FORM OF

                                 TRUST AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                                RFS BANCORP, INC.

                                       AND

                                [NAME OF TRUSTEE]

                                     FOR THE

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                       OF RFS BANCORP, INC. AND AFFILIATES

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






                       Entered into as of _________, 1998








                                TABLE OF CONTENTS






                                                                                                               Page

                                                                     ARTICLE I

                                                                     TRUST FUND

                                                                                                          
         Section 1.1       Trust Fund.............................................................................2
                           ----------
         Section 1.2       Collection of Contributions............................................................2
                           ---------------------------
         Section 1.3       Non-diversion of Funds.................................................................2
                           ----------------------



                                                                       ARTICLE II

                                                              INVESTMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

         Section 2.1       In General.............................................................................3
                           ----------
         Section 2.2       Investment Funds.......................................................................3
                           ----------------
         Section 2.3       Appointment of Investment Manager......................................................3
                           ---------------------------------
         Section 2.4       Investment Decisions...................................................................4
                           --------------------
         Section 2.5       Investment in Commingled Funds.........................................................5
                           ------------------------------
         Section 2.6       Liquidity..............................................................................6
                           ---------
         Section 2.7       Investment Directions by Participants..................................................6
                           -------------------------------------
         Section 2.8       Trustee's Administrative Authority.....................................................6
                           ----------------------------------
         Section 2.9       Exercise of Voting Rights with Respect to Shares.......................................8
                           ------------------------------------------------
         Section 2.10      Response to Tender Offers and Similar Events...........................................8
                           --------------------------------------------
         Section 2.11      Dissent and Appraisal Rights...........................................................9
                           ----------------------------
         Section 2.12      Share Acquisition Loans................................................................9
                           -----------------------



                                                                   ARTICLE III

                                                     TRUSTEE, PLAN ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMITTEE

         Section 3.1       Committee and Plan Administrator......................................................10
                           --------------------------------
         Section 3.2       Trustee's Reliance....................................................................11
                           ------------------
         Section 3.3       Retention of Advisors.................................................................11
                           ---------------------
         Section 3.4       Liability under the Plan..............................................................11
                           ------------------------
         Section 3.5       Indemnification.......................................................................11
                           ---------------
         Section 3.6       Benefit Claims Limited to the Trust Fund..............................................12
                           ----------------------------------------



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                                                                     ARTICLE IV

                                                          DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TRUST FUND

                                                                                                          
         Section 4.1       In General............................................................................12
                           ----------
         Section 4.2       Direction by the Plan Administrator...................................................12
                           -----------------------------------
         Section 4.3       Method of Payment.....................................................................13
                           -----------------
         Section 4.4       Disputes..............................................................................13
                           --------



                                                                      ARTICLE V

                                                                   RESPONSIBILITIES

         Section 5.1       General Standard of Care..............................................................13
                           ------------------------
         Section 5.2       No Liability for Acts of Others.......................................................13
                           -------------------------------
         Section 5.3       Compliance with ERISA.................................................................14
                           ---------------------



                                                                     ARTICLE VI

                                                                   TRUSTEE'S ACCOUNTS

         Section 6.1       Accounts..............................................................................15
                           --------
         Section 6.2       Valuation of Trust Fund...............................................................15
                           -----------------------
         Section 6.3       Reports to the Plan Administrator.....................................................15
                           ---------------------------------
         Section 6.4       Right of Judicial Settlement..........................................................16
                           ----------------------------
         Section 6.5       Enforcement of Agreement..............................................................16
                           ------------------------



                                                                    ARTICLE VII

                                                          TAXES; COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE

         Section 7.1       Taxes.................................................................................16
                           -----
         Section 7.2       Compensation of Trustee; Expenses.....................................................17
                           ---------------------------------





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                                                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                                        RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE
                                                                                                          
         Section 8.1       Resignation or Removal of Trustee.....................................................17
                           ---------------------------------
         Section 8.2       Appointment of Successor..............................................................17
                           ------------------------
         Section 8.3       Succession............................................................................18
                           ----------
         Section 8.4       Successor Bound by Agreement..........................................................18
                           ----------------------------



                                                                     ARTICLE IX

                                                              AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

         Section 9.1       Amendment and Termination.............................................................18
                           -------------------------



                                                                      ARTICLE X

                                                                    MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 10.1      Binding Effect; Assignability.........................................................19
                           -----------------------------
         Section 10.2      Governing Law.........................................................................19
                           -------------
         Section 10.3      Notices...............................................................................19
                           -------
         Section 10.4      Severability..........................................................................20
                           ------------
         Section 10.5      Waiver................................................................................20
                           ------
         Section 10.6      Non-Alienation........................................................................21
                           --------------
         Section 10.7      Qualified Plan and Trust..............................................................21
                           ------------------------
         Section 10.8      Return of Contributions...............................................................21
                           -----------------------
         Section 10.9      Compliance with Securities Laws.......................................................22
                           -------------------------------
         Section 10.10     Headings..............................................................................22
                           --------
         Section 10.11     Party in Interest Information.........................................................22
                           -----------------------------
         Section 10.12     Construction of Language..............................................................22
                           ------------------------
         Section 10.13     Counterparts..........................................................................22
                           ------------




                                      -iii-









                                 TRUST AGREEMENT

                                     FOR THE

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                       OF RFS BANCORP, INC. AND AFFILIATES

     This  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  is made and entered into as of  __________,
1998, by and between RFS BANCORP,  INC., a corporation  organized under the laws
of the State of  Delaware  and having  its  executive  offices at 310  Broadway,
Revere  Massachusetts  02151  ("Company"),  and  [NAME OF  TRUSTEE],  a  banking
corporation  organized  under  the laws of the  state of  _________________  and
having an office at _________________________ ("Trustee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

     WHEREAS, the Company has, by action of its Board of Directors,  adopted the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan of RFS Bancorp,  Inc. and Affiliates ("Plan"),  an
employee benefit plan intended to be  tax-qualified  under section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), for the exclusive benefit of
the  Company's  eligible  employees  and  those  employed  by its  participating
affiliates (collectively, the "Participants"); and

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  has,  in  accordance  with the  terms of the  Plan,
appointed  a  Plan  Administrator   ("Plan   Administrator")   and  a  Committee
("Committee") to administer the Plan; and

     WHEREAS,  the Plan  contemplates the establishment and the maintenance of a
trust,  intended to be  tax-exempt  under  section  501(a) of the Code, to which
contributions  will be  deposited  from time to time to be held and  invested in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the Plan  provides  for the assets of such  trust to be  invested
primarily  in shares  of  common  stock of the  Company  ("Shares")  and for the
Trustee to obtain a Share  Acquisition  Loan (as defined in section 2.12 herein)
for the purpose of purchasing such Shares;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein, the Company and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:

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                                       -2-


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   TRUST FUND

     SECTION 1.1 TRUST FUND.

