Exhibit 1.1


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                                 for offering of
                      $___ Convertible Preferred Securities

                            GUARANTY CAPITAL TRUST I
                               (a Delaware Trust)

       $___ Convertible Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities")
              (Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Preferred Security)

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                 ---------------

                                ________ __, 1998


McKinnon & Company, Inc.
555 Main Street
First Virginia Building, 16th Floor
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Dear Sirs:

         Guaranty  Capital Trust I (the  "Trust"),  a statutory  business  trust
organized  under the  Business  Trust Act (the  "Delaware  Act") of the State of
Delaware  (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C.  ss.ss.3801 et
seq.), and Guaranty Financial Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"
and,  together with the Trust,  the  "Offerors"),  confirm their  agreement (the
"Agreement") with McKinnon & Company,  Inc. (the  "Underwriter") with respect to
the sale by the  Trust of $___  Convertible  Preferred  Securities  (liquidation
amount  of  $25.00  per  preferred   security)  of  the  Trust  (the  "Preferred
Securities")  set  forth  in  Schedule  A.  The  Preferred  Securities  will  be
guaranteed on a  subordinated  basis by the Company,  to the extent set forth in
the Prospectus (as defined herein),  with respect to distributions  and payments
upon   liquidation,   redemption  and  otherwise  (the   "Preferred   Securities
Guarantee")  pursuant  to the  Guarantee  Agreement,  to be dated as of _______,
1998, and as may be amended,  (the "Guarantee  Agreement"),  between the Company
and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"),  and will be
entitled  to the  benefits  of  certain  backup  undertakings  described  in the
Prospectus (as defined herein) with respect to the Company's  agreement pursuant
to  the  Indenture  (as  defined  herein)  to  pay  all  expenses   relating  to
administration of the Trust (other than payment  obligations with respect to the
Preferred Securities).

         The Offerors  have filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
(the  "Commission")  a  registration  statement  on Form S-1 (Nos.  _______  and
_______) and a related  preliminary  prospectus for the  registration  under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the  "1933  Act")  of (i) the  Preferred
Securities,   (ii)  the  Preferred  Securities   Guarantee,   (iii)  the  Junior
Subordinated  Debt  Securities to be issued and sold to the Trust by the Company
and (iv) such indeterminate  number of shares of common stock, par value ___, of
the Company  (the  "Common  Stock") as



may be issuable upon  conversion of the  Preferred  Securities,  have filed such
amendments  thereto,  if any, and such amended  preliminary  prospectuses as may
have been required to the date hereof, and will file such additional  amendments
thereto  and such  amended  prospectuses  as may  hereafter  be  required.  Such
registration  statement (as amended) (including the information,  if any, deemed
to be part thereof  pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act  Regulations"))  and the prospectus
constituting  a part  thereof,  as from  time to time  amended  or  supplemented
pursuant to the 1933 Act, the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or otherwise,  are hereinafter referred to as the "Registration
Statement"  and the  "Prospectus,"  respectively,  except  that,  if any revised
prospectus  shall be  provided to the  Underwriter  by the  Offerors  for use in
connection with the offering of the Preferred  Securities which differs from the
Prospectus  on file at the  Commission  at the time the  Registration  Statement
became effective (whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed
by the Offerors pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations),  the term
"Prospectus"  shall refer to such revised  prospectus from and after the time it
is first  provided  to the  Underwriter  for such use.  All  references  in this
Agreement to financial  statements and schedules and other  information  that is
"contained,"  "included"  or  "stated"  in  the  Registration  Statement  or the
Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial  statements and schedules and other  information that
are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement
or the  Prospectus,  as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration  Statement or the Prospectus shall
be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act that
is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

         The Offerors understand that the Underwriter  proposes to make a public
offering of the Preferred  Securities as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable
after this  Agreement has been executed and  delivered and the  Declaration  (as
defined herein),  the Indenture (as defined herein) and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee have been qualified  under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the  "1939  Act").  The  entire  proceeds  to the  Trust  from  the sale of the
Preferred  Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale by
the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities"),  as
guaranteed on a  subordinated  basis by the Company,  to the extent set forth in
the Prospectus,  with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation and
redemption  thereof (the "Common  Securities  Guarantee"  and together  with the
Preferred  Securities  Guarantee,  the  "Guarantees")  pursuant to the Guarantee
Agreement  between the Company and Guarantee  Trustee,  as Trustee,  and will be
used by the Trust to purchase up to $________  aggregate principal amount of __%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due _______,  2028 (the "Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities") issued by the Company under the Indenture (as defined herein).
The Preferred  Securities and the Common  Securities  will be issued pursuant to
the  Declaration  of Trust of the  Trust,  to be dated as of  ______,  1998 (the
"Declaration"),  among the  Company,  as  Depositor,  the  individuals  named as
Administrative  Trustees therein, as trustees (the  "Administrative  Trustees"),
and Wilmington Trust Company,  as property trustee (the "Property  Trustee" and,
together with the Administrative Trustees, the "Trustees"), and the holders from
time to time of undivided  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust. The
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture,  to
be dated as of _______,  1998, between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company,
as  trustee



                                      -2-


(the "Indenture  Trustee") (together with any amendments or supplements thereto,
the "Indenture").

         SECTION 1.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         (a)    The Offerors jointly and severally  represent and warrant to the
Underwriter  as of the date  hereof and as of the Closing  Time (as  hereinafter
defined) as follows:

                (i)    At the time the  Registration  Statement became effective
and as of the date hereof,  the Registration  Statement complied in all material
respects with the  requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and
the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission  under the 1939 Act
(the  "1939 Act  Regulations"),  and did not  contain an untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus,  dated
the date hereof (unless the term  "Prospectus"  refers to a prospectus  that has
been provided to the  Underwriter  by the Trust for use in  connection  with the
offering of the  Preferred  Securities  and that differs from the  Prospectus on
file at the Commission at the time the Registration  Statement became effective,
in which case, at the time it is first provided to the Underwriter for such use)
and at the date of the Closing  Time  referred to in Section 2 hereof,  does not
include an untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light  of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, the
Offerors  make no  representations  or  warranties  as to (A)  that  part of the
Registration  Statement  which  constitutes  the Statements of  Eligibility  and
Qualification  (Forms  T-1)  under the 1939 Act of the  Indenture  Trustee,  the
Property Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee or (B) the information contained in or
omitted from the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  or any  amendment
thereof  or  supplement   thereto  in  reliance  upon  and  in  conformity  with
information  furnished  in  writing  to  the  Offerors  by or on  behalf  of the
Underwriter   specifically  for  use  in  the  Registration  Statement  and  the
Prospectus.

                (ii)   The  documents,  if any,  incorporated  or  deemed  to be
incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement or Prospectus,  at the
time they were or  hereafter  are filed with the  Commission  complied  and will
comply in all material  respects with the  requirements  of the 1934 Act and the
rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission  under  the 1934 Act (the  "1934 Act
Regulations").

                (iii)  To the best knowledge of the Offerors,  BDO Seidman, LLP,
the accountants who certified the financial  statements and supporting schedules
included in or incorporated by reference into the  Registration  Statement,  are
independent  public  accountants  as  required  by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations.

