EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


      EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT made this 31st day of January,  1997, by and between
Salt Lake Mortgage Corp., a Utah Corporation ("SLM"), Celtic Investment, Inc., a
Delaware Corporation ("Parent") and Roger Davis ("Employee").

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS,  SLM and Parent (hereafter jointly referred to as "Employer") and
Employee  desire and agree to enter into an employment  relationship by means of
this agreement ("Employment Agreement"); and

      WHEREAS,  SLM desires to employ Employee and Employee is willing to accept
such  employment by SLM on the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in
this Employment Agreement; and

      NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the promises  and mutual  covenants
contained  herein and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt and
sufficiency  of  which is  hereby  acknowledged,  the  parties  hereby  agree as
follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

      1.  Employment  and  Duties.  Upon the  effective  date of the  employment
defined herein ("Effective  Date"),  Employer shall, and hereby does, employ the
Employee  and  Employee  shall,  and  hereby  does,  accept  employment  as Vice
President of Marketing Sales and  Secretary/Treasurer of SLM. Employee agrees to
devote in good faith his full time and best  effort to the  services  that he is
required  to  render  to  Employer  hereunder.  Employee  shall  report to SLM's
President at all times during the term of this  Agreement  shall have powers and
duties at least  commensurate  with his position in SLM.  Employee's duties with
SLM shall be consistent with those historically held by Employee.

            1.1.  American Funds & Trust. The parties  acknowledge that Employee
intends to attempt to acquire,  either  individually,  or through an  affiliated
company,  American Funds &Trust or the right to purchase American Funds & Trust.
In the event such acquisition is effected,  Employee,  or such affiliate,  shall
give  Employer the right to purchase  American  Funds & Trust (or  Employee's or
such  affiliates  right to  purchase  American  Funds & Trust) on such terms and
conditions as the Employer and the Employee may agree to. In the event  Employer
does not purchase  American  Funds & Trust,  then Employee (and any affiliate of
Employee)  shall sell all of his or its  interest in  American  Funds & Trust as
soon as possible.  In such a sale event  transaction  wherein employee  receives
compensation,  employee  agrees to  reimburse  SLM for the actual  time spent in
relation to the project. The amount of reimbursement will be based on employee's
hourly annual salary rate,  not to exceed 250 hours.  If Employer  elects not to
purchase  American Funds & Trust, and if thereafter  Employee is, in the opinion
of Employer, devoting excessive time to American Funds & Trust,

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Employer may require  Employee to discontinue  such  excessive time  involvement
with  American  Funds & Trust.  Any demand by Employer to Employee that Employee
discontinue such excessive time involvement with American Funds & Trust shall be
made in writing to Employee and shall be hand delivered directly to Employee. In
the event Employee does not  discontinue  such excessive time  involvement  with
American  Funds & Trust  within  twenty (20) days after  receipt of such notice,
Employer may terminate this Employment Agreement  immediately  thereafter.  Such
termination  shall be deemed to be Termination for Cause as defined in paragraph
2.1.4 below. Any  determination by Employer that Employee is devoting  excessive
time to American Funds & Trust shall be reasonable and made in good faith.

            1.2.  Consent  by  Employer.  Employer  consents  to  the  continued
participation  by Employee in the activities  described in paragraph 1.1 subject
to his  fulfillment  of any and all fiduciary  duties he will have as an officer
and  director of SLM  including  those  fiduciary  duties  relating to corporate
opportunities.

      2.    Term of Employment.

     2.1  Definitions.  For the  purposes  of  this  Employment  Agreement,  the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

            2.1.1.Adjusted  Pretax Profits. For purposes of this Agreement,  the
      term "Adjusted Pretax Profits" shall have the same meaning as "API" has in
      the Escrow  Agreement  (hereafter  defined) and shall be calculated in the
      same manner it is calculated in the Escrow Agreement.

     2.1.2.  Agreement and Plan of Merger.  "Agreement and Plan of Merger" shall
mean the  Agreement  and Plan of Merger dated the date  hereof,  entered into by
Parent,  Celtic  Investment  Merger Sub, Inc., SLM, Reese Howell,  Jr. and Roger
Davis,  which  provides  for the  acquisition  SLM by Parent  by way of  reverse
triangular merger of Celtic Merger Sub, Inc. into SLM.