     The Company hereby  establishes  with the Trustee a trust,  pursuant to the
Plan,  in which shall be  deposited  such Shares and such sums of money as shall
from time to time be paid or delivered  to or  deposited  with the Trustee by or
with the approval of the Company in  accordance  with terms of the Plan and this
Trust Agreement. All such Shares and all such sums of money, all investments and
re-investments  thereof and all earnings,  appreciation and additions  allocable
thereto,  less  losses,  depreciation  and  expenses  allocable  thereto and any
payments made  therefrom as authorized  under the Plan or this  Agreement  shall
constitute  the  "Trust  Fund".  The  Trust  Fund  shall  be held,  managed  and
administered  by the Trustee,  IN TRUST,  and dealt with in accordance  with the
provisions  of this  Agreement  and in  accordance  with any  funding  policy or
guidelines  established  under the Plan that are  communicated in writing to the
Trustee.

     SECTION 1.2 COLLECTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

     The Trustee shall have no authority  over and shall have no  responsibility
for the administration of the Plan or for the collection of any contributions to
the Trust Fund required under the Plan, nor shall it have any authority to bring
any action or proceeding to enforce the collection of any such amount or to make
inquiry  as to  whether  any such  contributions  received  by it were  properly
collected or computed in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

     SECTION 1.3 NON-DIVERSION OF FUNDS.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any
amendment  hereto,  no part of the Trust Fund other than such expenses and taxes
properly  charged to the Trust Fund  under the Plan or this  Agreement  shall be
used for or diverted to purposes  other than for the  exclusive  benefit of Plan
Participants and their beneficiaries  (including any alternate payee entitled to
benefits  under  the Plan  pursuant  to a  qualified  domestic  relations  order
described in section 414(p) of the Code ("Alternate Payee")).

                                       -2-







                                       -3-

                                   ARTICLE II

                          INVESTMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

     SECTION 2.1 IN GENERAL.

     The Trust  Fund  shall be held by the  Trustee  and shall be  invested  and
reinvested  as  hereinafter  provided in this  Article II,  without  distinction
between  principal and income and without regard to the restrictions of the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,  or of any other jurisdiction  relating to
the  investment of trust funds.  Subject to section 2.7, the Trust Fund shall be
invested at all times,  pursuant to directions  given in accordance with section
2.4, primarily in Shares.

     SECTION 2.2 INVESTMENT FUNDS.

     (a) The Trustee shall  establish and  maintain,  for the  investment of the
Trust Fund, such separate investment funds (individually,  an "Investment Fund")
as the Company may request by written  notice to the Trustee.  In the absence of
such notice, the Trust Fund shall consist of a single Investment Fund.

     (b) To the extent  directed to do so pursuant to section  2.4,  the Trustee
shall hold and invest amounts paid over to it pursuant to this Agreement in such
Investment  Funds as shall have been  established  in  accordance  with  section
2.2(a), and shall allocate amounts paid over to it among the Investment Funds in
the manner and in the proportion  designated by the Plan Administrator  pursuant
to the terms of the Plan. The Trustee shall also credit to each such  Investment
Fund all earnings and  appreciation  allocable  thereto and shall charge against
each such fund any depreciation,  losses,  expenses,  payments and distributions
allocable thereto.

     (c) The  Trustee  shall  invest  and  reinvest  amounts  allocated  to each
Investment Fund in accordance with such written investment  criteria as shall be
established  by the  Committee  and  communicated  in  writing  to the  Trustee.
Notwithstanding  any such  investment  criteria,  the Trustee is  authorized  to
retain  in an  Investment  Fund,  for as long as it is deemed  advisable  by the
person  responsible  for directing the investment of the  particular  Investment
Fund,  (i) any  securities  or other  property  received by means of a dividend,
distribution,  exchange,  conversion,  liquidation  or otherwise than by initial
purchase;  and (ii) any investments which were authorized hereunder when made by
the Trustee.

     SECTION 2.3 APPOINTMENT OF INVESTMENT MANAGER.

     (a) The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  appoint an investment  manager
("Investment  Manager") to direct the investment and  reinvestment of all or any
portion of the Trust  Fund.  Any such  Investment  Manager  shall  either (i) be
registered as an investment  adviser under the Investment  Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended ("Investment Advisers Act"); (ii) be a

                                       -3-







                                       -4-

bank,  as defined  in the  Investment  Advisers  Act;  or (iii) be an  insurance
company qualified to perform investment services under the laws of more than one
state.

     (b) The Plan Administrator  shall give written notice to the Trustee of the
appointment of an Investment  Manager  pursuant to section  2.3(a).  Such notice
shall include: (i) a specification of the portion of the Trust Fund to which the
appointment  applies;  (ii) a certification by the Plan  Administrator  that the
Investment  Manager  satisfies the  requirements of section  2.3(a)(i),  (ii) or
(iii);  (iii) a copy of the  instruments  appointing the Investment  Manager and
evidencing  the  Investment  Manager's  acceptance  of  the  appointment;   (iv)
directions  as to the manner in which the  Investment  Manager is  authorized to
give  instructions  to the Trustee,  including  the persons  authorized  to give
instructions and the number of signatures required for any written  instruction;
(v) an  acknowledgment  by the Investment  Manager that it is a fiduciary of the
Plan; and (vi) if applicable,  a certificate evidencing the Investment Manager's
current  registration  under the  Investment  Advisers Act. For purposes of this
Agreement, the appointment of an Investment Manager pursuant to this section 2.3
shall become effective as of the effective date specified in such notice, or, if
later,  as of the date on which  the  Trustee  receives  proper  notice  of such
appointment.

     (c) The Plan Administrator  shall give written notice to the Trustee of the
resignation or removal of an Investment Manager previously appointed pursuant to
this section  2.3.  From and after the date on which the Trustee  receives  such
notice, or, if later, the effective date of the resignation or removal specified
in such notice,  the Committee  shall be  responsible,  in accordance  with this
section 2.3, for the  investment  and  reinvestment  of the portion of the Trust
Fund  theretofore  managed  by such  Investment  Manager,  until  such time as a
successor  Investment  Manager has been duly appointed  pursuant to this section
2.3.

     SECTION 2.4 INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

     (a) The Trustee shall invest and reinvest the Trust Fund as follows:

          (i) in accordance with the directions of the Committee; or

          (ii) to the extent that an  Investment  Manager is appointed to direct
     the investment of any Investment Fund, in accordance with the directions of
     such Investment Manager.

The Trustee shall be under no duty or obligation to review any  investment to be
acquired,  held or disposed of pursuant to  directions  of the  Committee or any
Investment  Manager  nor  to  make  any  recommendation   with  respect  to  the
disposition or continued  retention of any such  investment.  To the extent that
the Trustee is subject to direction by the Committee or an  Investment  Manager,
the  Trustee  shall  have no  liability  or  responsibility  for its  actions or
inaction  pursuant to the  direction of, or its failure to act in the absence of
directions  from, the Committee or an Investment  Manager,  except to the extent
provided in section 5.2. To the extent that the Trustee is subject

                                       -4-







                                       -5-

to  direction by the  Committee or an  Investment  Manager,  the Company  hereby
agrees to indemnify  the Trustee and hold it harmless from and defend it against
any claim or  liability  which may be asserted  against the Trustee by reason of
any action or inaction by it pursuant to a direction  by the  Committee or by an
Investment Manager or failing to act in the absence of any such direction.