                (iv)   The Trust has been duly  created and is validly  existing
and in good  standing as a business  trust under the Delaware Act with the power
and  authority  to own  property and to conduct its business as described in the
Registration  Statement  and  Prospectus  and to  enter  into  and  perform  its
obligations  under  this  Agreement,   the  Preferred  Securities,   the  Common
Securities and the  Declaration;  the Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound
by any agreement



                                      -3-


other  than  those  described  in the  Prospectus;  the  Trust  is and  will  be
classified  for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and
not as an  association  taxable as a  corporation;  and the Trust is and will be
treated as a  consolidated  subsidiary  of the  Company  pursuant  to  generally
accepted accounting principles.

                (v)    The Common  Securities  have been duly  authorized by the
Trust pursuant to the Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to
the Company against payment therefor as described in the Registration  Statement
and  Prospectus,  will be  validly  issued  and,  subject  to the  terms  of the
Declaration, fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the
assets  of the  Trust  and  will  conform  to all  statements  relating  thereto
contained  in the  Prospectus;  the  issuance  of the Common  Securities  is not
subject to preemptive or other similar rights.

                (vi)   This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
delivered by each of the Offerors.

                (vii)  The  Declaration has been duly authorized by the Company,
as Depositor,  and will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
the  Trustees,  and assuming due  authorization,  execution  and delivery of the
Declaration by the Property Trustee,  the Declaration is and will be a valid and
binding obligation of the Company,  the Trust and the  Administrative  Trustees,
enforceable  against the Company and the  Administrative  Trustees in accordance
with  its  terms,   subject,  as  to  enforcement  of  remedies,  to  applicable
bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency,  moratorium,  fraudulent conveyance or
other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors now or hereafter in effect,
and to equitable  principles that may limit the right to specific enforcement of
remedies,  and  further  subject to 12 U.S.C.  1818(b)(6)(D)  (or any  successor
statute)  and any bank  regulatory  powers now or hereafter in effect and to the
application  of  principles  of  public  policy  (collectively,  the  "Permitted
Exceptions")  and  will  conform  to  all  statements  relating  thereto  in the
Prospectus; and the Declaration has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

                (viii) The Guarantee  Agreement has been duly  authorized by the
Company and, when validly  executed and  delivered by the Company,  assuming due
authorization,  execution  and  delivery  of  the  Guarantee  Agreement  by  the
Guarantee  Trustee,  will  constitute  a valid  and  binding  obligation  of the
Company,  enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except to
the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Permitted  Exceptions,
and each of the  Guarantees  and the  Guarantee  Agreement  will  conform to all
statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus;  and the trust pursuant
to the Guarantee Agreement will have been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

                (ix)   The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized by the
Trust  pursuant to the  Declaration  and, when issued and delivered  pursuant to
this Agreement and payment of the consideration therefor set forth in Schedule B
hereto,  will be validly  issued and,  subject to the terms of the  Declaration,
fully paid and non-assessable  undivided beneficial interests in the Trust, will
be  entitled  to the  benefits  of  the  Declaration  and  will  conform  to all
statements  relating  thereto  contained in the Prospectus;  the issuance of the
Preferred  Securities is not subject to



                                      -4-


preemptive  or  other  similar  rights;   and,  subject  to  the  terms  of  the
Declaration,  holders  of  Preferred  Securities  will be  entitled  to the same
limitation of personal  liability under Delaware law as extended to stockholders
of private corporations for profit.

                (x)    Each of the  Administrative  Trustees  of the Trust is an
employee of the Company and has been duly  authorized  by the Company to execute
and  deliver  the  Declaration;  the  Declaration  has been  duly  executed  and
delivered by the  Administrative  Trustees and is a valid and binding obligation
of each Administrative Trustee,  enforceable against such Administrative Trustee
in accordance with its terms except to the extent that  enforcement  thereof may
be limited by the Permitted Exceptions.

                (xi)   None of the  Offerors  is, and upon the issuance and sale
of the Preferred  Securities as herein  contemplated  and the application of the
net  proceeds  therefrom  as  described  in the  Prospectus  none  will  be,  an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

                (xii)  No authorization, approval, consent or order of any court
or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Common  Securities or the offering of the Preferred  Securities,
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities or the Guarantees hereunder, except such
as may be  required  under  the 1933 Act or the  1933 Act  Regulations  or state
securities  laws  and  the  qualification  of  the  Declaration,  the  Guarantee
Agreement and the Indenture under the 1939 Act.

         (b)    The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Time (as hereinafter defined) as follows:

                (i)    Since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is
given in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  except as otherwise
stated therein,  (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise,  or in the earnings or business  affairs of the Trust or
of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  considered as one enterprise,  whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business.

                (ii)   The  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia,  with corporate  power to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the  Prospectus,  to enter into and perform
its  obligations  under this  Agreement,  the  Declaration,  as  Depositor,  the
Indenture and each of the Guarantees  and to purchase,  own, and hold the Common
Securities issued by the Trust; the Company is duly registered as a bank holding
company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended;  and the Company
is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation to transact  business and is in good
standing  in each  jurisdiction  in  which  the  character  or  location  of its
properties  or  the  nature  or  the  conduct  of  its  business  requires  such
qualification,  except for any failures to be so  qualified or in good  standing
which,  taken as a whole, are not material to the Company and its  subsidiaries,
considered as one enterprise.


                                      -5-


                (iii)  Guaranty  Bank  (the  "Principal  Subsidiary  Bank") is a
banking  association  operating  under  the  laws  of  Virginia  and  authorized
thereunder to transact business; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock
of the Principal Subsidiary Bank has been duly authorized and validly issued, is
fully paid and non-assessable; and the capital stock of the Principal Subsidiary
Bank owned by the Company,  directly or through subsidiaries,  is owned free and
clear of any security interest,  mortgage,  pledge, lien, encumbrance,  claim or
equity.

                (iv)   The  Indenture  has been duly  authorized  by the Company
and, when validly executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute a valid
and  binding  agreement  of the  Company,  enforceable  against  the  Company in
accordance with its terms except to the extent that  enforcement  thereof may be
limited  by  the  Permitted  Exceptions;  the  Indenture  will  conform  to  all
statements  relating thereto contained in the Prospectus;  and the Indenture has
been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

                (v)    The Junior  Subordinated  Debt  Securities have been duly
authorized  by the Company and have been duly  executed by the Company and, when
authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered  against
payment  therefor as  described in the  Prospectus,  will  constitute  valid and
binding  obligations  of  the  Company,   enforceable  against  the  Company  in
accordance with their terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be
limited by the Permitted  Exceptions,  will be in the form  contemplated by, and
subject to the Permitted  Exceptions  entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture
and will conform to all statements relating thereto in the Prospectus.

                (vi)   The  Company's   obligations  under  the  Guarantees  are
subordinate  and junior in right of payment  to all Senior  Debt of the  Company
(which, as defined in the Indenture,  includes all outstanding subordinated debt
of the Company).

                (vii)  The Junior  Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated
and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Company.