            2.1.3.Bonus  Period.  "Bonus Period" shall mean (i) the six separate
      periods  which  are  provided  for in  Section  4.1.2  of this  Employment
      Agreement  for the purpose of  calculating  the amount of cash bonuses due
      hereunder  to  Employee;  and (ii) the four  separate  periods  which  are
      provided for in the Stock Option Agreement (as hereafter  defined) for the
      purpose of calculating  the number of Performance  Based Option Shares (as
      hereafter  defined) Employee shall be entitled to purchase under the Stock
      Option Agreement.

     2.1.4 Escrow Agreement.  "Escrow Agreement" shall mean the Escrow Agreement
dated the date hereof , entered into by Celtic  Investment,  Inc., Reese Howell,
Jr., Roger Davis and Security  Title  Insurance  Agency of Utah,  Inc. as Escrow
Agent,  which  provides for the deposit into escrow of 500,000  shares of Celtic
$.001 par

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      value common stock ("Celtic Common Stock") owned by Reese Howell,  Jr. and
      Roger Davis and for the  release of such  shares  based upon the terms and
      conditions of such Escrow Agreement.

            2.1.5.Stock  Option  Agreement.  "Stock Option Agreement" shall mean
      the Stock Option  Agreement dated the date hereof,  entered into by Celtic
      Investment,  Inc. and Employee  whereby Employee is granted (i) options to
      purchase 150,000 shares of Celtic Common Stock,  which options vest over a
      period of time as  provided  for in the Stock  Option  Agreement  and (ii)
      options to purchase  350,000 shares of Celtic Common Stock,  which options
      vest on the basis of the  achievement  of  certain  operating  results  as
      agreed to in the Stock Option Agreement.

            2.1.6.  Termination  for Cause.  "Termination  For Cause" shall mean
      termination by Employer of Employee's employment by the Employer by reason
      of Employee's willful dishonesty towards, fraud upon, or deliberate injury
      or  attempted  injury to  Employer,  or by reason  of  Employee's  willful
      material  breach  of this  Employment  Agreement  which  has  resulted  in
      material  injury to the  Employer and any  termination  of  employment  by
      Employer pursuant to notice under paragraph 1.2 above.

     2.1.7.Termination Without Cause. "Termination Without Cause" shall mean any
termination of employee's  employment by Employer other than for cause by Reason
of Disability or by Reason of Death.

     2.1.8.Voluntary Termination. "Voluntary Termination" shall mean termination
by Employee of Employee's  employment by Employer other than (i) as described in
paragraph 2.1.8 or (ii)  termination by reason of Employee's death or disability
as described in paragraphs 2. 5. and 2.6.

            2.1.9.Good Reason Resignation.  "Good Reason Resignation" shall mean
      termination by Employee of Employee's employment by Employer following the
      occurrence  of any of the events set out below  unless such event is fully
      corrected by the Employer within 30 days following written notification by
      Employee to Employer that Employee intends to terminate his employment for
      one or more of the reasons set out below:

                 (a)  removal  of  Employee  from,  or a failure  to  appoint or
            reappoint  Employee  to,  any of his  offices or the  assignment  of
            Employee  to any  duties  inconsistent  with  Employee's  status  as
            material   alteration   in  the  nature  or  status  of   Employee's
            responsibilities  or conditions  of employment  from those in effect
            prior  to  the  date  of  this   Employment   Agreement   except  as
            contemplated by this Employment Agreement;


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                 (b)  the  relocation,  without  Employee's  consent,  of  SLM's
            principal  executive  offices  to a  location  outside  of Salt Lake
            County  or  the  imposition  of a  requirement,  without  Employee's
            consent,  that  Employee  be based  anywhere  other  than  Salt Lake
            County, except for required travel on Employer's business;

                 (c) failure by Employer  without  Employee's  consent to pay to
            Employee any portion of Employee's current  compensation,  including
            bonuses,  the vesting of stock  options  and the  issuance of shares
            upon exercise of stock options;

                 (d) the  failure  to obtain  the  specific  assumption  of this
            Employment  Agreement by any  successor or assign of the Employer or
            any person  acquiring a substantial  portion of the assets of either
            SLM or Parent  or,  following  any such  assumption,  assignment  or
            acquisition by an entity other than an affiliate of SLM or Parent;

     (e) any material  breach by Employer of any  provision  of this  Employment
Agreement; or

                 (f) the failure of the Capital Infusion in the Escrow Agreement
            to be  made  into  SLM  within  the  time  agreed  to in the  Escrow
            Agreement.