     (b) The Committee or an Investment  Manager  appointed  pursuant to section
2.3  shall,  from  time  to  time,  issue  orders  for the  purchase  or sale of
securities  directly to a broker.  Written  notification of the issuance of each
such  order  shall be given  promptly  to the  Trustee by the  Committee  or the
Investment  Manager,  and the execution of each such order shall be confirmed by
written  advice  to the  Trustee  by the  broker.  Such  notification  shall  be
authority  for the  Trustee  to pay for  securities  purchased  against  receipt
thereof and to deliver securities sold against payment therefor, as the case may
be.

     (c) To the extent that  neither the  Committee  nor an  Investment  Manager
furnishes  directions as to the investment of any portion of the Trust Fund that
is subject to its  direction,  the Trustee  shall  invest and reinvest the Trust
Fund (i) in Shares and (ii) to the extent that it is not  practicable  to invest
and reinvest  the Trust Fund in Shares,  in any savings  account,  time or other
interest bearing deposit or in any other interest bearing  obligation of any one
or more savings banks, savings and loan associations,  banks and other financial
institutions,  or any of them,  including  the Trustee or any  subsidiary of the
Company,  or, subject to section 2.5, in any  commingled,  common or group trust
fund at least 75% of the assets of which are invested in such savings  accounts,
time or other interest bearing deposits or other interest bearing obligations.

     (d) Subject to the  preceding  provisions  of this section 2.4, the Trustee
shall have the power and authority to be exercised in its sole discretion at any
time and from time to time to issue and place orders for the purchase or sale of
securities directly with qualified brokers or dealers. Such orders may be placed
with  such  qualified  brokers  and/or  dealers  who  also  provide   investment
information  or other  research  or  statistical  services to the Trustee in its
capacity as a fiduciary or investment manager for other clients.

     SECTION 2.5 INVESTMENT IN COMMINGLED FUNDS.

     The Trustee  may, if directed to do so by the  Committee  or an  Investment
Manager or if authorized  to do so pursuant to section 2.4,  invest any amounts,
other than Shares,  held by it under this  Agreement in any  commingled or group
trust fund  described  in section  401(a) of the Code and exempt  under  section
501(a) of the Code or in any common trust fund exempt  under  section 584 of the
Code, provided that such trust fund satisfies the requirements of this Agreement
applicable  to such  amounts  and that the  Trustee  serves as  trustee  of such
commingled,  group or common trust fund. To the extent that the Trust Fund is at
any time invested in any commingled, group or common trust fund, the declaration
of trust or other instrument  pertaining to such fund and any amendments thereto
are hereby  adopted as part of this  Agreement  and deemed to form a part of the
Plan. If there is any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and such

                                       -5-







                                       -6-

declaration of trust or other  instrument,  then the terms of the declaration of
trust or other  instrument of the  commingled,  group or common trust fund shall
govern.

     SECTION 2.6 LIQUIDITY.

     Notwithstanding  any  provisions  of this Article II to the  contrary,  the
Trustee, in its sole discretion or as the Plan Administrator shall request,  may
retain  un-invested  cash or cash  balances,  and sell,  to provide cash or cash
balances,  such  investments  in whatever  portion of the Trust Fund that it may
deem  advisable,  without  being  required  to  pay  interest  thereon.  Pending
investment,  the Trustee,  in its sole  discretion,  may temporarily  invest any
funds held or received by it for  investment in an investment  fund  established
hereunder in commercial paper or in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United
States government or any of its agencies.

     SECTION 2.7 INVESTMENT DIRECTIONS BY PARTICIPANTS.

     Each  Participant  entitled thereto under the terms of the Plan ("Qualified
Participant")  shall  have the right to direct  the  allocation  to the  various
Investment Funds  established  hereunder to be made by the Trustee for a portion
of such Qualified  Participant's  account under the Plan. The Plan Administrator
shall by written notice  furnish the Trustee with the investment  directions for
each  Qualified  Participant's  account in the Plan.  The  Trustee  shall act in
accordance  with  the  most  recent  directions  it has  received  from the Plan
Administrator   for  each  account  and  shall  have  no   discretion   over  or
responsibility  or  liability  for its  actions  taken in  accordance  with such
directions.  The Company  hereby  agrees to indemnify and defend the Trustee and
hold it  harmless  from and  against  any claim  asserted  against or  liability
imposed on the Trustee by reason of its having acted on any direction given by a
Qualified Participant with respect to his own account.

     SECTION 2.8 TRUSTEE'S ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY.

     (a) In  addition  to and  not by way  of  limitation  of any  other  powers
conferred upon the Trustee by law or by other provisions of this Agreement,  but
subject to the  provisions  of section  1.3 and this  Article II, the Trustee is
authorized and empowered:

          (i) subject to section 2.10, to sell,  exchange,  convey,  transfer or
     dispose of and also to grant options with respect to any property,  whether
     real or  personal,  at any  time  held by it,  and any  sale may be made by
     private  contract or by public  auction,  and for cash or upon  credit,  or
     partly for cash and partly  upon  credit,  and no person  dealing  with the
     Trustee shall be bound to see to the  application  of the purchase money or
     to inquire into the  validity,  expediency or propriety of any such sale or
     other disposition;

          (ii) to  retain,  manage,  operate,  repair  and  rehabilitate  and to
     mortgage  or lease for any period any real  estate  held by it and,  in its
     discretion,  cause to be formed any  corporation  or trust to hold title to
     any such real property;

                                       -6-







                                       -7-

          (iii) unless otherwise agreed to and subject to sections 2.9 and 2.10,
     to vote in person or by proxy on any  stocks,  bonds,  or other  securities
     held by it, to exercise  any options  appurtenant  to any stocks,  bonds or
     other  securities  for the conversion  thereof into other stocks,  bonds or
     securities,  or to exercise any rights to subscribe for additional  stocks,
     bonds  or  other  securities  and to make  any and  all  necessary  payment
     therefor and to enter into any voting trust;

          (iv) with respect to any investment,  subject to section 2.12, to join
     in, dissent from, or oppose any action or inaction of any  corporation,  or
     of the directors,  officers or stockholders of any corporation,  including,
     without limitation,  any reorganization,  recapitalization,  consolidation,
     liquidation, sale or merger;

          (v) to  settle,  adjust,  compromise,  or  submit to  arbitration  any
     claims, debts or damages due or owing to or from the Trust Fund; and

          (vi) to deposit any property with any  protective,  reorganization  or
     similar  committee,  to delegate  power thereto and to pay and agree to pay
     part of its  expenses  and  compensation  and any  assessments  levied with
     respect to any property so deposited.

In exercising  such powers with respect to any portion of the Trust Fund that is
invested in the  discretion  of the Trustee or pursuant to section  2.4(c),  the
Trustee shall act in its  discretion.  In exercising such powers with respect to
any portion of the Trust Fund that is invested  pursuant  to  directions  of the
Committee or of an Investment Manager,  the Trustee shall act in accordance with
directions provided by the Committee or Investment Manager. The Trustee shall be
under no duty or obligation  to review any action to be taken,  nor to recommend
any action,  pursuant to this section  2.8(a) with respect to any portion of the
Trust  Fund  that is under  the  direction  of the  Committee  or an  Investment
Manager.  The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility  for its actions
or inaction  pursuant to the  direction of, or its failure to act in the absence
of directions from, the Committee or an Investment Manager, except to the extent
provided in section 5.2.