                (viii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  herein and compliance by
the Company with its obligations  hereunder will not conflict with or constitute
a breach of, or default  under,  or result in the creation or  imposition of any
lien,  charge or  encumbrance  upon any property or assets of the Company or the
Principal Subsidiary Bank pursuant to, any contract,  indenture,  mortgage, loan
agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Company or the Principal
Subsidiary  Bank is a party or by which  it or any of them may be  bound,  or to
which any of the property or assets of the Company or the  Principal  Subsidiary
Bank is subject  (except for  conflicts,  breaches and defaults which would not,
individually or in the aggregate,  be materially  adverse to the Company and its
subsidiaries  taken  as a  whole  or  materially  adverse  to  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement),  nor will such action  result in any material
violation of the provisions of the articles of  incorporation  or by-laws of the
Company, or any applicable law,  administrative  regulation or administrative or
court decree.


                                      -6-


                (ix)   The shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  conversion of
the Preferred  Securities  have been duly  authorized  and reserved for issuance
upon such  conversion  and, when issued upon such  conversion in accordance with
the  provisions of the Preferred  Securities,  will have been validly issued and
will be fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights.

                (x)    There are not now  outstanding  and at the  Closing  Time
there will be no preemptive,  conversion or other rights,  options,  warrants or
agreements  granted or issued by or binding upon the Company for the purchase or
acquisition  of any shares of its  capital  stock other than as set forth in the
Prospectus.

         (c)    Each  certificate  signed  by any  officer  of the  Company  and
delivered to the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty
by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

         (d)    The Trust  represents and warrants to the  Underwriter as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Time (as hereinafter defined) as follows:

                (i)    Since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is
given in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  except as otherwise
stated therein,  (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition,
financial or  otherwise,  or in the  earnings or business  affairs of the Trust,
whether or not arising in the ordinary  course of  business,  and (B) there have
been no  transactions  entered  into by the Trust,  other  than in the  ordinary
course of business, which are material with respect to the Trust.

                (ii)   Except  as  disclosed  in  the  Prospectus,  there  is no
action,   suit  or  proceeding   before  or  by  any  government,   governmental
instrumentality  or court,  domestic  or  foreign,  now  pending or, to the best
knowledge  of the  Trust,  threatened,  against or  affecting  the Trust that is
required  to be  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  other  than  actions,  suits or
proceedings which are not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to have a material adverse effect on the condition,  financial or otherwise,  or
on the earnings or business affairs of the Trust,  whether or not arising in the
ordinary  course  of  business;  and  there are no  transactions,  contracts  or
documents  of the  Trust  that  are  required  to be filed  as  exhibits  to the
Registration  Statement by the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations that have
not been so filed.

                (iii)  The Trust possesses adequate certificates, authorities or
permits issued by the appropriate state,  federal or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies to conduct  the  business  now  operated  by it, and the Trust has not
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such certificate,  authority or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding would materially and
adversely  affect the  condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  or the earnings or
business affairs of the Trust.

                (iv)   The   execution,   delivery  and   performance   of  this
Agreement,  the  Declaration,  the Guarantee  Agreement and the Guarantees,  the
issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities, and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated herein and therein and compliance
by the  Trust  with its  obligations  hereunder  and  thereunder  have


                                      -7-


been duly  authorized  by all necessary  action  (corporate or otherwise) on the
part of the  Trust  and do not and  will  not  result  in any  violation  of the
Declaration  or  Certificate  of Trust and do not and will not conflict with, or
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under,  or  result  in the  creation  or  imposition  of  any  lien,  charge  or
encumbrance  upon any  property or assets of the Trust  under (A) any  contract,
indenture,   mortgage,  loan  agreement,  note,  lease  or  other  agreement  or
instrument to which the Trust is a party or by which it may be bound or to which
any of its properties may be subject or (B) any existing  applicable  law, rule,
regulation,   judgment,   order  or  decree  of  any  government,   governmental
instrumentality  or  court,  domestic  or  foreign,  or any  regulatory  body or
administrative  agency or other  governmental body having  jurisdiction over the
Trust, or any of its properties (except for conflicts,  breaches,  violations or
defaults  which  would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  be  materially
adverse to the Trust, or materially adverse to the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement).

         (e)    Each  certificate  signed  by  any  Trustee  of  the  Trust  and
delivered to the Underwriter or counsel for the  Underwriter  shall be deemed to
be a  representation  and  warranty  by the Trust to the  Underwriter  as to the
matters covered thereby.

         SECTION 2.  SALE AND DELIVERY; CLOSING.

         (a)    On the basis of the  representations,  warranties  and covenants
herein  contained,  and subject to the  conditions  herein set forth,  the Trust
agrees to issue and sell the Preferred  Securities  through the Underwriter,  as
agent for the Trust,  to the public and the  Underwriter  agrees to use its best
efforts to sell the Preferred  Securities  as agent for the Trust,  at the price
per Preferred  Security set forth on Schedule B (the "Public  Offering  Price").
The Trust reserves the right to increase the aggregate  liquidation amount by up
to  $900,000.  The  Company  agrees  to pay the  Underwriter  a  commission  for
Preferred  Securities sold through the Underwriter in the public offering as set
forth on Schedule B (the "Selling  Commission").  The Underwriter may reject any
offer to purchase the Preferred Securities made through the Underwriter in whole
or in  part,  and any  such  rejection  shall  not be  deemed  a  breach  of the
Underwriter's agreement contained herein.

         (b)    It is understood that, after the Registration  Statement becomes
effective,  you propose to sell the Preferred  Securities to the public as agent
for the Trust upon the terms and  conditions  set forth in the  Prospectus.  The
escrow  procedures  established by the Underwriter  shall comply with Commission
Rule 15c2-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act ("Rule 15c2-4").  All subscribers
to whom the Underwriter  directly sells Preferred Securities shall be instructed
to make their check for payment of the Preferred Securities payable to "Guaranty
Capital Trust I Escrow  Account." The Underwriter  shall transmit all funds that
it receives from subscribers to Wilmington Trust Company,  the escrow agent (the
"Escrow Agent") by noon of the next business day following receipt thereof. Only
broker/dealers  who are either  (i)  members in good  standing  of the  National
Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD") that are registered  with
the NASD and maintain net capital pursuant to Rule 15c3-1  promulgated under the
Exchange  Act of not less than  $25,000 or (ii)  dealers  with  their  principal
places of business  located  outside the United States,  its territories and its
possessions and not registered as brokers or dealers under the Exchange Act, who
have agreed not to make any sales within the United States,  its  territories or
its  possessions  or to persons who are nationals  thereof or



                                      -8-


residents therein shall be designated  selected dealers by the Underwriter.  The
Underwriter shall comply, and shall require all selected dealers to comply, with
Rule 15c2-4.

