  of
reorganization,  merger,  consolidation,  sale of all or  substantially  all the
assets of the Institution or the Holding Company or similar  transaction  occurs
or is  effectuated  in which  the  Institution  or  Holding  Company  is not the
resulting  entity;  provided,  however,  that such an event listed above will be
deemed to have  occurred  upon the receipt of all  required  federal  regulatory
approvals,  not including the lapse of any statutory  waiting periods;  or (D) a
proxy statement shall be distributed soliciting proxies from stockholders of the
Holding  Company,  by someone  other than the current  management of the Holding
Company,  seeking  stockholder  approval O{ a plan of reorganization,  merger or
consolidation   of  the  Holding  Company  or  Institution   with  one  or  more
corporations  as a result  of  which  the  outstanding  shares  of the  class of
securities  then  subject  to such  plan or  transaction  are  exchanged  for or
converted into cash or property or securities  not issued by the  Institution or
the Holding Company shall be distributed;  or (E) a tender offer is made for 20%
or more of the voting  securities of the Institution or the Holding Company then
outstanding.

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        4




         (b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the
Board has determined  that a Change in Control has occurred,  Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits  provided in paragraphs  (c) and (d), of this Section 5
upon his  subsequent  termination  of  employment at any time during the term of
this Agreement due to (i) Executive's  dismissal or (ii)  Executive's  voluntary
resignation  following  any  demotion,  loss of  title,  office  or  significant
authority or responsibility, reduction in the annual compensation or benefits or
relocation of his  principal  place of employment by more than 30 miles from its
location immediately prior to the change in control), unless such termination is
because of his death or termination for Cause.

         (c) Upon the  Executive's  entitlement to benefits  pursuant to Section
5(b), the Holding Company shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent
death, his beneficiary or  beneficiaries,  or his estate,  as the case may be, a
sum equal to the greater of: (i) the payments due for the remaining  term of the
Agreement;  or (ii) three (3) times Executive's  average annual compensation the
three (3) preceding  taxable years. Such annual  compensation  shall include any
commissions,  bonuses,  contributions  on behalf of Executive to any pension and
profit sharing plan, severance payments,  directors or committee fees and fringe
benefits paid or to be paid to the Executive  during such years. At the election
of the Executive, which election is to be made prior to a Change in Control such
payment shall be made in a lump sum as of the  Executive's  Date of Termination.
In the event that no election is made,  payment to the Executive will be made on
a monthly basis in approximately equal installments during the remaining term of
the Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.

         (d) Upon the  Executive's  entitlement to benefits  pursuant to Section
5(b),  the  Company  will  cause  to be  continued  life,  medical,  dental  and
disability coverage  substantially  equivalent to the coverage maintained by the
Institution  for  Executive  at no  premium  cost  to  Executive  prior  to  his
severance.  Such  coverage  and  payments  shall  cease upon the  expiration  of
thirty-six (36) months following the Change in Control.

6.       CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS.

         (a) Notwithstanding the paragraphs of Section 5, in the event that:

                  (i)      the  aggregate  payments  or  benefits  to be made or
                           afforded  to  Executive,   which  are  deemed  to  be
                           parachute  payments as defined in Section 280G of the
                           Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as  amended  (the
                           "Code") or any successor  thereof,  (the "Termination
                           Benefits")  would be deemed  to  include  an  "excess
                           parachute  payment"  under  Section 280G of the Code;
                           and

                  (ii)     if  such  Termination  Benefits  were  reduced  to an
                           amount (the  "Non-Triggering  Amount"),  the value of
                           which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal
                           to three  (3) times  Executive's  "base  amount,"  as
                           determined in  accordance  with said Section 280G and
                           the  Non-Triggering  Amount would be greater than the
                           aggregate value of the Termination

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        5




                            Benefits (excluding such reduction) minus the amount
                            of tax required to be paid by the Executive  thereon
                            by Section 4999 of the Code,

         then the  Termination  Benefits shall be reduced to the  Non-Triggering
Amount.  The allocation of the reduction  required  hereby among the Termination
Benefits shall be determined by the Executive.

7.       TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

         The term  "Termination for Cause" shall mean  termination  because of a
material loss to the Holding  Company or one of its  Subsidiaries  caused by the
Executive's  intentional failure to perform stated duties,  personal dishonesty,
willful violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or
similar  offenses)  or final cease and desist  order or material  breach of this
Agreement.  For  purposes  of this  Section,  no act,  or the failure to act, on
Executive's  part shall be "willful"  unless done, or omitted to be done, not in
good faith and without  reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the
best interest of the Holding Company or its  Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  Executive  shall not be deemed  to have  been  terminated  for Cause
unless and until there shall have been  delivered to him a Notice of Termination
which shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative  vote
of not less than  three-fourths  of the members of the Board at a meeting of the
Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and
an opportunity  for him,  together with counsel,  to be heard before the Board),
finding  that in the good faith  opinion of the Board,  Executive  was guilty of
conduct justifying  termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof
in detail.  The Executive  shall not have the right to receive  compensation  or
other benefits for any period after termination for Cause. Any stock options and
related  limited rights granted to Executive under any stock option plan, or any
unvested awards granted to Executive under any restricted  stock benefit plan of
the Holding  Company or its  Subsidiaries,  shall become null and void effective
upon Executive's  receipt of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section
8 hereof,  and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time
subsequent to such Termination for Cause.