     (b) In  addition  to and  not by way  of  limitation  of any  other  powers
conferred  upon the Trustee by law or other  provisions of this  Agreement,  but
subject to  section  1.3 and this  Article  II, the  Trustee is  authorized  and
empowered, in its discretion:

          (i) to commence or defend suits or legal proceedings, and to represent
     the Trust Fund in all suits or legal proceedings in any court or before any
     other body or tribunal;

          (ii) to register  securities in its name or in the name of any nominee
     or  nominees  with or  without  indication  of the  capacity  in which  the
     securities  shall be held, or to hold  securities  in bearer form,  but the
     books  and  records  of the  Trustee  shall at all  times  show  that  such
     investments are part of the Trust Fund;

                                       -7-







                                       -8-

          (iii)  subject  to  section  2.11,  to borrow or raise  moneys for the
     purposes  of the Trust  Fund from any  lender,  except  the  Trustee in its
     individual  capacity,  and for any sum so borrowed to issue its  promissory
     note as Trustee and to secure the repayment  thereof by pledging all or any
     part of the Trust Fund, and no person lending money to the Trustee shall be
     bound to see the  application  of the money  loaned or to inquire  into the
     validity, expediency or propriety of any such borrowing;

          (iv) to make  distributions in cash or in Shares upon the direction of
     the Committee and to make transfers of funds into and out of the Investment
     Funds for value or upon the direction of the Plan Administrator;

          (v) to employ  such  agents,  counsel and  accountants  as the Trustee
     shall deem advisable and to pay their reasonable  expenses and compensation
     from the Trust Fund;

          (vi) to make,  execute,  acknowledge,  and  deliver any and all deeds,
     leases, assignments and instruments; and

          (vii) generally to do all acts,  whether or not expressly  authorized,
     which the Trustee may deem  necessary or desirable  for the  administration
     and protection of the Trust Fund.

     SECTION 2.9 EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SHARES.

     The  Committee  shall  direct the  Trustee as to the manner of  exercise of
voting rights  appurtenant  to Shares held in the Trust Fund.  The Trustee shall
act in accordance  with the  directions  that it receives from the Committee for
each matter as to which voting rights are to be exercised and shall refrain from
exercising the voting rights appurtenant to Shares held in the Trust Fund in the
absence  of such  directions.  The  Trustee  shall  have no  discretion  over or
responsibility  or  liability  for its  actions  taken in  accordance  with such
directions,  or for its failure to exercise such voting rights in the absence of
such directions.  The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Trustee and hold it
harmless  from and defend it against  any claim  asserted  against or  liability
imposed on the Trustee by reason of its having acted on any  direction  given by
the  Committee  in  accordance  with this  section  2.9 or failing to act in the
absence of any such direction.

     SECTION 2.10 RESPONSE TO TENDER OFFERS AND SIMILAR EVENTS.

     The Committee  shall direct the Trustee as to the manner of exercise of any
rights to tender  Shares held in the Trust Fund or otherwise  act in response to
any  tender  offer  with  respect  to  Shares or any  other  offer to  purchase,
exchange,  redeem or otherwise  transfer  such Shares.  The Trustee shall act in
accordance  with the  directions  that it receives  from the  Committee for each
matter as to which such rights are to be exercised and shall refrain from taking
any action in response to such an offer in the absence of such  directions.  The
Trustee shall have no  discretion  over or  responsibility  or liability for its
actions  taken in  accordance  with such  direc-

                                       -8-


                                       -9-

tions,  or for its  failure  to  exercise  such  rights in the  absence  of such
directions.  The  Company  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  the Trustee and hold it
harmless  from and defend it against  any claim  asserted  against or  liability
imposed on the Trustee by reason of its having acted on any  direction  given by
the  Committee  in  accordance  with this  section 2.10 or failing to act in the
absence of any such direction.

     SECTION 2.11 DISSENT AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS.

     The Committee  shall direct the Trustee as to the manner of exercise of any
dissent and appraisal  rights  appurtenant to Shares held in the Trust Fund. The
Trustee shall act in accordance  with the  directions  that it receives from the
Committee  for each matter as to which such rights are to be exercised and shall
refrain  from taking any action in the absence of such  directions.  The Trustee
shall have no  discretion  over or  responsibility  or liability for its actions
taken in accordance  with such  directions,  or for its failure to exercise such
rights in the absence of such directions. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify
the Trustee and hold it harmless  from and defend it against any claim  asserted
against or liability imposed on the Trustee by reason of its having acted on any
direction given by the Committee in accordance with this section 2.11 or failing
to act in the absence of any such direction.

     SECTION 2.12 SHARE ACQUISITION LOANS.

     (a) To the  extent  permitted  by  ERISA  (including,  without  limitation,
Section 4975 of the Code) and by any  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  the
Trustee  shall,  if directed to do so by the  Committee,  obtain a loan  ("Share
Acquisition  Loan") on behalf of the Plan and shall  apply the  proceeds of such
Share Acquisition Loan in the proportions directed by the Committee:

          (i) to purchase Shares; or

          (ii) to make payments of principal or interest,  or a  combination  of
     principal and interest, with respect to such Share Acquisition Loan; or

          (iii) to make payments of principal and interest,  or a combination of
     principal  and  interest,  with  respect  to a  previously  obtained  Share
     Acquisition Loan that is then outstanding.

Any such Share  Acquisition  Loan shall be on such terms and  conditions  as the
Committee  may  determine,  and the Trustee  shall have no duty or obligation to
inquire as to the expediency or propriety of any such Share  Acquisition Loan or
any of the terms and conditions thereof.

     (b) If directed to do so by the  Committee,  the  Trustee  shall  execute a
promissory  note, in its capacity as Trustee,  evidencing  the obligation of the
Plan to repay a Share

                                       -9-







                                      -10-

Acquisition  Loan and shall  pledge,  in such  proportions  as the Committee may
direct,  the  following  assets  of  the  Plan  as  collateral  for  such  Share
Acquisition Loan:

          (i) any Shares  purchased with the proceeds of such Share  Acquisition
     Loan;

     and

          (ii) any  Shares  purchased  with the  proceeds  of a  previous  Share
     Acquisition  Loan,  provided that such previous Share  Acquisition  Loan is
     repaid  with the  proceeds  of the Share  Acquisition  Loan for which  such
     Shares are pledged.

Any Share  Acquisition  Loan shall be without  recourse  against the Plan or the
Trustee, and, except as specifically provided in this section 2.12, no assets of
the Plan shall be pledged as collateral for a Share Acquisition Loan.