         (c)    The  Underwriter  shall  direct the Escrow Agent to make payment
for the  Preferred  Securities  sold  hereunder by wire transfer or certified or
bank  cashier's  check  drawn to the order of the Trust in next day funds.  Such
payment is to be made at the offices of Guaranty Financial Corporation, at 10:00
a.m. local time, on or about  _________,  1998, or at such other time,  date and
place as you and the Trust  shall agree  upon,  such time and date being  herein
referred to as the "Closing Time." The certificates for the Preferred Securities
will  be  delivered  in such  denominations  and in  such  registrations  as the
Underwriter requests in writing not later than the third (3rd) full business day
prior to the Closing  Time,  and will be made  available  for  inspection by the
Underwriter  at least  twenty-four  (24) hours prior to the Closing  Time.  Such
certificates  will be  delivered  to the Escrow  Agent by 12:00 p.m.  on the day
prior to the Closing Time,  along with  addressed  labels to be used to mail the
certificates to the purchasers thereof.  The Trust shall direct the Escrow Agent
to deliver  (i)  payment of the  portion of the  Selling  Commission  due to the
Underwriter by wire transfer or certified or bank  cashier's  check drawn to the
order of the  Underwriter in next day funds,  to the  Underwriter at the Closing
Time and (ii)  payment of the  portion  of the  Selling  Commission  due to each
selected  dealer by wire transfer or certified or bank cashier's  check drawn to
the order of such selected  dealer in next day funds, to each selected dealer at
the Closing Time.

         SECTION 3.  COVENANTS OF THE OFFERORS. Each of the Offerors jointly and
severally covenants with the Underwriter as follows:

         (a)    The Offerors will notify the Underwriter  promptly,  and confirm
the notice in writing,  (i) of the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement
and any amendment thereto (including any post-effective amendment),  (ii) of the
receipt  of any  comments  from  the  Commission,  (iii) of any  request  by the
Commission for any amendment to the  Registration  Statement or any amendment or
supplement to the  Prospectus  or for  additional  information,  and (iv) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration  Statement or the initiation of any  proceedings  for that purpose.
The Offerors  will make every  reasonable  effort to prevent the issuance of any
stop order and, if any stop order is issued,  to obtain the  lifting  thereof at
the earliest possible moment.

         (b)    The Offerors will give the Underwriter notice of their intention
to file or prepare (i) any amendment to the  Registration  Statement  (including
any  post-effective  amendment),   (ii)  any  amendment  or  supplement  to  the
Prospectus  (including any revised prospectus which the Offerors propose for use
by the Underwriter in connection  with the offering of the Preferred  Securities
which  differs from the  prospectus  on file at the  Commission  at the time the
Registration Statement became effective,  whether or not such revised prospectus
is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations), or
(iii) any document that would as a result thereof be  incorporated  by reference
in the Prospectus  whether  pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise,
will furnish the Underwriter  with copies of any such  amendment,  supplement or
other document within a reasonable  amount of time prior to such proposed filing
or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such amendment,  supplement or
other  document or use any such  prospectus to which the  Underwriter or counsel
for the  Underwriter  shall



                                      -9-


reasonably  object.  Subject  to the  foregoing,  the  Offerors  will  file  the
Prospectus  pursuant  to Rule  424(b) and Rule 430A under the Act not later than
the  Commission's  close of business on the second  business day  following  the
execution and delivery of this Agreement.

         (c)    The  Offerors  will  deliver to the  Underwriter  as many signed
copies of the  Registration  Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein
and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) as
the Underwriter may reasonably  request and will also deliver to the Underwriter
a conformed copy of the  Registration  Statement as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto (without exhibits).

         (d)    The Offerors will furnish to the Underwriter,  from time to time
during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933
Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as the
Underwriter may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act
or the respective applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

         (e)    If at any time when the  Prospectus  is required by the 1933 Act
to be delivered in connection with sales of the Preferred Securities,  any event
shall occur as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or  supplemented
will  include  any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  in  light  of the
circumstances  under  which  they  were  made not  misleading  or if it shall be
necessary  to amend or  supplement  the  Prospectus  in order to comply with the
requirements  of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act  Regulations,  the Offerors  will,
subject to paragraph (b) above, promptly prepare and file with the Commission an
amendment or  supplement  which will  correct  such  statement or omission or an
amendment  which will effect such  compliance,  and the Offerors will furnish to
the Underwriter a reasonable number of copies of such amendment or supplement.

         (f)    The Offerors will endeavor, in cooperation with the Underwriter,
to qualify the Preferred  Securities (and the Preferred  Securities  Guarantee),
the Junior  Subordinated  Debt  Securities and the Common Stock for offering and
sale  under  the  applicable  securities  laws of  such  states  and  the  other
jurisdictions  of the United States as the Underwriter may designate;  provided,
however,  that none of the  Offerors  shall be obligated to qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified.

         (g)    The  Company  will  make  generally  available  to its  security
holders and to the  Underwriter  as soon as  practicable,  but not later than 90
days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (which
need not be audited) of the Company and its subsidiaries, covering an applicable
period  beginning not later than the first day of the Company's  fiscal  quarter
next  following the  "Effective  Date" (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the 1933
Act) of the Registration Statement, which will satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act.

         SECTION 4.  PAYMENT OF  EXPENSES.  The  Company  will pay all  expenses
incident to the performance of each Offerors'  obligations under this Agreement,
and will pay:  (i) the  printing  and filing of the  Registration  Statement  as
originally filed and of each amendment



                                      -10-


thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the
Preferred  Securities and the Common Stock,  (iii) the fees and disbursements of
the  Company's  and the  Trust's  counsel  and  accountants  and  counsel to the
Underwriter,  (iv) the qualification of the Preferred Securities,  the Preferred
Securities  Guarantee,  the Junior  Subordinated  Debt Securities and the Common
Stock under  securities  laws in accordance  with the provisions of Section 3(f)
hereof,  including fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation
of any blue sky survey,  (v) the  printing and  delivery to the  Underwriter  of
copies of the  Registration  Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto,  of  each  preliminary  prospectus,  and  of  the  Prospectus  and  any
amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  (vi) the  printing  and  delivery  to the
Underwriter  of copies  of any blue sky  survey,  (vii) the fee of the NASD,  if
applicable, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee, including the
fees and  disbursements of counsel for the Indenture  Trustee in connection with
the Indenture and the Junior  Subordinated  Debt  Securities,  (ix) the fees and
expenses of the Property Trustee and the Guarantee  Trustee,  including the fees
and  disbursements  of counsel for the Property  Trustee in connection  with the
Declaration  and the  Certificate  of  Trust;  (x) the cost and  charges  of any
transfer  agent or  registrar,  and (xi) the cost of  qualifying  the  Preferred
Securities with Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

         If this Agreement is terminated by the  Underwriter in accordance  with
the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the
Underwriter  for all of its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses,  including the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter.

         SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITER'S OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of
the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Offerors  herein  contained or in  certificates of officers of
the Company, to the performance by the Offerors of their obligations  hereunder,
and to the following further conditions:

         (a)    The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
than 5:30 P.M. on the date hereof, or, with the consent of the Underwriter,  not
later than 5:30 P.M. on the first business day following the date hereof,  or at
such  later  time and date as may be  approved  by the  Underwriter;  and at the
Closing Time no stop order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the  Registration
Statement  shall have been  issued  under the 1933 Act or  proceedings  therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission.  The Prospectus shall have been filed
with the Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the  applicable  time period
prescribed  for such  filing  by the 1933  Regulations  and in  accordance  with
Section 3(b) and prior to Closing Time the Offerors shall have provided evidence
satisfactory to the Underwriter of such timely filing.