      2.2.  Initial Term.  The term of employment of Employee by Employer  under
this Employment  Agreement shall be for a period of two (2) years beginning with
Effective Date ("Initial  Term"),  unless  terminated  earlier  pursuant to this
Section.  At the sole option of  Employee,  Employee  may cause this  Employment
Agreement to be extended for up to three (3) additional  terms of one year each.
In order to extend this Employment  Agreement for an additional  term,  Employee
shall provide not less than twenty (20) days written  notice to Employer of such
extension.  At any time prior to the  expiration  of the  Initial  Term,  or any
additional term, Employer and Employee may, by mutual written agreement,  extend
Employee's  employment  under the terms of this  Employment  Agreement  for such
additional periods as they may agree.

     2.3.  Termination  For  Cause.   Termination  for  Cause  may  be  effected
immediately   by  Employer   during  the  term  of  this  Agreement  by  written
notification  to Employee.  Upon  Termination  For Cause,  the  following  shall
promptly occur:

     (a) Employer  shall pay Employee all accrued  salary  earned at the date of
Termination for Cause;

     (b)  Employer  shall pay  Employee all vacation pay which is accrued at the
date of Termination for Cause;


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            (c) Employer shall pay all business expenses incurred by Employee in
      connection  with his  duties  hereunder  which  are  unpaid at the date of
      Termination for Cause;

            (d) Employer shall pay to Employee all  compensation or benefits due
      to Employee at the date of  Termination  for Cause under any  agreement or
      plans,  excluding  stock  options or cash bonuses  which are  specifically
      provided for in paragraphs 2.3 (e)(f)and (g) below;

            (e) The  compensation  payable to Employee  under  paragraph  4.1.2.
      hereunder  is  calculated  on the basis of June 30 fiscal year end results
      and any bonus  payable  thereunder  will be payable  in six Bonus  Periods
      which are  described in paragraph  4.1.2.  If Employee is  Terminated  for
      Cause,  the amount of bonus due to Employee under paragraph 4.1.2 shall be
      prorated on the basis of the percentage of the Bonus Period which has been
      completed as of the date of Termination for Cause. The bonus  compensation
      due to Employee under this paragraph 2.3(e) will not be determinable until
      the completion of the Employer's consolidated audited financial statements
      for the Bonus Period in which Employee is Terminated for Cause.  The bonus
      compensation  will be paid to  Employee  within  twenty (20) days from the
      date such audited financial  statements are available.  An example of this
      provision is as follows:

                 If, under paragraph 4.1.2 of this Agreement, the Employee would
            have been entitled to bonus  compensation of $50,000 if Employee had
            worked for the entire Bonus Period, and if Employee's employment was
            Terminated  for Cause after sixty  percent (60%) of the Bonus Period
            had been  completed,  then Employee  shall be entitled to a bonus of
            $30,000  (60% of the total  bonus  compensation  due for such  Bonus
            Period).

            (f) Employee has been granted  incentive  stock  options to purchase
      150,000  shares of  Celtic  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Stock  Option
      Agreement  which  options  vest solely on the basis of time of  employment
      ("Time Based  Options" and "Time Based Option  Shares").  In the event the
      Employee  is  Terminated  for  Cause,  the  Time  Based  Options  shall be
      accelerated and shall vest immediately,  on a prorated basis,  through the
      date of  Termination  for Cause but shall be prorated.  The number of Time
      Based Option Shares which  Employee shall be entitled to purchase shall be
      prorated on the basis of the  percentage  of the Vesting  Period which has
      been completed as of the date of Termination for Cause. An example of this
      provision, is as follows:

                 In the event  Employee  has a Time  Based  Option  to  purchase
            75,000 Time Based  Option  Shares  which  option  vests on the first
            anniversary  date of this Employment  Agreement,  and if Employee is
            Terminated  for Cause nine months after the date of this  Employment
            Agreement, then Employee shall have the

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            right to purchase 50,000 Time Based Option Shares  immediately after
            the date of Termination  for Cause pursuant to the applicable  terms
            and conditions of the Stock Option Agreement.  The right to purchase
            the  remaining  25,000 Time Based Option  Shares shall be terminated
            immediately as of the date of Termination for Cause.  Employee shall
            have no right to purchase  Time Based Option  Shares for any vesting
            period  which  is  subsequent   to  the  vesting   period  in  which
            Termination for Cause occurred.