     (c) The Company shall contribute  under the Plan amounts  sufficient to pay
each  installment  of  principal  and  interest on all Share  Acquisition  Loans
payable by the Trust pursuant to this Section and any loan agreement  pertaining
to the Share  Acquisition Loan on or before the date such installment is due and
to meet the  obligations  of the Trustee under the loan. The Trustee shall apply
the  Company's   contributions   to  the  Trust  Fund,   the  earnings  on  such
contributions,  and the  earnings  with  respect to Shares  that shall have been
pledged as collateral for a Share  Acquisition  Loan, in such proportions as the
Committee  may direct,  to the payment of principal and interest with respect to
such Share Acquisition Loan.

     (d) All Shares purchased with any Share  Acquisition Loan shall be credited
to and held in a suspense  account  under the Trust until they shall be released
from such suspense account and allocated to the accounts of Plan Participants in
accordance with the Plan. The Plan Administrator  shall at least annually advise
the Trustee of the number of Shares to be released from such  suspense  account,
as determined in accordance with the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE III

                    TRUSTEE, PLAN ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMITTEE

     SECTION 3.1 COMMITTEE AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

     The Company shall certify to the Trustee the names and specimen  signatures
of the Plan  Administrator and of the members of the Committee  appointed by the
Company  to  administer  the Plan  and  give  directions  to the  Trustee.  Such
certification  shall include directions as to the number of signatures  required
for any  communication  or direction to the Trustee.  The Company shall promptly
give notice to the Trustee of changes in the identity of the Plan  Administrator
or in the membership of the Committee.  The Plan  Administrator or the Committee
may also certify

                                      -10-







                                      -11-

to the Trustee the name of any person, together with a specimen signature of any
such  person,  authorized  to act for it in  relation to the  Trustee.  The Plan
Administrator  or the Committee shall promptly give notice to the Trustee of any
change in any person  authorized to act on behalf of it. For all purposes  under
this  Agreement,  until any such notice is received by the Trustee,  the Trustee
shall  be  fully   protected   in  assuming   that  the  identity  of  the  Plan
Administrator,  the  membership of the Committee and the authority of any person
certified to act in its behalf remain unchanged.

     SECTION 3.2 TRUSTEE'S RELIANCE.

     The Trustee may rely and act upon any  certificate,  notice or direction of
the Plan Administrator or the Committee, or of a person authorized to act on its
behalf, or of the Company or of an Investment Manager which the Trustee believes
to be genuine and to have been signed by the person or persons  duly  authorized
to sign such certificate, notice, or direction.

     SECTION 3.3 RETENTION OF ADVISORS.

     The Trustee may consult with legal counsel and other professional  advisors
who may,  but need not, be its counsel or advisors or counsel or advisors to the
Company,  the Plan  Administrator,  the  Committee,  or any Plan  Participant or
beneficiary,  with respect to the meaning and  construction of this Agreement or
its powers, obligations, and conduct hereunder. The Trustee shall be entitled to
reasonable  reimbursement from the Trust Fund for such legal counsel's and other
professional  advisors'  fees.  The Trustee shall not be deemed  imprudent,  and
shall be fully and completely  protected,  by reason of its taking or refraining
form taking any action in accordance with the opinion of counsel.

     SECTION 3.4 LIABILITY UNDER THE PLAN.

     The  duties  and  obligations  of the  Trustee  shall be  limited  to those
expressly set forth in this Agreement,  notwithstanding  any reference herein to
the Plan.  The  Trustee  shall not be  obliged  to take or defend  any action or
participate  in or proceed with any suit or legal or  administrative  proceeding
which might subject it to substantial  cost or expense or liability unless first
indemnified  by the  Company in an amount  and by  security  satisfactory  to it
against all losses, costs, damages and expenses which may result therefrom or be
occasioned thereby.

     SECTION 3.5 INDEMNIFICATION.

     The Company  shall pay and shall  protect,  indemnify and save harmless the
Trustee  and its  officers,  employees  and agents  from and against any and all
losses,  liabilities  (including  liabilities  for penalties),  actions,  suits,
judgments, demands, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
fees and  expenses) of any nature  arising from or relating to any action or any
failure to act by the Trustee,  its officers,  employees and agents with respect
to the transactions  contemplated by this Trust  Agreement,  including any claim
made by the Company

                                      -11-







                                      -12-

or its successors that this Trust Agreement is invalid or ultra vires, except to
the extent  that any such  loss,  liability,  action,  suit,  judgment,  demand,
damage,  cost or expense is the result of the gross  negligence  of the  Trustee
(determined  by reference  to customary  trust  company  standards)  /or willful
misconduct of the Trustee, its officers,  employees or agents. The Trust assumes
no  obligation  or  responsibility  with respect to any action  required by this
Trust Agreement on the part of the Company.  The Company and the Trustee may, by
separate  agreement,  agree on terms by which the Company  shall  indemnify  the
Trustee in connection with the Trustee's carrying out of its duties hereunder.

     SECTION 3.6 BENEFIT CLAIMS LIMITED TO THE TRUST FUND.

     The Trustee in its  corporate  capacity  shall not be liable for claims for
benefits  under the Plan;  such claims  shall be limited to the Trust Fund.  The
Trust shall not be liable to make  distributions  or payments of any kind unless
sufficient funds are available  therefor in the Trust Fund. The Trustee shall be
responsible  only for such money and other  property  as are  received  by it as
Trustee under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                        DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE TRUST FUND

     SECTION 4.1 IN GENERAL.

     The Trustee shall make  payments  from the Trust Fund in such  amounts,  at
such times,  and to such  persons as the Plan  Administrator  may,  from time to
time, direct.

     SECTION 4.2 DIRECTION BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

     (a) A direction by the Plan  Administrator to make a distribution  from the
Trust Fund shall:

          (i) be made in writing;

          (ii)  specify  the amount of the payment or the number of Shares to be
     distributed,  the date  such  payment  is to be made,  the  person  to whom
     payment is to be made,  and the address to which the payment is to be sent;
     and

          (iii) be deemed to certify to the Trustee that such  direction and any
     payment  pursuant  thereto are  authorized  under the terms of the Plan and
     applicable law.

     (b) The  Trustee  shall  be  entitled  to  rely  conclusively  on the  Plan
Administrator's  certification  of its  authority  to direct a  payment  without
independent investigation. The Trustee

                                      -12-







                                      -13-

shall  have  no  liability  to any  person  with  respect  to  payments  made in
accordance with the provisions of this Article IV.

          SECTION 4.3 METHOD OF PAYMENT.

     Payments of money by the  Trustee  may be made by its check  payable to the
order of the  payee  designated  by the Plan  Administrator  and  mailed  to the
payee's address last furnished to the Trustee by the Plan Administrator,  or, if
no such  address  has been so  furnished,  to the payee in care of the  Company.
Distributions  of Shares shall be made by causing the  Company,  or its transfer
agent, to issue to the distributee a stock certificate  evidencing  ownership of
the designated  number of Shares.  To the extent that any distribution of Shares
to any person  requires the  registration of such Shares under the securities or
blue sky laws of the  United  States or any state,  or  otherwise  requires  any
governmental   approvals,   the  Company   shall   undertake  to  complete  such
registration or obtain such approvals at its sole expense.

     SECTION 4.4 DISPUTES.