         (b)    At Closing Time the Underwriter shall have received:

         (1)    The favorable opinion of Williams,  Mullen, Christian & Dobbins,
P.C.,  counsel for the Company,  dated as of the Closing  Time, to the following
effect:

                (i)    The  Company is a duly  organized  and  validly  existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, has
the corporate power and authority



                                      -11-


to own its  properties,  conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and
perform its obligations  under this Agreement,  and is duly registered as a bank
holding  company  under the Bank Holding  Company Act of 1956,  as amended;  the
Principal  Subsidiary Bank is a banking association  operating under the laws of
Virginia and authorized thereunder to transact business.

                (ii)   Except for those jurisdictions specifically enumerated in
such opinion,  neither the Company nor the Principal Subsidiary Bank is required
to be  qualified  or licensed to do  business  as a foreign  corporation  in any
jurisdiction.

                (iii)  All  the  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  of the
Principal  Subsidiary Bank have been duly and validly  authorized and issued and
are fully paid and  non-assessable,  and,  except as otherwise  set forth in the
Prospectus,  all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Principal Subsidiary
Bank are owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by the Company  free and clear of any
perfected  security  interest and, to the best  knowledge of such  counsel,  any
other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.

                (iv)   To the  best  knowledge  of  such  counsel,  there  is no
pending threatened  action,  suit or proceeding before any court or governmental
agency,  authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries,  of a  character  required  to be  disclosed  in the  Registration
Statement which is not adequately  disclosed in the Prospectus,  and there is no
franchise,  contract,  or other document of a character required to be described
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit, which
is not described or filed as required.

                (v)    The Registration Statement has become effective under the
1933 Act; to the best  knowledge of such counsel,  no stop order  suspending the
effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or threatened; the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and each amendment thereof or supplement  thereto (other than the
financial statements and other financial and statistical  information  contained
therein or  incorporated  by  reference  therein,  as to which such counsel need
express  no  opinion)  comply  as to  form in all  material  respects  with  the
applicable  requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations  and the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission  under the Exchange
Act (the "Exchange Act Regulations").

                (vi)   This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
delivered by the Company.

                (vii)  No authorization, approval, consent or order of any court
or governmental authority or agency is required in connection with the offering,
issuance  or sale of the  Preferred  Securities  through  the  Underwriter,  the
Preferred  Securities  Guarantee  or the Junior  Subordinated  Debt  Securities,
except  (a)  such as may be  required  under  the  1933  Act and  the  1933  Act
Regulations  and such as may be required under the blue sky or insurance laws of
any jurisdiction,  and (b) the  qualification of the Declaration,  the Guarantee
Agreement and the Indenture under the 1939 Act.


                                      -12-


                (viii) The  Declaration has been duly  authorized,  executed and
delivered  by the  Company  and the  Administrative  Trustees  and has been duly
qualified under the 1939 Act.

                (ix)   The  Guarantee   Agreement  has  been  duly   authorized,
executed  and  delivered by the  Company,  and  assuming it is duly  authorized,
executed and delivered by the Guarantee Trustee, constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company,  enforceable  against the Company in accordance  with
its terms,  except to the extent that enforcement  thereof may be limited by the
Permitted Exceptions;  and the Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified under
the 1939 Act.

                (x)    The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming due authorization,  execution, and delivery thereof by the
Indenture Trustee, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against  the  Company in  accordance  with its terms,  except to the extent that
enforcement  thereof may be limited by the Permitted  Exceptions;  the Indenture
has been duly  qualified  under the 1939 Act; and the Indenture  conforms to the
description thereof in the Prospectus.

                (xi)   The Junior  Subordinated  Debt  Securities have been duly
authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee in
the manner  provided in the Indenture and delivered  against  payment  therefor,
will  constitute  valid and  binding  obligations  of the  Company,  enforceable
against the Company in  accordance  with their terms,  except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by the Permitted  Exceptions;  and the Junior
Subordinated  Debt  Securities  conform  to  the  description   thereof  in  the
Prospectus.

                (xii)  Neither  the  Company  nor the  Trust  is and,  upon  the
issuance and sale of the  Preferred  Securities as herein  contemplated  and the
application  of the net  proceeds  therefrom  as  described  in the  Prospectus,
neither  will  be  an  "investment  company"  or a  company  "controlled"  by an
"investment company" within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

                (xiii) The shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  conversion of
the Preferred  Securities  have been duly  authorized  and reserved for issuance
upon such  conversion  and, when issued upon such  conversion in accordance with
the  provisions of the Preferred  Securities,  will have been validly issued and
will be fully paid and non-assessable and free of preemptive rights.

         In  rendering  such  opinion,  such  counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving certain matters of Delaware law upon the opinion of Richards, Layton &
Finger,  special Delaware  counsel to the Offerors,  which shall be delivered in
accordance  with Section  5(b)(2)hereto;  and (B) as to matters of fact,  to the
extent deemed  proper,  on the  representations  and  warranties of the Offerors
contained  herein  or in  the  Declaration,  the  Indenture  and  the  Guarantee
Agreement of even date herewith,  between the Company and the Trust covering the
Common  Securities,  and on certificates of responsible  officers of the Company
and its subsidiaries and public officials.

         (2)    The  favorable  opinion of  Richards,  Layton & Finger,  Special
Delaware  counsel to the  Offerors,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to the
Underwriter, to the effect that:

                                      -13-


                (i)    The Trust has been duly  created and is validly  existing
in good  standing  as a business  trust  under the  Delaware  Act;  all  filings
required  under the laws of the State of Delaware  with respect to the formation
and valid  existence of the Trust as a business  trust have been made; the Trust
has all  necessary  power and  authority  to own  property  and to  conduct  its
business as described in the  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus and to
enter into and perform  its  obligations  under this  Agreement,  the  Preferred
Securities  and the Common  Securities;  the Trust is duly qualified and in good
standing  as  a  foreign  company  in  any  other  jurisdiction  in  which  such
qualification is necessary,  except to the extent that the failure to so qualify
or be in good standing  would not have a material  adverse  effect on the Trust;
and the Trust is not a party to or otherwise  bound by any agreement  other than
those described in the Prospectus.

                (ii)   Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
Company and the Trustees,  the Declaration is a valid and binding  obligation of
the  Company,  enforceable  against  the Company in  accordance  with its terms,
except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Permitted Exceptions.

                (iii)  The Common  Securities  have been duly  authorized by the
Declaration and are validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration)
fully paid and non-assessable  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust,
and the issuance of the Common  Securities is not subject to preemptive or other
similar rights.

                (iv)   The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and are validly issued and, subject to the terms of the Declaration,
when delivered to and paid for by the  Underwriter  pursuant to this  Agreement,
will be validly issued,  fully paid and non-assessable  beneficial  interests in
the assets of the Trust; the holders of the Preferred  Securities will,  subject
to the terms of the Declaration,  be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability  under  Delaware  law  as  is  extended  to  stockholders  of  private
corporations  for profit;  and the issuance of the  Preferred  Securities is not
subject to preemptive or other similar rights.

                (v)    The Common Securities,  the Preferred  Securities and the
Declaration  conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto
contained in the Prospectus.