8.       NOTICE.

         (a) Any purported  termination  by the Holding  Company or by Executive
shall be  communicated  by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto.  For
purposes  of this  Agreement,  a "Notice  of  Termination"  shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive's  employment  under the
provision so indicated.

         (b) "Date of  Termination"  shall mean the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        6




         (c) If,  within  thirty  (30) days after any Notice of  Termination  is
given,  the party receiving such Notice of Termination  notifies the other party
that a dispute exists concerning the termination,  except upon the occurrence of
a Change in Control and voluntary termination by the Executive in which case the
Date of  Termination  shall be the date  specified  in the  Notice,  the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either
by mutual written agreement of the parties,  by a binding  arbitration award, or
by a final judgment,  order or decree of a court of competent  jurisdiction (the
time for appeal  therefrom  having expired and no appeal having been  perfected)
and provided further that the Date of Termination  shall be extended by a notice
of dispute  only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice  pursues  the  resolution  of such  dispute  with  reasonable  diligence.
Notwithstanding  the pendency of any such dispute,  the Company will continue to
pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given (including,  but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue him
as a participant in all  compensation,  benefit and insurance  plans in which he
was  participating  when the notice of dispute  was given,  until the dispute is
finally  resolved in  accordance  with this  Agreement.  Amounts paid under this
Section are in addition to all other amounts due under this  Agreement and shall
not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

9.       POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.

         All payments and benefits to Executive  under this  Agreement  shall be
subject  to  Executive's  compliance  with this  Section 9 for one (1) full year
after  the  earlier  of the  expiration  of this  Agreement  or  termination  of
Executive's   employment  with  the  Holding  Company.   Executive  shall,  upon
reasonable  notice,  furnish  such  information  and  assistance  to the Holding
Company as may reasonably be required by the Holding  Company in connection with
any litigation in which it or any of its  subsidiaries  or affiliates is, or may
become, a party.

10.      NON-COMPETITION.

         (a) Upon any termination of Executive's  employment  hereunder pursuant
to Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Holding Company or
its  Subsidiaries for a period of one (1) year following such termination in any
city, town or county in which the Executive's  normal business office is located
and the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an office or has filed an
application for regulatory approval to establish an office, determined as of the
effective date of such termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution
duly adopted by the Board.  Executive  agrees that during such period and within
said cities, towns and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult
or otherwise  serve with,  directly or  indirectly,  any entity  whose  business
materially competes with the depository, lending or other business activities of
the Holding Company or its  Subsidiaries.  The parties hereto,  recognizing that
irreparable  injury will result to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries,  its
business  and  property in the event of  Executive's  breach of this  Subsection
10(a)  agree  that in the event of any such  breach by  Executive,  the  Holding
Company or its Subsidiaries, will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies
and damages  available,  to an injunction  to restrain the  violation  hereof by
Executive,  Executive's partners,  agents,  servants,  employees and all persons
acting for or under the direction of Executive.  Executive represents and admits
that in the event of the termination

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        7




of his  employment  pursuant  to Section 7 hereof,  Executive's  experience  and
capabilities are such that Executive can obtain employment in a business engaged
in other  lines  and/or of a different  nature  than the Holding  Company or its
Subsidiaries, and that the enforcement of a remedy by way of injunction will not
prevent Executive from earning a livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting  the Holding  Company or its  Subsidiaries  from  pursuing any other
remedies available to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries for such breach or
threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

         (b) Executive  recognizes  and  acknowledges  that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Holding Company and
its  Subsidiaries as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable,  special and
unique  asset of the  business  of the  Holding  Company  and its  Subsidiaries.
Executive  will not,  during or after the term of his  employment,  disclose any
knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the
Holding Company and its Subsidiaries thereof to any person,  firm,  corporation,
or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever unless expressly authorized
by the Board of Directors  or required by law.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,
Executive  may disclose  any  knowledge of banking,  financial  and/or  economic
principles,  concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively derived from
the business  plans and  activities  of the Holding  Company.  In the event of a
breach or threatened  breach by the Executive of the provisions of this Section,
the Holding Company will be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from
disclosing,  in whole or in part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or
considered  business  activities of the Holding  Company or its  Subsidiaries or
from rendering any services to any person,  firm,  corporation,  other entity to
whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to
be  disclosed.  Nothing  herein will be  construed  as  prohibiting  the Holding
Company from pursuing any other  remedies  available to the Holding  Company for
such  breach or  threatened  breach,  including  the  recovery  of damages  from
Executive.