     If a dispute  arises as to the  payment  of any  funds or  delivery  of any
assets by the Trustee,  the Trustee may withhold such payment or delivery  until
the  dispute  is  determined  by a court of  competent  jurisdiction  or finally
settled in writing by the parties concerned.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                RESPONSIBILITIES

     SECTION 5.1 GENERAL STANDARD OF CARE.

     The Trustee,  the Plan Administrator,  the members of the Committee and any
Investment Manager shall at all times discharge their duties with respect to the
Trust  Fund  solely  in  the  interest  of  the  Plan   Participants  and  their
beneficiaries  (including  any  Alternate  Payee)  and  with  the  care,  skill,
prudence, and diligence that, under the circumstances  prevailing, a prudent man
acting  in a like  capacity  and  familiar  with such  matters  would use in the
conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims.

     SECTION 5.2 NO LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OTHERS.

     (a) Subject to section  5.2(b),  no "fiduciary" (as such term is defined in
section 3(21) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"))  under  this  Agreement  shall be liable  for an act or  omission  of
another person in carrying out any fiduciary responsibility where such fiduciary
responsibility  is allocated to such other person by this  Agreement or pursuant
to a procedure established in this Agreement except to the extent that:

                                      -13-







                                      -14-

          (i) such fiduciary  participated  knowingly in, or knowingly undertook
     to conceal,  an act or omission of such other  person,  knowing such act or
     omission to be a breach of fiduciary responsibility;

          (ii) such fiduciary,  by his failure to comply with section  404(a)(1)
     of ERISA in the administration of his specific  responsibilities which give
     rise to his status as a fiduciary,  has enabled such other person to commit
     a breach of fiduciary responsibility;

          (iii)  such   fiduciary   has  knowledge  of  a  breach  of  fiduciary
     responsibility  by such other person,  unless he makes  reasonable  efforts
     under the circumstances to remedy the breach; or

          (iv) such fiduciary is a "named fiduciary" (as such term is defined in
     section  402(a)(2)  of ERISA) and has  violated  his duties  under  section
     404(a)(1) of ERISA:

               (A) with respect to the allocation of fiduciary  responsibilities
          among named fiduciaries or the designation of persons other than named
          fiduciaries  to  carry  out  fiduciary   responsibilities  under  this
          Agreement;

               (B)  with  respect  to the  establishment  or  implementation  of
          procedures  for  allocating  fiduciary  responsibilities  among  named
          fiduciaries or for designating persons other than named fiduciaries to
          carry out fiduciary responsibilities under this Agreement; or

               (C) in continuing  the  allocation of fiduciary  responsibilities
          among named fiduciaries or the designation of persons other than named
          fiduciaries  to  carry  out  fiduciary   responsibilities  under  this
          Agreement.

     (b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trustee
shall  have  no  liability  or  responsibility  for  an act  or  omission  of an
Investment  Manager  appointed  pursuant  to  section  2.3 in  carrying  out its
fiduciary  responsibilities  with respect to the Plan, unless the Trustee (i) by
its failure to comply with section  404(a)(1) of ERISA in the  administration of
its specific  responsibilities which give rise to its status as a fiduciary, has
enabled such Investment Manager to commit a breach of fiduciary  responsibility,
or (ii) participated  knowingly in, or knowingly undertook to conceal, an act or
omission of such Investment Manager, knowing such act or omission to be a breach
of fiduciary responsibility.

     SECTION 5.3 COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement,  as amended from time to time,
to the  contrary,  no  provision of this  Agreement  shall be construed so as to
violate the requirements of ERISA.

                                      -14-







                                      -15-

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               TRUSTEE'S ACCOUNTS

     SECTION 6.1 ACCOUNTS.

     The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed  accounts of all  investments,
re- investments,  receipts and disbursements,  and other transactions hereunder,
and all such accounts and the books and records  relating  thereto shall be open
to inspection at all reasonable  times by the Company or the Plan  Administrator
or persons designated by them.

     SECTION 6.2 VALUATION OF TRUST FUND.

     The  Trustee  shall  value or cause to be  valued  the  Trust  Fund and any
Investment Fund that has been established  hereunder as of the last business day
of each  calendar  quarter  ("Valuation  Date"),  and  shall  report to the Plan
Administrator  the value of the Trust Fund and each  Investment  Fund as of such
date,  within a reasonable time after the first day of the month next succeeding
each Valuation Date.

     SECTION 6.3 REPORTS TO THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

     (a) Within 75 days following the last day of each fiscal year of the trust,
and within 75 days following the effective date of the resignation or removal of
the Trustee as provided in section  8.1,  the Trustee  shall  render to the Plan
Administrator  a  written  account  setting  forth  all  investments,  receipts,
disbursements and other transactions  affecting the Trust Fund or any Investment
Fund,  which  account  shall be signed  by the  Trustee  and  mailed to the Plan
Administrator.

     (b) The Plan  Administrator  shall  notify  the  Trustee  in writing of any
objection  or  exception  to an  account  so  rendered  not  later  than 60 days
following  the date on which the Account  was mailed to the Plan  Administrator,
whereupon the Plan  Administrator  and the Trustee shall  cooperate in resolving
such objection or exception.

     (c) If the  Plan  Administrator  has not  communicated  in  writing  to the
Trustee  within  60 days  following  the  mailing  of the  account  to the  Plan
Administrator  any  exception or objection  to the  account,  the account  shall
become  an  account  stated  at the  end of  such  60 day  period.  If the  Plan
Administrator  does communicate  such an exception or objection,  as to which it
later becomes  satisfied,  the Plan  Administrator  shall thereupon  indicate in
writing its  approval  of the  account,  or of the  account as amended,  and the
account shall thereupon become an account stated.

     (d) Whenever an account  shall have become an account  stated as aforesaid,
such account shall be deemed to be finally  settled and shall be conclusive upon
the Trustee, the

                                      -15-







                                      -16-

Company  and all persons  having or  claiming to have any  interest in the Trust
Fund or under the Plan, and the Trustee shall be fully and completely discharged
and  released to the same extent as if the account had been  settled and allowed
by a judgment  or decree of a court of  competent  jurisdiction  in an action or
proceeding in which the Trustee, the Company, and all persons having or claiming
to have any interest in the Trust Fund or under the Plan were parties.

     SECTION 6.4 RIGHT OF JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT.

     Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of section  6.3,  the  Trustee,  the Plan
Administrator, and the Company, or any of them, shall have the right to apply at
any time to a court of competent jurisdiction for the judicial settlement of the
Trustee's  account.  In any such case,  it shall be necessary to join as parties
thereto  only the  Trustee,  the Plan  Administrator  and the  Company;  and any
judgment or decree which may be entered  therein  shall be  conclusive  upon all
persons  having or claiming to have any  interest in the Trust Fund or under the
Plan.

     SECTION 6.5 ENFORCEMENT OF AGREEMENT.