                (vi)   All of the issued and  outstanding  Common  Securities of
the Trust  are  directly  owned by the  Company  free and clear of any  security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equitable right.

                (vii)  This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
delivered by the Trust.

                (viii) The   execution,   delivery  and   performance   of  this
Agreement, the Declaration,  the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities;
the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  herein and therein;  and the
compliance by the Trust with its obligations hereunder and thereunder do not and
will not result in any violation of the Declaration or Certificate of Trust, and
do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of, any of the terms


                                      -14-


or provisions  of, or constitute a default  under,  or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Trust under (A) any contract,  indenture,  mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease
or any other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Trust is
a party or by which it may be  bound or to which  any of its  properties  may be
subject  (except for such conflicts,  breaches or defaults or liens,  charges or
encumbrances  that would not have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition,
financial or  otherwise,  or in the earnings or business  affairs of the Trust),
(B) any existing  applicable law, rule or regulation  (other than the securities
or blue sky laws of the various states, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) or (C) any judgment,  order or decree of any  government,  governmental
instrumentality  or  court,  domestic  or  foreign,  or any  regulatory  body or
administrative  agency or other  governmental body having  jurisdiction over the
Trust or any of its properties.

         (3)    The  favorable  opinion,  dated  as  of  the  Closing  Time,  of
Richards,  Layton & Finger,  counsel to Wilmington  Trust  Company,  as Property
Trustee under the Declaration,  Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee Agreement,
and Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriter, to the effect that:

                (i)    Wilmington   Trust   Company   is  a   Delaware   banking
corporation  with trust powers,  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware with all  necessary  power and
authority to execute and deliver,  and to carry out and perform its  obligations
under, the terms of the Declaration.

                (ii)   The execution,  delivery and performance by the Indenture
Trustee of the  Indenture and the  execution,  delivery and  performance  by the
Property Trustee of the Declaration and the execution,  delivery and performance
by the Guarantee Trustee of the Guarantee Agreement have been duly authorized by
all  necessary  corporate  action  on the  part of the  Indenture  Trustee,  the
Property Trustee and the Guarantee  Trustee,  respectively.  The Indenture,  the
Declaration and the Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by
the  Indenture  Trustee,   the  Property  Trustee  and  the  Guarantee  Trustee,
respectively,  and  constitute the legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the
Indenture Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively,
enforceable  against  the  Indenture  Trustee,  the  Property  Trustee  and  the
Guarantee  Trustee,  respectively,  in  accordance  with their terms,  except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by the Permitted Exceptions.

                (iii)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture,
the Declaration and the Guarantee  Agreement by the Indenture Trustee,  Property
Trustee and the  Guarantee  Trustee,  respectively,  does not  conflict  with or
constitute  a breach  of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of the
Indenture Trustee, Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively.

                (iv)   No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration
with or notice to, any Delaware or federal banking authority is required for the
execution,  delivery or  performance  by the  Indenture  Trustee,  the  Property
Trustee and the Guarantee  Trustee of the  Indenture,  the  Declaration  and the
Guarantee Agreement, respectively.

                                      -15-


         (4)    The favorable opinion of Williams,  Mullen, Christian & Dobbins,
P.C.,  tax  counsel to the  Company  and the Trust,  as to certain  Federal  tax
matters set forth in the Prospectus under "United States Income Taxation."

         (5)    Williams, Mullen, Christian & Dobbins, P.C. shall also provide a
written  statement that nothing has come to their attention that has caused them
to believe that the Registration  Statement (except for financial statements and
schedules and other  financial or statistical  data included or  incorporated by
reference,  therein, as to which counsel need make no statement), at the time it
became  effective or as of the date of their respective  opinions,  contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading
or that the Prospectus (except for financial  statements and schedules and other
financial or statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein,  as
to which  counsel need make no  statement),  as at the date hereof or at Closing
Time,  included  an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         (6)    At the Closing Time,  there shall not have been,  since the date
hereof or since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is given in the
Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,  any material  adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the
Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, whether
or not arising in the ordinary  course of business,  and the  Underwriter  shall
have received a certificate  of the President or a Vice President of the Company
and of the chief  financial  or chief  accounting  officer of the  Company and a
certificate  of the Trustee of the Trust,  dated as of the Closing  Time, to the
effect  that  (i)  there  has been no such  material  adverse  change,  (ii) the
representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the
same force and effect as though  expressly  made at and as of the Closing  Time,
(iii) the Trust and the Company have complied with all  agreements and satisfied
all  conditions  on its part to be  performed  or  satisfied  at or prior to the
Closing  Time,  and  (iv) no stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

         (7)    At the Closing Time,  BDO Seidman,  LLP shall have  furnished to
the  Underwriter  a letter or letters  (which  may refer to  letters  previously
delivered  to the  Underwriter),  dated  as of the  Closing  Time,  in form  and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, confirming that the response, if any,
to Item 10 of the  Registration  Statement  is correct  insofar as it relates to
them and stating in effect that:

                (i)    They are  independent  accountants  within the meaning of
the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations and the Exchange
Act Regulations.

                (ii)   In their opinion,  the consolidated  financial statements
of the Company and its subsidiaries audited by them and included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus  comply as to form in
all material  respects with the applicable



                                      -16-


accounting  requirements  of the  1933 Act and the  1933  Act  Regulations  with
respect to  registration  statements  on Form S-1 and the  Exchange  Act and the
Exchange Act Regulations.

                (iii)  On the basis of procedures  (but not in  accordance  with
generally accepted auditing standards) consisting of:

                       (a)    Reading  the  minutes  of  the   meetings  of  the
shareholders, the board of directors, executive committee and audit committee of
the  Company  and the  boards  of  directors  and  executive  committees  of its
subsidiaries  as set forth in the minute books through a specified date not more
than five business days prior to the date of delivery of such letter;

                       (b)    Performing   the   procedures   specified  by  the
American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants  for a review of interim
financial information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial Information,
on the unaudited  condensed  consolidated  interim  financial  statements of the
Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus and reading the unaudited  interim
financial data, if any, for the period from the date of the latest balance sheet
included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration  Statement  and
Prospectus to the date of the latest available interim financial data; and

                       (c)    Making  inquiries  of  certain  officials  of  the
Company who have  responsibility  for financial and accounting matters regarding
the specific items for which  representations  are requested below;  nothing has
come to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them
to believe that:

                              (1)    the   unaudited   condensed    consolidated
interim  financial  statements,  included or  incorporated  by  reference in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus,  do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the
Exchange Act Regulations thereunder;

                              (2)    any material  modifications  should be made
to the unaudited condensed  consolidated interim financial statements,  included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  for
them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

                              (3)(i) at the date of the latest available interim
financial  data and at the specified date not more than five business days prior
to the date of the delivery of such letter,  there was any change in the capital
stock or the long-term  debt (other than  scheduled  repayments of such debt) or
any decreases in  shareholders'  equity of the Company and the subsidiaries on a
consolidated  basis as  compared  with the amounts  shown in the latest  balance
sheet included or  incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement and
the  Prospectus  or (ii) for the period  from the date of the  latest  available
financial data to a specified date not more than five business days prior to the
delivery  of such  letter,  there  was any  change in the  capital  stock or the
long-term debt (other than  scheduled  repayments of such debt) or any decreases
in  shareholders'  equity of the Company and the  subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis,  except in all instances for changes or


                                      -17-


decreases which the Registration Statement and Prospectus disclose have occurred
or may occur, or BDO Seidman, LLP shall state any specific changes or decreases.