            (g) Employee has been granted  incentive  stock  options to purchase
      350,000  shares of  Celtic  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Stock  Option
      Agreement  which  options vest solely on the basis of the  achievement  of
      certain  operating results  ("Performance  Based Options" and "Performance
      Based  Option  Shares").  In  the  event  that  Employee's  employment  is
      Terminated for Cause, the vesting of Performance Based Options relating to
      the  Bonus  Period  in  which  Termination  for  Cause  occurs,  shall  be
      accelerated.  The number of Performance Based Option Shares which Employee
      shall be  entitled  to  purchase  shall be  prorated  on the  basis of the
      percentage of the Bonus Period which has been  completed as of the date of
      Termination for Cause.  The  Performance  Based Option Shares which may be
      purchased under this paragraph  2.3(g) will not be determinable  until the
      completion of the Employer's consolidated audited financial statements for
      the Bonus Period in which Employee is Terminated for Cause.  An example of
      this provision is as follows:

                 If, under the Stock Option Agreement,  Employee would have been
            entitled to purchase 150,000  Performance Based Option Shares had he
            worked for the entire Bonus Period, and if Employee's employment was
            Terminated  for Cause  immediately  after sixty percent (60%) of the
            Bonus Period had been completed,  then Employee shall be entitled to
            purchase,   under  the  Stock  Option   Agreement,   90,000  of  the
            Performance  Based Option Shares  attributed to such Bonus  Period).
            Employee  shall not be entitled to purchase  any  Performance  Based
            Option  Shares which  underlie  Performance  Based Options for Bonus
            Periods   which  are   subsequent  to  the  Bonus  Period  in  which
            Termination for Cause occurred.

     2.4.   Termination  Without  Cause.   Employer  may  terminate   Employee's
employment  for any reason and  without  cause at any time upon thirty (30) days
written notice to Employee.

      Upon Termination without Cause, the following shall promptly occur:

            (a) Employer shall pay Employee all salary compensation for a period
      of one year from the date of Termination Without Cause.

     (b)  Employer  shall pay  Employee all vacation pay which is accrued at the
date of Termination without Cause;

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            (c) Employer shall pay all business expenses incurred by Employee in
      the connection  with his duties  hereunder which are unpaid at the date of
      Termination without Cause;

            (d) Employer  shall pay or deliver to Employee all  compensation  or
      benefits due to Employee at the date of  Termination  without  Cause under
      any agreement or plans  excluding  stock options or cash bonuses which are
      specifically provided for in paragraphs 2.4 (e)(f)and (g) below;

            (e) The  compensation  payable to Employee  under  paragraph  4.1.2.
      hereunder  is  calculated  on the basis of June 30 fiscal year end results
      and any bonus  payable  thereunder  will be payable  in six Bonus  Periods
      which are described in paragraph 4.1.2. If Employee is Terminated  without
      Cause,  the amount of bonus due to Employee under paragraph 4.1.2 shall be
      the  amount  of  bonus  compensation  which  would be due to  Employee  if
      Employee  had  been   employed  for  the  entire  Bonus  Period  in  which
      Termination without Cause occurred. The bonus compensation due to Employee
      under this paragraph 2.4(e) will not be determinable  until the completion
      of the Employer's  consolidated audited financial statements for the Bonus
      Period  in  which  Employee  is  Terminated   without  Cause.   The  bonus
      compensation  will be paid to  Employee  within  twenty (20) days from the
      date such audited financial  statements are available.  An example of this
      provision is as follows:

                 If, under paragraph 4.1.2 of this Agreement, the Employee would
            have been entitled to bonus  compensation of $50,000 if Employee had
            worked for the entire Bonus Period, and if Employee's employment was
            Terminated  without Cause  immediately  after sixty percent (60%) of
            the Bonus Period had been completed, then Employee shall be entitled
            to the entire bonus of $50,000.

            (f) Employee has been granted  incentive  stock  options to purchase
      150,000 Time Based Option Shares which vest solely on the basis of time of
      employment.  In the event the Employee is Terminated  without  Cause,  all
      Time Based  Options for the vesting  period in which  Termination  without
      Cause  occurred,  shall be  accelerated  and shall  vest  immediately.  An
      example of this provision, is as follows:

                 In the event  Employee  has a Time  Based  Option  to  purchase
            75,000  shares of  Employers  common  stock which vests on the first
            anniversary  date of this  Agreement,  and if Employee is Terminated
            without  Cause  nine  months  after  the  date  of  this  Employment
            Agreement, then Employee shall have the right to purchase all 75,000
            shares of  Employer's  common  stock  immediately  after the date of
            Termination  without  Cause  pursuant  to the  applicable  terms and
            conditions  of the stock option  agreement.  Employee  shall have no
            right to

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            purchase  Time Based Option  Shares for any vesting  period which is
            subsequent to the vesting period in which Termination  without Cause
            occurred.