     To protect the Trust Fund from expenses which might  otherwise be incurred,
the Company and the Plan Administrator  shall have authority,  either jointly or
severally,  to enforce  this  Agreement  on behalf of all persons  claiming  any
interest in the Trust Fund or under the Plan,  and no other person may institute
or maintain  any action or  proceeding  against the Trustee or the Trust Fund in
the absence of written authority from the Plan  Administrator or a judgment of a
court  of  competent   jurisdiction   that  in  refusing   authority   the  Plan
Administrator acted fraudulently or in bad faith.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                         TAXES; COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE

     SECTION 7.1 TAXES.

     Any taxes that may be imposed  upon the Trust Fund or the income  therefrom
shall be deducted from and charged  against the Trust Fund or to the  particular
Investment  Funds to which such taxes are  applicable.  The Trustee shall notify
the Committee of any proposed or final  assessments of taxes and may assume that
any such taxes are lawfully levied or assessed  unless the Committee  advises it
in writing to the contrary  within fifteen days after receiving the above notice
from the Trustee.  In such case,  the Trustee,  if requested by the Committee in
writing,  shall  contest  the  validity  of  such  taxes  in any  manner  deemed
appropriate by the Committee; the Company may itself contest the validity of any
such  taxes,  in which case the  Committee  shall so notify the  Trustee and the
Trustee shall have no  responsibility or liability  respecting such contest.  If
either party to this Agreement  contests any such proposed levy or  assessments,
the other party

                                      -16-







                                      -17-

shall provide such  information  and  cooperation  as the party  conducting  the
contest shall reasonably request.

     SECTION 7.2 COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE; EXPENSES.

     The Trustee shall receive for its services  hereunder such  compensation as
may be agreed  upon in writing  from time to time by the Company and the Trustee
and shall be reimbursed for its  reasonable  expenses,  including  counsel fees,
incurred in the  performance of its duties  hereunder.  The Trustee shall deduct
from and charge against the Trust Fund such  compensation  and all such expenses
unless  previously  paid by the  Company,  except that all  commissions  paid in
connection  with the acquisition or sale of Shares shall be paid by the Company.
Expenses of the Trust Fund, as well as compensation of the Trustee, that are not
paid by the Company and that are general in nature and not directly related to a
particular  Investment  Fund shall be charged to the Trust Fund and allocated to
each of the Investment  Funds in the same proportion that the value of each such
Investment  Fund bears to the value of the Trust Fund on the Valuation Date next
preceding  the  date  of such  payments.  Any  expenses  directly  related  to a
particular  Investment Fund that are not paid by the Company shall be charged to
such Investment Fund.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                       RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE

     SECTION 8.1 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.

     The Trustee  may resign as trustee  hereunder  at any time by giving  sixty
(60) days  prior  written  notice to the  Company.  The  Company  may remove the
Trustee as trustee  hereunder  at any time by giving the Trustee  prior  written
notice of such  removal,  which shall  include  notice of the  appointment  of a
successor  trustee.  Such removal  shall take effect not earlier than sixty (60)
days  following  receipt of such notice by the Trustee unless  otherwise  agreed
upon by the Trustee and the Company.

     SECTION 8.2 APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

     In the event of the  resignation  or removal of the  Trustee,  a  successor
trustee  shall be appointed by the Company.  Except as is otherwise  provided in
section 8.1, such appointment  shall take effect upon delivery to the Trustee of
an  instrument  so  appointing  the  successor  and an  instrument of acceptance
executed by such successor, both of which instruments shall be duly acknowledged
before a notary public. If within 60 days after notice of resignation shall have
been  given by the  Trustee  a  successor  shall  not  have  been  appointed  as
aforesaid,  the Trustee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of such successor.

                                      -17-







                                      -18-

     SECTION 8.3 SUCCESSION.

     (a) Upon the  appointment  of a successor,  the Trustee shall  transfer and
deliver the Trust Fund to such successor;  provided,  however,  that the Trustee
may reserve such sum of money as it shall in its sole  discretion deem advisable
for payment of its fees and all expenses in  connection  with the  settlement of
its account, and any balance of such reserve remaining after the payment of such
charges  shall be paid over to the successor  trustee.  If such reserve shall be
insufficient  to pay such charges,  the Trustee shall be entitled to recover the
amount of any deficiency from the Company,  from the successor trustee,  or from
both.

     (b) Upon the  completion of the  succession  and the rendering of its final
accounts,  the Trustee shall have no further  responsibilities  whatsoever under
this Agreement.

     SECTION 8.4 SUCCESSOR BOUND BY AGREEMENT.

     All the provisions of this Agreement  shall apply to any successor  trustee
with the same force and effect as if such  successor had been  originally  named
herein as the trustee hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                            AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     SECTION 9.1 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

     (a) The Company may, at any time and from time to time,  by  instrument  in
writing executed pursuant to authorization of its Board of Directors,  (i) amend
in whole  or in part any or all of the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  or (ii)
terminate this Agreement and the trust created hereby;  provided,  however, that
no amendment which affects the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Trustee
may be made without the  Trustee's  consent;  and provided  further that no such
amendment shall divert any part of the Trust Fund to purposes other than for the
exclusive benefit of the Plan Participants or their beneficiaries (including any
Alternate  Payee) at any time prior to the  satisfaction of all liabilities with
respect to such  Participants  and their  beneficiaries  under the Plan and this
Agreement.

     (b) Any such amendment  shall become  effective upon receipt by the Trustee
of the  instrument  of amendment and  endorsement  thereon by the Trustee of its
consent thereto, if such consent is required.  Any such termination shall become
effective  upon the receipt by the  Trustee of the  instrument  of  termination;
thereafter  the Trustee,  upon the  direction of the Plan  Administrator,  shall
liquidate the Trust Fund to the extent required for distribution  and, after the
final account of the Trustee has been approved or settled,  shall distribute the
balance  of the  Trust  Fund  remaining  in its  hands as  directed  by the Plan
Administrator, or in the absence of such

                                      -18-







                                      -19-

direction,  as may be directed  by a judgment or decree of a court of  competent
jurisdiction.  Following  any  such  termination,  the  powers  of  the  Trustee
hereunder shall continue as long as any of the Trust Fund remains in its hands.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 10.1 BINDING EFFECT; ASSIGNABILITY.

     This Agreement shall be binding upon, and the powers granted to the Company
and the Trustee, respectively, shall be exercisable by the respective successors
and assigns of the Company and the Trustee.  Any  corporation  which  shall,  by
merger, consolidation,  purchase, or otherwise, succeed to substantially all the
trust  business  of the  Trustee  shall,  upon such  succession  and without any
appointment  or other action by the  Company,  be and become  successor  trustee
hereunder.

     SECTION 10.2 GOVERNING LAW.

     Except to the extent that the  federal law of the United  States of America
is  applicable,  this  Agreement  and the trust  created and the Trust Fund held
hereunder shall be inter preted,  construed and  administered in accordance with
the law of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  applicable  to  contracts to be
performed  entirely within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and between parties
all of whom are citizens and residents of such state.  All  contributions to the
Trust Fund shall be deemed to take place in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     SECTION 10.3 NOTICES.