                (iv)   The letter  shall also  state that BDO  Seidman,  LLP has
carried out certain other specified procedures,  not constituting an audit, with
respect to certain  amounts,  percentages  and financial  information  which are
included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration  Statement  and
Prospectus  and which are  specified  by the  Underwriter  and  agreed to by BDO
Seidman, LLP, and has found such amounts,  percentages and financial information
to be in agreement with the relevant accounting,  financial and other records of
the Company and its subsidiaries identified in such letter.

         In addition,  at or prior to the time this  Agreement is executed,  BDO
Seidman,  LLP shall have furnished to the Underwriter a letter dated the date of
this Agreement,  in form and substance  satisfactory to the Underwriter,  to the
effect set forth in this subsection (7).

         (8)    At the Closing  Time,  the NASD shall have  confirmed in writing
that  it  has  not  raised  any  objection  with  respect  to the  fairness  and
reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

         If any  condition  specified  in  this  Section  shall  not  have  been
fulfilled in all material  respects when and as required to be  fulfilled,  this
Agreement  may be terminated by the  Underwriter  by notice to the Offerors,  in
writing or by  telephone or  telegraph  confirmed in writing,  at any time at or
prior to the Closing Time, and such  termination  shall be without  liability of
any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof,  and except
that Sections 1, 7, and 8 shall survive any such  termination and will remain in
full force and effect.

         SECTION 6.  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

         SECTION 7.  INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

         (a)    The Offerors  jointly and severally  agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the  Underwriter  and each of its partners,  officers,  directors,  and
employees  and each person,  if any, who  controls  the  Underwriter  within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the Exchange Act against any losses,  claims, damages
or liabilities,  and any action in respect thereof  (including,  but not limited
to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales
of the Preferred Securities), joint or several, which arises out of, or is based
upon, (i) any untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact
contained in (A) the  Registration  Statement,  or any  amendment or  supplement
thereto,  including information deemed to be part of the Registration  Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations,  if  applicable,  (B) the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement  thereto,  or (C) any  application or
other document, any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the Offerors or
based upon  information  furnished by or on behalf of the Offerors  filed in any
jurisdiction  in order to qualify the Preferred  Securities and the Common Stock
under the securities or blue sky laws thereof (each, an  "Application")  or (ii)
the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration  Statement, or any
amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or  the  Prospectus  or  any  amendment  or


                                      -18-


supplement  thereto,  or any Application,  a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  and shall
reimburse the  Underwriter  and each such  controlling  person for any legal and
other expenses incurred, as incurred, in investigating or defending or preparing
to defend  against or appearing as a third party witness in connection  with any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;  provided,  however, that neither
of the  Offerors  shall be  liable  to the  Underwriter  in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based
upon, any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement made in the Prospectus,
including any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon or in conformity
with  information  furnished  in writing to the  Offerors by or on behalf of the
Underwriter  specifically  for  inclusion  and actually  included  therein;  and
provided   further  that,  as  to  any  Prospectus  that  has  been  amended  or
supplemented as provided herein, this indemnity agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of the Underwriter,  on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action  arising  out of the sale of  Preferred  Securities  to any person by the
Underwriter  if (A) the  Underwriter  failed to send or give a copy of the final
Prospectus  as so  amended  or  supplemented  to that  person at or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Preferred Securities to such person in any case
where such delivery is required by the 1933 Act, and (B) the untrue statement or
alleged untrue  statement of a material fact or omission or alleged  omission to
state  a  material  fact  in any  preliminary  Prospectus  was  corrected  in an
amendment or  supplement  thereto (but only if the sale to such person  occurred
after the Offerors provided the Underwriter and the Underwriter  received copies
of such amendment or supplement for distribution). This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Offerors may otherwise have.

         (b)    The  Underwriter  will  indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
the  Trust,  the  Trustees  and  each of the  Company's  directors,  each of its
officers and each  person,  if any, who controls the Company or the Trust within
the  meaning  of the 1933 Act or the  Exchange  Act,  to the same  extent as the
foregoing  indemnity  from  the  Offerors  to the  Underwriter,  but  only  with
reference to written information  relating to such underwriter  furnished to the
Offerors by the Underwriter and  specifically  included in the Prospectus.  This
indemnity  shall be in  addition to any  liability  which such  Underwriter  may
otherwise have. The Offerors acknowledge that the statements set forth under the
heading  "Underwriting"  in  the  Prospectus  constitute  the  only  information
furnished in writing by the Underwriter for inclusion in the Prospectus.

         (c)    Promptly  after  receipt  by an  indemnified  party  under  this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action,  such  indemnified  party
shall,  if a  claim  in  respect  thereof  is to be  made  against  one or  more
indemnifying  parties  under this Section 7, notify such  indemnifying  party or
parties  of  the  commencement  thereof;  but  the  omission  so to  notify  the
indemnifying  party or parties  will not  relieve it or them from any  liability
which  it or they  may  have  to any  indemnified  party  otherwise  than  under
subsection  (a) or (b) of this Section 7 or to the extent that the  indemnifying
party was not adversely  affected by such  omission.  In case any such action is
brought against an indemnified  party and it notifies an  indemnifying  party or
parties of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party or parties against
which a claim is to be made will be entitled to participate  therein and, to the
extent that it or they may wish,  to assume the defense  thereof,  with  counsel
reasonably  satisfactory to such indemnified party;  provided,  however, that if
the  defendants in any such action  include both the  indemnified  party and the
indemnifying  party



                                      -19-


and the indemnified party shall have reasonably  concluded that there may be one
or more legal defenses  available to it and/or other  indemnified  parties which
are different from or additional to those available to the  indemnifying  party,
the  indemnifying  party  shall not have the right to direct the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party
or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action
on  behalf  of  such  indemnified  party  or  parties.  After  notice  from  the
indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof and approval by such indemnified  party of counsel  appointed to
defend  such  action,  the  indemnifying  party  will  not  be  liable  to  such
indemnified  party under this Section 7 for any legal or other  expenses,  other
than  reasonable  costs  of   investigation,   subsequently   incurred  by  such
indemnified  party  in  connection  with the  defense  thereof,  unless  (i) the
indemnified  party shall have employed  separate  counsel in accordance with the
proviso to the immediately  preceding  sentence (it being  understood,  however,
that in connection with such action the  indemnifying  party shall not be liable
for the  expenses  of more  than one  separate  counsel  (in  addition  to local
counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially  similar actions in the
same jurisdiction  arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
designated by the lead  Underwriter in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section
7, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are parties
to such action or actions),  or (ii) the  indemnifying  party has  authorized in
writing the  employment of counsel for the  indemnified  party at the expense of
the indemnifying  party.  After such notice from the indemnifying  party to such
indemnified  party, the indemnifying  party will not be liable for the costs and
expenses of any  settlement of such action  effected by such  indemnified  party
without  the  consent  of the  indemnifying  party,  which  consent  will not be
unreasonably  withheld,  unless such  indemnified  party waived its rights under
this Section 7 in writing in which case the indemnified  party may effect such a
settlement without such consent.