            (g) Employee has been granted  incentive  stock  options to purchase
      350,000  shares of  Celtic  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Stock  Option
      Agreement  which vest  solely on the basis of the  achievement  of certain
      operating results.  In the event that Employee's  employment is Terminated
      without  Cause,  the vesting of such  Performance  Based  Options shall be
      accelerated  and the  number of  Performance  Based  Option  shares  which
      Employee is entitled to purchase shall be that number of Performance Based
      Option  Shares which  Employee  would have been entitled to purchase if he
      had been employed during the entire Bonus Period.  The  Performance  Based
      Option Shares which may be purchased under this paragraph  2.4(g) will not
      be  determinable  until  the  completion  of the  Employer's  consolidated
      audited  financial  statements  for the Bonus Period in which  Employee is
      Terminated without Cause. An example of this provision is as follows:

                 If, under the Stock Option Agreement,  Employee would have been
            entitled to purchase 150,000  Performance Based Option Shares had he
            worked for the entire Bonus Period, and if Employee's employment was
            Terminated  without Cause  immediately  after sixty percent (60%) of
            the Bonus Period had been completed, then Employee shall be entitled
            to  purchase,   under  the  Stock  Option  Agreement,   all  150,000
            Performance  Based Option  Shares  attributed  to such Bonus Period.
            Employee  shall not be entitled to purchase  any  Performance  Based
            Option  Shares which  underlie  Performance  Based Options for Bonus
            Periods   which  are   subsequent  to  the  Bonus  Period  in  which
            Termination without Cause occurred.

      2.5.  Termination  by Reason of  Disability.  If,  during the term of this
Agreement,  Employee,  in the  reasonable  judgment of the Board of Directors of
either SLM or Parent,  has failed to perform his duties under this  Agreement on
account  of  illness  or  physical  or mental  incapacity,  and such  illness or
incapacity  continues  for a period of more than three (3)  consecutive  months,
Employer shall have the right to terminate  Employee's  employment  hereunder by
twenty (20) days written  notification to Employee.  In the event of termination
by  reason  of  disability,  Employee  shall  pay  Employee  all cash and  other
compensation  which would be due and owing to Employee  under  paragraph  2.3 of
this Employment Agreement if Employee's employment had been Terminated for Cause
by Employer rather than as a result of the Disability of Employee.

      Upon receipt of notice of termination  under this paragraph 2.5,  Employee
may request an  opportunity  to discuss the  termination  of his employment at a
meeting of the Boards of Directors of both SLM and Parent.  Such request must be
made, if at all, in writing and shall be delivered to SLM and to Parent  withing
five (5) days from the date Employee  receives  notification  of  termination of
employment under this paragraph 2.5. Upon receipt of such

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request, each of SLM and Parent shall, within a reasonable time, call and hold a
Board of Directors  meeting to allow Employee to discuss  termination for reason
of disability.

      2.6 . Death.  In the event of  Employee's  death  during  the term of this
Agreement,  Employee's  employment  shall be deemed to have terminated as of the
last day of the month during  which his death occurs and the Employer  shall pay
to his estate or such beneficiaries as Employee may from time to time designate,
to the date of Employee's death all cash and other  compensation  which would be
due and owing to Employee under  paragraph 2.3 of this  Employment  Agreement if
Employee's  employment had been  Terminated for Cause by Employer rather than by
as a result of the Death of Employee.

      2.7.  Voluntary  Termination.  In the  event of a  Voluntary  Termination,
Employer  shall pay to Employee all cash and other  compensation  which would be
due and owing to Employee under  paragraph 2.3 of this  Employment  Agreement if
Employee's  employment had been  Terminated for Cause by Employer rather than by
the Voluntary Termination by Employee.