11.      SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

         (a) All  payments  provided in this  Agreement  shall be timely paid in
cash or check from the  general  funds of the  Holding  Company  subject to this
Section 11(b).

         (b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the extent
that  payments  and  benefits,  as  provided by this  Agreement,  are paid to or
received  by  Executive  under the  Employment  Agreement  dated  March 1, 1995,
between Executive and the Institution,  such compensation  payments and benefits
paid by the Institution will be subtracted from any amount due simultaneously to
Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement.  Payments pursuant to this
Agreement and the Institution  Agreement shall be allocated in proportion to the
level of activity and the time  expended on such  activities by the Executive as
determined by the Holding Company and the Institution on a quarterly basis.

#27938/February 10, 1995
                                        8




12.      EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.

         This Agreement  contains the entire  understanding  between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Holding Company
or any  predecessor  of the  Holding  Company  and  Executive,  except that this
Agreement  shall not affect or operate  to reduce  any  benefit or  compensation
inuring to the  Executive  of a kind  elsewhere  provided.  No provision of this
Agreement  shall be  interpreted  to mean that Executive is subject to receiving
fewer benefits than those available to him without reference to this Agreement.

13.      NO ATTACHMENT.

         (a) Except as required by law, no right to receive  payments under this
Agreement  shall be  subject to  anticipation,  commutation,  alienation,  sale,
assignment,  encumbrance,  charge,  pledge, or  hypothecation,  or to execution,
attachment,  levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt,  voluntary  or  involuntary,  to affect any such action  shall be null,
void, and of no effect.

         (b) This Agreement  shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and the Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.

14.      MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

         (a)  This  Agreement  may  not be  modified  or  amended  except  by an
instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

         (b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement,  except by written  instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing  waiver
unless specifically  stated therein,  and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific  term or condition  waived and shall not  constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.

15.      SEVERABILITY.

         If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this  Agreement or any part of such  provision not held so invalid,  and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the' full extent  consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.

16.      HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

         The headings of sections and paragraphs  herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or  interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.

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17.      GOVERNING LAW.

         This Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware,
unless otherwise specified herein.

18.      ARBITRATION.

         Any dispute or  controversy  arising under or in  connection  with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,  conducted before a panel
of three  arbitrators  sitting in a location  selected by the  Executive  within
fifty (50) miles from the location of the  Association,  in accordance  with the
rules of the American  Arbitration  Association then in effect.  Judgment may be
entered on the arbitrator's  award in any court having  jurisdiction;  provided,
however,  that Executive  shall be entitled to seek specific  performance of his
right to be paid  until  the Date of  Termination  during  the  pendency  of any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

         In the event any dispute or controversy  arising under or in connection
with Executive's  termination is resolved in favor of the Executive,  whether by
judgment, arbitration or settlement,  Executive shall be entitled to the payment
of all  back-pay,  including  salary,  bonuses and any other cash  compensation,
fringe  benefits and any  compensation  and benefits  due  Executive  under this
Agreement.

19.      PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES.

         All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of  interpretation  relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Holding Company,  if Executive is successful  pursuant to a
legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.

20.      INDEMNIFICATION.

         The Holding  Company  shall  provide  Executive  (including  his heirs,
executors and  administrators)  with coverage  under a standard  directors'  and
officers' liability  insurance policy at its expense, or in lieu thereof,  shall
indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest
extent  permitted  under  Delaware  law against  all  expenses  and  liabilities
reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit
or  proceeding  in which he may be  involved  by  reason  of his  having  been a
director or officer of the Holding Company  (whether or not he continues to be a
director or officer at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such
expenses and  liabilities to include,  but not be limited to,  judgments,  court
costs and attorneys' fees and the cost of reasonable settlements.

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21.      SUCCESSOR TO THE HOLDING COMPANY.

         The Holding  Company shall  require any successor or assignee,  whether
direct or indirect, by purchase,  merger,  consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially  all the  business  or assets of the  Association  or the  Holding
Company,  expressly  and  unconditionally  to assume  and agree to  perform  the
Holding Company's  obligations  under this Agreement,  in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Holding Company would be required to perform if no such
succession or assignment had taken place.

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                                   SIGNATURES


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Eugene R. Friend has caused this  Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly authorized  officer and
its directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 1st day of March,
1995.

ATTEST:                                 MONTEREY BAY BANCORP, INC.



/s/ Carlene Anderson                      /s/ Eugene R. Friend
Secretary                               Chairman of the Board and
                                        Chief Executive Officer



[SEAL]




WITNESS:



/s/ Deborah R. Chandler                      /s/ Marshall G. Delk
                                           Marshall G. Delk
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer


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