         (d)    The Company  agrees to indemnify  the Trust  against all losses,
claims, damages or liabilities due from the Trust under Section 7(a) hereof.

         (e)    If the indemnification  provided for in the preceding paragraphs
of this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party under paragraph (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof)  referred to therein,  then the
Offerors or the Underwriter  shall contribute to the aggregate  losses,  claims,
damages and liabilities  (including legal or other expenses  reasonably incurred
in connection  with  investigating  or defending same) to which the Offerors and
the  Underwriter  may be subject in such  proportion so that the  Underwriter is
responsible  for that  portion  represented  by the  percentage  that the  total
discounts  and/or  commissions  received by the Underwriter  bears to the sum of
such  discounts  and/or  commissions  and the  purchase  price of the  Preferred
Securities  specified in Schedule B hereto and the Offerors are  responsible for
the balance;  provided,  however,  that (y) in no case shall the  Underwriter be
responsible for any amount in excess of the total discounts  and/or  commissions
received  by it  with  respect  to the  Preferred  Securities  sold  under  this
Agreement and (z) no person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this Section 7, each person who controls the  Underwriter  within the meaning
of the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to contribution  as the  Underwriter,
and each person who controls either of the Offerors within the



                                      -20-


meaning of either the 1933 Act or the Exchange  Act,  each officer or trustee of
the Offerors who shall have signed the Registration  Statement and each director
or trustee of the  Offerors  shall have the same rights to  contribution  as the
Offerors,  subject in each case to clause (y) of this  paragraph  (e). Any party
entitled to contribution will,  promptly after receipt of notice of commencement
of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim
for  contribution  may be made  against  another  party or  parties  under  this
paragraph  (e),  notify  such party or  parties  from whom  contribution  may be
sought,  but the  omission to so notify such party or parties  shall not relieve
the  party or  parties  from  whom  contribution  may be  sought  from any other
obligation it or they may have  hereunder or otherwise than under this paragraph
(e).

         SECTION 8.  REPRESENTATIONS,  WARRANTIES  AND  AGREEMENTS  TO   SURVIVE
DELIVERY.  All  representations,  warranties  and  agreements  contained in this
Agreement,  or contained in certificates of officers or Trustees of the Offerors
submitted pursuant hereto,  shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless  of any  investigation  made by or on  behalf of the  Underwriter  or
controlling  person,  or by or on behalf  of the  Offerors,  and  shall  survive
delivery of the Preferred Securities to the purchasers thereof.

         SECTION 9.  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

         (a)    The Underwriter  may terminate this Agreement,  by notice to the
Offerors,  at any time at or prior to the  Closing  Time (i) if there  has been,
since  the date of this  Agreement  or since  the  respective  dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement,  any material adverse change
in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs
of the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries,  considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,  or (ii) if there has
occurred  any material  adverse  change in the  financial  markets in the United
States or elsewhere  or any outbreak of  hostilities  or  escalation  thereof or
other  calamity or crisis or any change or  development  involving a prospective
change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions,
in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the  judgment  of the
Underwriter,  impracticable  to market the  Preferred  Securities  or to enforce
contracts for the sale of the Preferred  Securities,  or (iii) if trading in any
securities of the Company or the Trust has been suspended or materially  limited
by the Commission or the applicable exchange, or if trading generally on the New
York Stock  Exchange,  the  American  Stock  Exchange or on the NASDAQ  National
Market,  has been suspended,  limited or restricted or minimum or maximum prices
for trading have been fixed,  or maximum ranges for prices for  securities  have
been required,  by said exchanges or such system or by order of the  Commission,
the NASD or any governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been
declared by Federal, New York, Virginia or Delaware authorities.

         (b)    If this Agreement is terminated  pursuant to this Section,  such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
provided in Section 4 hereof, and except that Sections 1, 7, and 8 shall survive
any such termination and will remain in full force and effect.

         SECTION 10.  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]


                                      -21-


         SECTION 11.  NOTICES.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder
shall be in  writing  and shall be  deemed to have been duly  given if mailed or
transmitted  by  any  standard  form  of   telecommunication.   Notices  to  the
Underwriter  shall be  directed to McKinnon & Company,  555 Main  Street,  First
Virginia Building, 16th Floor, Norfolk,  Virginia 23510,  Attention:  William J.
McKinnon.  Notices to the Trust and the  Company  shall be  directed  to them at
Guaranty  Financial  Corporation,  1658 State Farm  Boulevard,  Charlottesville,
Virginia 22911, Attention:
Thomas P. Baker.

         SECTION 12.  PARTIES.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the Underwriter and the Trust,  the Company and their respective
successors.  Nothing  expressed or  mentioned  in this  Agreement is intended or
shall be  construed  to give any  person,  firm or  corporation,  other than the
Underwriter  and the Trust and the Company and their  respective  successors and
the  controlling  persons and officers,  directors  and trustees  referred to in
Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal  Underwriter,  any legal or equitable
right,  remedy or claim under or in respect of this  Agreement or any  provision
herein  contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions  hereof are
intended to be for the sole and  exclusive  benefit of the  Underwriter  and the
Trust and the  Company and their  respective  successors,  and said  controlling
persons  and  officers,  directors  and  trustees  and  their  heirs  and  legal
Underwriter,  and for the benefit of no other person,  firm or  corporation.  No
purchaser of Preferred  Securities from the Underwriter  shall be deemed to be a
successor by reason merely of such purchase.

         SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. This Agreement shall be governed by
and  construed  in  accordance  with the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said  Commonwealth.  Except
as otherwise set forth herein,  specified times of day refer to City of Richmond
time.

         SECTION 14. COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or
more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original,  but all such respective  counterparts  shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.

         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement,  please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof,  whereupon
this instrument,  along with all  counterparts,  will become a binding agreement
between the  Underwriter  and the Trust and the Company in  accordance  with its
terms.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     GUARANTY FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                     By:______________________________
                                         Title:



                                      -22-




                                     GUARANTY CAPITAL TRUST I


                                     By:______________________________
                                     Title:  Trustee


                                     By:______________________________
                                     Title:  Trustee


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, 
as of the date first above written:

McKINNON & COMPANY, INC.


By:_____________________________
    William J. McKinnon, Jr.
    President




                                      -23-



                                   SCHEDULE A


            Name of Underwriter                   Number of Preferred Securities
            -------------------                   ------------------------------








                                      -24-


                                   SCHEDULE B


Underwriting Agreement dated ________, 1998

Registration Statement No. _________

Underwriter:  McKinnon & Company, Inc.

Address of Underwriter:  555 Main Street, First Virginia Building, 16th Floor, 
                         Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

         Title:   $________ Convertible Preferred Securities (Liquidation Amount
                  $25.00)

                  1.    The initial  public  offering price per security for the
                        Preferred Securities,  determined as provided in Section
                        2, shall be $25.00.

                  2.    The  compensation  per Preferred  Security to be paid by
                        the Company to the Underwriter shall be $_______, out of
                        which  commissions  payable to Selected Dealers shall be
                        paid.



                                      -25-