      2.8. Good Reason  Resignation.  In the event of a Good Reason  Resignation
Employee  resigns,  Employer  shall continue to pay to Employee his salary for a
period of one (1) year from the date of Resignation for Good Reason and Employer
shall pay to  Employee  all cash and other  compensation  which would be due and
owing to Employee under paragraph 2.4 of this Employment Agreement if Employee's
employment had been  Terminated  without Cause by Employer  rather than the Good
Reason Resignation by Employee.

     3. Effective  Date of Employment.  The Effective Date of this Agreement and
Employee's employment by the Employer hereunder shall be January 31, 1997.

     4.  Compensation.  As his entire  compensation for all services rendered to
the Employer during the term of this Agreement,  in whatever capacity  rendered,
the  Employee  shall  be paid,  subject  to  withholding  and  other  applicable
employment taxes, as follows;

            4.1.1.Base  Salary.  Employee shall be paid a base salary of $90,000
      per year  commencing  on the  Effective  Date.  Such base salary  shall be
      payable in monthly  installments,  provided however, if the first month of
      employment is less than a full calendar month,  the first payment shall be
      prorated  for the  number of days  worked in the first  calendar  month of
      employment.

            Employee's  base salary  shall be reviewed  annually by the Board of
      Directors,  and the base  salary  for  each  employment  year (or  portion
      thereof)  beginning  July 1,  1998,  shall be  determined  by the Board of
      Directors  which shall authorize an increase in Employee's base salary for
      such  year in an  amount  which,  at a  minimum,  shall  be  equal  to the
      cumulative cost-of-living increment on the Base Salary as reported in the

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      "Consumer  Price Index,  Salt Lake City, UT, All Items,"  published by the
      U.S.  Department  of Labor  (using  January  1,  1995 as the base date for
      computation). Provided however, that the base salary shall not increase by
      more than ten  percent  (10%) per year due to  increases  in the  Consumer
      Price Index.

     4.1.2.  Bonus.  Employee  shall be paid a bonus based upon Adjusted  Pretax
Profits  of SLM.  Under  this  Employment  Agreement,  there  shall be six Bonus
Periods during which the bonus shall be determined and such Bonus Periods are as
follows:

            Bonus Period 1 - commencing  January 31, 1997,  ending June 30, 1997
            Bonus Period 2 - commencing July 1, 1997, ending June 30, 1998 Bonus
            Period 3 -  commencing  July 1,  1998,  ending  June 30,  1999 Bonus
            Period 4 -  commencing  July 1,  1999,  ending  June 30,  2000 Bonus
            Period 5 - commencing July 1, 2000 ending June 30, 2001 Bonus Period
            6 - commencing July 1, 2001 ending January 31, 2002

            For Bonus  Period 1  Employee  shall be paid a bonus  equal to seven
      percent  (7%) of the  Adjusted  Pretax  Profits  up to a bonus  payment of
      $30,000.00 After a total bonus of $30,000.00 is earned for Bonus Period 1,
      the bonus shall be reduced  from seven  percent  (7%) of  Adjusted  Pretax
      Profits to one and one half percent (1 1/2%) of Adjusted Pretax Profits.

            For each of the Bonus  Periods 2,3, 4 and 5 ("Full Bonus  Periods"),
      Employee shall be paid a bonus equal to seven percent (7%) of the Adjusted
      Pretax  Profits up to a bonus  payment of $60,000.  After a total bonus of
      $60,000  is earned  for each of such  Bonus  Periods,  the bonus  shall be
      reduced  from seven  percent  (7%) to one and one half percent (1 1/2%) of
      Adjusted Pretax profits.

            For Bonus  Period 6,  Employee  shall be paid a bonus equal to seven
      percent  (7%) of the  Adjusted  Pretax  Profits  up to a bonus  payment of
      $30,000.00.  After a total bonus of  $30,000.00 is earned for Bonus Period
      6, the bonus shall be reduced from seven  percent (7%) to one and one half
      percent (1 1/2%) of Adjusted Pretax Profits.

            Any bonus due hereunder shall be paid to Employee within twenty (20)
      days after the date on which the audited financial  statements of Employer
      are available for each June 30th fiscal year end.

            4.1.3.Vacation.  Employee  shall be  entitled  to four (4)  weeks of
      vacation  during  each  year  during  the term of this  Agreement  and any
      extensions thereof, prorated for partial years.