     Any communication  requested or permitted to be given under this Agreement,
including any notice, direction, designation, certification, order, instruction,
or objection shall be in writing and signed by the person  authorized  under the
Plan to give the communication.  The person receiving such a communication shall
be fully  protected in acting in accordance  therewith.  Any notice  required or
permitted to be given to a party  hereunder  shall be deemed given if in writing
and hand delivered or mailed,  postage prepaid,  certified mail,  return receipt
requested,  to such party at the  following  address or at such other address as
such party may by written notice specify:

                                      -19-







                                      -20-

                  If to the Company:

                           RFS Bancorp, Inc.
                           310 Broadway
                           Revere, Massachusetts 02151

                           Attention:  President and Chief Executive Officer

                  With copies to:

                           Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                           1500 K Street, N.W., Suite 200
                           Washington, D.C.  20005

                           Attention: Richard A. Schaberg, Esq.

                  If to the Trustee:


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

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

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

                           Attention:
                                      --------------------
                  With copies to:

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

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

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

                           Attention:
                                      --------------------

     SECTION 10.4 SEVERABILITY.

     The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

     SECTION 10.5 WAIVER.

     Failure of any party to insist at any time or times upon strict  compliance
with any provision of this Agreement  shall not be a waiver of such provision at
such time or any later time

                                      -20-







                                     -21-

unless in a writing  designated  as a waiver  and  signed by or on behalf of the
party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought.

                  SECTION 10.6      NON-ALIENATION.

     No  interest,  right or claim  in or to any part of the  Trust  Fund or any
payment  therefrom  shall  be  assignable,  transferable  or  subject  to  sale,
mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecation,   commutation,   anticipation,   garnishment,
attachment,  execution,  or  levy of any  kind,  and the  Trustee  and the  Plan
Administrator  shall not  recognize  any  attempt  to  assign,  transfer,  sell,
mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecate,  commute, or anticipate the same, except to the
extent required by law.

     SECTION 10.7 QUALIFIED PLAN AND TRUST.

     This Agreement and the trust hereby created are part of an employee benefit
plan which the Company  intends shall be qualified  under section  401(a) of the
Code and until advised to the contrary,  the Trustee may assume that the Plan so
qualifies  and that the trust is exempt  from tax  under  section  501(a) of the
Code. However, any taxes that may be assessed on or in respect of the Trust Fund
shall be a charge  against the Trust Fund. All  contributions  made prior to the
receipt by the Company of a determination  from the Internal  Revenue Service to
the effect that the trust  forming  part of the Plan is a qualified  trust under
section  401(a) of the Code and that the trust is exempt from federal income tax
under  section  501(a) of the Code shall be made on the express  condition  that
such a  determination  is received,  and in the event that the Internal  Revenue
Service  determines  that  the  trust  and  Plan  are  not  so  qualified,   all
contributions made prior to the date of the receipt of such determination, after
giving effect to any income,  gain or loss, less any  compensation  and expenses
properly chargeable thereto, shall be returned to the Company.

     SECTION 10.8 RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

     (a) In the event that any  contribution  to the Trust  Fund by the  Company
shall be the result of a mistake of fact, such contribution (after giving effect
to any  income  gain  or  loss,  less  any  compensation  or  expenses  properly
chargeable  thereto) shall be returned to the Company promptly upon discovery of
the mistake of fact; provided,  however, that no such return shall be made after
the first anniversary of the date of the contribution.

     (b) In the event that a contribution to the Trust Fund by the Company shall
be  conditioned  upon its  deductibility  under  the  Code,  the  amount of such
contribution  which shall have been  disallowed as a deduction shall be returned
to the Company within one (1) year after the date on which it is disallowed.

                                      -21-







                                      -22-

     SECTION 10.9 COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS.

     In the event that the Plan or any portion thereof, or any interest therein,
by virtue of investments made in Shares,  shall be deemed to be a "security" for
purposes of the Securities  Act of 1933, the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or
any other  federal  or state  law,  for  which  there is no  exemption  from the
registration, reporting, blue sky or other requirements applicable to securities
under such laws, the Company shall, at its sole cost and expense,  take all such
actions as are necessary or appropriate to comply with the  requirements of such
laws.  The Company  hereby  agrees to indemnify the Trustee and hold it harmless
from and  against  any claim or  liability  which may be  asserted  against  the
Trustee by reason of any determination that the Plan or any portion thereof,  or
any interest therein, constitutes such a security.

     SECTION 10.10 HEADINGS.

     The headings of Articles and sections are included  solely for  convenience
of reference. If there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the
Agreement, the text shall control.

     SECTION 10.11 PARTY IN INTEREST INFORMATION.

     The Company shall provide the Trustee with such information  concerning the
relationship  between  any person or  organization  and the Plan as the  Trustee
reasonably requests in order to determine whether such person or organization is
a party in interest with respect to the Plan within the meaning of Section 3(14)
of ERISA.

     SECTION 10.12 CONSTRUCTION OF LANGUAGE.

     Whenever  appropriate in this Agreement,  words used in the singular may be
read in the plural;  words used in the plural may be read in the  singular;  and
words  importing  the masculine  gender shall be deemed  equally to refer to the
female gender or the neuter.  Any reference to a section number shall refer to a
section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.

     SECTION 10.13 COUNTERPARTS.

     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original and all of which together  shall  constitute one and
the same instrument.

                                      -22-







                                      -23-

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Trustee, respectively,  have caused
this Agreement to be executed in their corporate names and their corporate seals
to be hereunto  affixed and duly attested,  on the dates  indicated  below their
respective signatures.

                                                     RFS BANCORP, INC.

                                 By
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                               James J. McCarthy

                                 Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

                                Date:   
                                    -------------------------------------------

ATTEST:


- -----------------------------------------
               Secretary

         [Seal]

                                    [NAME OF TRUSTEE]

                                    By
                                          -------------------------------------
                                             [Name]

                                   Title: 
                                          -------------------------------------
                                   Date:  
                                          -------------------------------------

ATTEST:


- -----------------------------------------
                Secretary

         [Seal]

                                      -23-







                                      -24-

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS)
                                            : ss.:

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK                   )

     On this ____ day of ___________________,  199___, before me personally came
JAMES J. MCCARTHY,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he resides at 12 Magnolia Terrace,  Stoneham,  Massachusetts 02180; that he
is the President and Chief Executive Officer of RFS BANCORP,  INC., the business
corporation  described in and which executed the foregoing  instrument;  that he
knows  the seal of said  business  corporation;  that the seal  affixed  to said
instrument is such business  corporation's seal; that it was so affixed by order
of the Board of Directors of said business  corporation;  and that he signed his
name thereto by like order.


                                        -----------------------------------
                                                  Notary Public



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS                        )
                                            : ss.:
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK                   )

     On this _____ day of  _____________________,  199__,  before me  personally
came  ___________________,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose
and say that he resides at _____________________, that he is ___________________
of [NAME OF TRUSTEE],  the banking  corporation  described in and which executed
the foregoing  instrument;  that he knows the seal of said banking  corporation;
that the seal affixed to said instrument is such seal; that it was so affixed by
order of the Board of Directors of said banking corporation;  and that he signed
his name thereto by like order.


                                                 ---------------------------
                                                      Notary Public

                                      -24-