EXHIBIT 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
GOUVERNEUR BANCORP, INC.
(Amended and Restated as of December 6, 2004)
Article I - Home Office
The home office of Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (the "Corporation") shall
be at 42 Church Street, Gouverneur, New York 13642.
Article II - Shareholders
Section 1. Place of Meetings. All annual and special meetings of
shareholders shall be held at the home office of the Corporation or at such
other convenient place as the board of directors may determine.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. A meeting of the shareholders of the
Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of any other
business of the Corporation shall be held annually within 150 days after the end
of the Corporation's fiscal year on the third Wednesday in February of each year
if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next day following
which is not a legal holiday, at the home office of the Corporation, or at such
other date and time within such 150-day period as the board of directors may
determine.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders for
any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by the regulations of the
Office of Thrift Supervision (the "Office"), may be called at any time by the
chairman of the board, the president, or a majority of the board of directors,
and shall be called by the chairman of the board, the president, or the
secretary upon the written request of the holders of not less than one-tenth of
all of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the
meeting. Such written request shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting
and shall be delivered to the home office of the Corporation addressed to the
chairman of the board, the president, or the secretary.
Section 4. Conduct of Meetings. Annual and special meetings shall be
conducted in accordance with the most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order
unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the Office or these bylaws or the
Board of Directors adopts another written procedure for the conduct of meetings.
The Board of Directors shall designate, when present, either the chairman of the
board or president to preside at such meetings.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings. Written notice stating the place, day,
and hour of the meeting and the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called shall
be delivered not fewer than 20 nor more than 50 days before the date of the
meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the chairman of
the board, the president, or the secretary, or the directors calling the
meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If
mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail,
addressed to the shareholder at the address as it appears on the stock transfer
books or records of the Corporation as of the record date prescribed in Section
6 of this Article II with postage prepaid. When any shareholders meeting, either
annual or special, is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. It shall not be
necessary to give any notice of the time and place of any meeting adjourned for
less than 30 days or of the business to be transacted at the meeting, other than
an announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.
Section 6. Fixing of Record Date. For the purpose of determining
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or
any adjournment, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or
in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose,
the board of directors shall fix in advance a date as the record date for any
such determination of shareholders. Such date in any case shall be not more than
60 days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not fewer than 10 days prior
to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of
shareholders, is to be taken. When a determination of shareholders entitled to
vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section,
such determination shall apply to any adjournment.
Section 7. Voting List. At least 20 days before each meeting of the
shareholders, the officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for
shares of the Corporation shall make a complete list of the shareholders of
record entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment, arranged in
alphabetical order, with the address and the number of shares held by each. This
list of shareholders shall be kept on file at the home office of the Corporation
and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder of record or the
shareholder's agent at any time during usual business hours for a period of 20
days prior to such meeting. Such list also shall be produced and kept open at
the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to inspection by any
shareholder of record or the shareholder's agent during the entire time of the
meeting. The original stock transfer book shall constitute prima facie evidence
of the shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer books or to vote
at any meeting of shareholders.
In lieu of making the shareholder list available for inspection by
shareholders as provided in the preceding paragraph, the board of directors may
elect to follow the procedures described in Section 552.6(d) of the Office's
regulations as now or hereafter in effect.
Section 8. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares of the
Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders. If less than a majority of the
outstanding shares is represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so
represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. At
such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any
2
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally notified. The shareholders present at a duly organized meeting may
continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal
of enough shareholders to constitute less than a quorum. If a quorum is present
the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented at the meeting
and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the shareholders,
unless the vote of a greater number of shareholders voting together or voting by
classes is required by law or the charter. Directors, however, are elected by a
plurality of the votes cast at an election of directors.
Section 9. Proxies. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may
vote by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his or her duly
authorized attorney in fact. Proxies may be given telephonically or
electronically as long as the holder uses a procedure for verifying the identity
of the shareholder. Proxies solicited on behalf of the management shall be voted
as directed by the shareholder or, in the absence of such direction, as
determined by a majority of the board of directors. No proxy shall be valid more
than eleven months from the date of its execution except for a proxy coupled
with an interest.
Section 10. Voting of Shares in the Name of Two or More Persons. When
ownership stands in the name of two or more persons, in the absence of written
directions to the Corporation to the contrary, at any meeting of the
shareholders of the Corporation any one ore more of such shareholders may cast,
in person or by proxy, all votes to which such ownership is entitled. In the
event an attempt is made to cast conflicting votes, in person or by proxy, by
the several persons in whose names shares of stock stand, the vote or votes to
which those persons are entitled shall be cast as directed by a majority of
those holding such and present in person or by proxy at such meeting, but no
votes shall be cast for such stock if a majority cannot agree.
Section 11. Voting of Shares of Certain Holders. Shares standing in the
name of another corporation may be voted by any officer, agent, or proxy as the
bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or, in the absence of such provision,
as the board of directors of such corporation may determine. Shares held by an
administrator, executor, guardian, or conservator may be voted by him or her,
either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his or her
name. Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him or her,
either in person or by proxy, but no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares
held by him or her without a transfer of such shares into his name. Shares held
in trust in an IRA or Keogh Account, however, may be voted by the Corporation if
no other instructions are received. Shares standing in the name of a receiver
may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a
receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer into his or her name
if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court or other
public authority by which such receiver was appointed.
A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such
shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and
thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.
3
Neither treasury shares of its own stock held by the Corporation nor
shares held by another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote
for the election of directors of such other corporation are held by the
Corporation, shall be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total
number of outstanding shares at any given time for purposes of any meeting.
Section 12. Cumulative Voting. Stockholders may not cumulate their
votes for election of directors.
Section 13. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
shareholders, the board of directors may appoint any person other than nominees
for office as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment.