     4.1.4. Automobile Allowance.  SLM currently leases a 1994 Plymouth Voyager,
at Employee's expense, for Employee to use. Employer hereby agrees to grant to

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      Employee  all  rights,  title and  interest in the lease dated May ______,
      1994 by and between  First  Security Bank and SLM. As of February 1, 1997,
      Employee  agrees to pay any and all  costs,  including  any and all future
      lease  payments,  and to be  responsible  for any and all  taxes  (income,
      property,  or sales taxes) resulting  thereafter.  During the term of this
      Employment  Agreement,  Employee may cause Employer to lease a replacement
      vehicle for Employee's use at Employee's expense.  During the term of this
      Agreement,  the Employer shall provide Employee with an automobile expense
      reimbursement equal to the maximum allowed by the rules and regulations of
      the Internal Revenue Service.

            4.1.5.Reimbursement for Expenses. During the term of this Agreement,
      The  Employer  shall  reimburse   Employee  for  reasonable  and  properly
      documented  out-of-pocket  business and/or entertainment expenses incurred
      by Employee in connection with his duties under this Agreement.

            4.1.6.Additional  Benefits.  The Employer shall provide the Employee
      with health and disability  insurance  during the term of this  Agreement.
      The  Employee  shall  be  entitled  to  participate  in such  benefit  and
      compensation plans as are now generally  available or later made generally
      available  to  the  employees  or  executive  officers  of  the  Employer,
      including,  but not limited to, 401(k) plans,  stock option plans,  profit
      sharing plans and other such plans and  benefits.  The health plan offered
      to  Employee  hereunder  will be at least as  advantageous  to Employee as
      those offered by SLM prior to the date of the execution of this Agreement.

      5. Stock Options.  As additional  consideration  for  Employee's  services
hereunder, the Employee shall be granted an option to purchase 500,000 shares of
Celtic  Investment  common  stock at a price of $3.00 per  share.  The terms and
condition of such options are set forth in the Stock Option Agreement.

      6. Covenant not to Compete.  Employee  agrees that he will not, during the
term of his employment,  and for the ("Restriction  Period") which is defined in
paragraph  6.1.2 of this  Employment  Agreement  directly or indirectly,  in any
state,  county, city or metropolitan area in which SLM, Parent or any subsidiary
of  Parent  has  transacted  business  in the three  (3)  years  preceding  said
termination,  own, manage,  operate or control, or participate in the ownership,
management,  operation or control of, or be connected  with or have any interest
in, as a stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant, partner or
otherwise,  any business which is engaged in the same business as SLM, Parent or
any Subsidiary of Parent.  Specifically,  but without limitation,  this covenant
shall  extend to all  existing  clients  or  customers  of SLM,  Parent  and all
subsidiaries  of Parent and all of the  funding  sources of SLM,  Parent and all
subsidiaries of Parent.

            6.1.1.If  any of the  provisions  of this  paragraph  are held to be
unenforceable because of the scope,  duration or area of its applicability,  the
court making such

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determination shall have the power to modify such scope, duration or area or all
of them, and such provision  shall then be applicable in such modified form. The
Employer and the Employee acknowledge the reasonableness of this covenant not to
compete and the reasonableness of the geographic area and duration of time which
are part of this covenant.

            6.1.2.  The  Restricted  Period  shall be that period of time during
which the Covenant not to Compete set forth in this  paragraph 6 is binding upon
Employee.  The Restricted Period shall initially be a period of twenty four (24)
months  commencing on the Effective Date but shall be reduced  thereafter by one
month for each full month of  employment  of  Employee by  Employer.  Subject to
paragraph 6.1.3 below, in no event shall the Restricted  Period be less than six
(6) months from the date of termination  of employment  regardless of the number
of months of employment prior to termination.

            6.1.3.In the event  Employee's  employment is terminated by Employer
without cause or in the event Employee Resigns for Good Reason, the restrictions
set forth in this  paragraph  6 shall be limited  to the time in which  Employee
continues to receive a salary from Employer under this Agreement.

      7.  Confidential  Information.   Employee  covenants  and  agrees  not  to
disclose, directly or indirectly, at any time either during employment or within
twenty four (24) months  subsequent to the  termination  of employment to anyone
not an employee or consultant of the Employer, and not to use at any time either
during  employment  or within two (2) years  subsequent  to the  termination  of
employment,   except  in  the  course  of  employment  with  the  Employer,  any
Confidential  Information,  as defined  below,  of the  Employer  or any parties
dealing  with the  Employer  unless he shall  first  secure  the  consent of the
Employer in writing or unless he shall  involuntarily  be required to do so by a
court  having  competent   jurisdiction,   by  any  governmental  agency  having
supervisory  authority  over the  business  of  Employer  or  Parent,  or by any
administrative  body or legislative  body  (including a committee  thereof) with
purported or apparent  jurisdiction  to order  Employee to divulge,  disclose or
make  accessible  such  information  after notice to the Employer.  Employer and
Employee hereby acknowledge that: (a) the duration and geographical  limitations
imposed with respect to said secret and confidential information are reasonable;
and (b) the  restrictions  stated  hereinabove are reasonably  necessary for the
protection of Employer's legitimate proprietary interests.

      For purposes of this Agreement,  the term  Confidential  Information shall
mean any and all:

            (a) trade secrets  concerning  the business and affairs of Employer,
      data,   know-how,   customer  lists,   current  and  anticipated  customer
      requirements,  market studies,  business plans, and any other information,
      however documented,  that is a trade secret within the meaning of the Utah
      Trade Secrets Act ss. ss. 13-24-1 to 13-24-9; and


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            (b) information  concerning the business and affairs of the Employer
      (which includes historical financial statements, financial projections and
      budgets,  historical and projected  sales,  capital  spending  budgets and
      plans, the names and backgrounds of key personnel,  personnel training and
      techniques and materials however documented; and

            (c) notes, analysis,  compilations,  studies,  summaries,  and other
      material  prepared by or for Employer  containing or based, in whole or in
      part, on any information included in the foregoing.

       Nothing contained in this paragraph 7 shall be deemed to apply to (i) any
information  which is or becomes known to the public other than as a result of a
breach of this Section 7 by Employee or (ii ) any information  which is lawfully
acquired  from a third party who is not  obligated to Employer to maintain  such
information in confidence.

      8.  Solicitation of Other Employees  and/or  Consultants.  Employee agrees
that he will not,  during the course of his employment or for a period of twenty
four (24)  months  commencing  upon the  expiration  of his  employment,  either
voluntary or  involuntary,  for any reason  whatsoever,  directly or indirectly,
individually or on behalf of persons not now parties to this  agreement,  aid or
endeavor to solicit or induce any other employee,  employees,  consultant and/or
consultants of the Employer to leave their employment with the Employer in order
to accept employment of any kind with any other person, firm, partnership or the
Employer.

      9. Breach of Covenants by Employee.  In the event that the Employee  shall
breach  paragraphs  6,7 or 8 of this  agreement,  then  the  Employer  shall  be
entitled to seek  injunctive  relief  against the  Employee.  In any  proceeding
commenced  by  Employer  to  enforce  paragraphs  6,7  or 8 of  this  Employment
Agreement,  the prevailing  party shall be liable and shall pay for all damages,
court costs,  and  reasonable  attorneys'  fees incurred as the direct result of
commencing or defending such proceeding. The provisions of paragraphs 6, 7 and 8
hereof shall survive the termination of this Employment Agreement.

     10. Separate  Counsel.  The parties  acknowledge  that the Employer and the
Employee have been represented by separate legal counsel in this transaction and
that Employee has not been represented by the Employer's counsel.

      11.   Miscellaneous.

      11.1 This  Employment  Agreement  and the written  agreements  referred to
herein,  constitutes  the entire  agreement  between  the parties or the matters
discussed  herein. It also supersedes any and all other agreements or contracts,
either oral or written,  between the parties with respect to the subject  matter
hereof.


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      11.2. The terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement may be amended
at any time by  mutual  agreement  of the  parties,  provided  that  before  any
amendment  shall be valid or effective it shall have been  approved by the Board
of Directors of the Employer,  reduced to writing and signed by the Employer and
the Employee.

      11.3. The invalidity or  unenforceability  of any particular  provision of
this  Employment  Agreement  shall not  affect  its other  provisions,  and this
Employment  Agreement  shall be  construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision had been omitted.

      11.4.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,  this  Employment
Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the  Employer,  its
successors and assigns,  and upon the Employee,  his administrators,  executors,
legatees, heirs and assigns.






                    (THIS SPACE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

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     11.5. This  Employment  Agreement shall be construed and enforced under and
in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Employment  Agreement
the day and year first above-written.

Salt Lake Mortgage Corp.                        Employee:


By    /s/                                       By   /s/
 Reese Howell, Jr., President                   Roger Davis

Celtic Investment, Inc.


By__/s/_______________________
       Douglas P. Morris, President


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