The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. Any such appointment
shall not be altered at the meeting. If inspectors of election are not so
appointed, the chairman of the board or the president may, or on the request of
not fewer than 10 percent of the votes represented at the meeting shall, make
such appointment at the meeting. If appointed at the meeting, the majority of
the votes present shall determine whether one or three inspectors are to be
appointed. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or
refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the board of
directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the chairman of the
board or the president.
Unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the Office, the duties of
such inspectors shall include: determining the number of shares and the voting
power of each share, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes,
ballots, or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in
any way arising in connection with the rights to vote; counting and tabulating
all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to
conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.
Section 14. Nominating Committee. The board of directors shall act as a
nominating committee for selecting the management nominees for election as
directors. Except in the case of a nominee substituted as a result of the death
or other incapacity of a management nominee, the nominating committee shall
deliver written nominations to the secretary at least 20 days prior to the date
of the annual meeting. Upon delivery, such nominations shall be posted in a
conspicuous place in each office of the Corporation. No nominations for
directors except those made by the nominating committee shall be voted upon at
the annual meeting unless other nominations by shareholders are made in writing
and delivered to the secretary of the Corporation at least five days prior to
the date of the annual meeting. Upon delivery, such nominations shall be posted
in a conspicuous place in each office of the Corporation. Ballots bearing the
names of all persons nominated by the nominating committee and by shareholders
shall be provided for use at the annual meeting. However, if the nominating
committee shall fail or refuse to act at least 20 days prior to the annual
meeting, nominations for directors may be made at the annual meeting by any
shareholder entitled to vote and shall be voted upon.
Section 15. New Business. Any new business to be taken up at the annual
meeting shall be stated in writing and filed with the secretary of the
Corporation at least five days prior to the date of the annual meeting, and all
4
business so stated, proposed, and filed shall be considered at the annual
meeting; but no other proposal shall be acted upon at the annual meeting. Any
shareholder may make any other proposal at the annual meeting and the same may
be discussed and considered, but unless stated in writing and filed with the
secretary at least five days before the meeting, such proposal shall be laid
over for action at an adjourned, special or annual meeting of the shareholders
taking place 30 days or more thereafter. This provision shall not prevent the
consideration and approval or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of
officers, directors, and committees; but in connection with such reports, no new
business shall be acted upon at such annual meeting unless stated and filed as
herein provided.
Section 16. Informal Action by Shareholders. Any action required to be
taken at a meeting of the shareholders, or any other action which may be taken
at a meeting of shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if consent in
writing, setting forth the action to be taken, shall be given by all of the
shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter.
Article III - Board of Directors
Section 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be under the direction of its board of directors. The board of directors
shall annually elect a chairman of the board and a president from among its
members and shall designate, when present, either the chairman of the board or
the president to preside at its meetings.
Section 2. Number and Term. The board of directors shall consist of
seven members and shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number
as possible. The members of each class shall be elected for a term of three
years and until their successors are elected and qualified. One class shall be
elected by ballot annually.
Section 3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the board of
directors shall be held without notice other than this bylaw following the
annual meeting of shareholders. The board of directors may provide, by
resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings
without notice other than such resolution. Directors may participate in a
meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications device
through which all persons participating can hear each other at the same time.
Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person for all
purposes.
Section 4. Qualification. Each director shall at all times be the
beneficial owner of not less than 100 shares of capital stock of the Corporation
unless the Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company.
Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors
may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the president,
or one-third of the directors. The persons authorized to call special meetings
of the board of directors may fix any place, within the Corporation's normal
market area, as the place for holding any special meeting of the board of
directors called by such persons.
Members of the board of directors may participate in special meetings
by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which
all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation
shall constitute presence in person for all purposes.
5
Section 6. Notice. Written notice of any special meeting shall be given
to each director at least 24 hours prior thereto when delivered personally or by
telegram or at least five days prior thereto when delivered by mail at the
address at which the director is most likely to be reached. Such notice shall be
deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage
prepaid if sent by mail, when delivered to the telegraph company if sent by
telegram or when the Corporation receives notice of delivery if electronically
transmitted. Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a writing filed
with the secretary. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for
the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the board of directors need be
specified in the notice of waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors fixed by
Section 2 of this Article III shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at any meeting of the board of directors; but if less than such
majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may
adjourn the meeting from time to time. Notice of any adjourned meeting shall be
given in the same manner as prescribed by Section 5 of this Article III.
Section 8. Manner of Acting. The act of the majority of the directors
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board
of directors, unless a greater number is prescribed by regulation of the Office
or by these bylaws.
Section 9. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted
to be taken by the board of directors at a meeting may be taken without a
meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be
signed by all of the directors.
Section 10. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by sending
a written notice of such resignation to the home office of the Corporation
addressed to the chairman of the board or the president. Unless otherwise
specified, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt by the chairman of
the board or the president. More than three consecutive absences from regular
meetings of the board of directors, unless excused by resolution of the board of
directors, shall automatically constitute a resignation, effective when such
resignation is accepted by the board of directors.
Section 11. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the board of directors
may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors
although less than a quorum of the board of directors. A director elected to
fill a vacancy shall be elected to serve until the next election of directors by
the shareholders. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the
number of directors may be filled by election by the board of directors for a
term of office continuing only until the next election of directors by the
shareholders.
6
Section 12. Compensation. Directors, as such, may receive a stated
salary for their services. By resolution of the board of directors, a reasonable
fixed sum, and reasonable expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for
actual attendance at each regular or special meeting of the board of directors.
Members of either standing or special committees may be allowed such
compensation for actual attendance at committee meetings as the board of
directors may determine.
Section 13. Presumption of Assent. A director of the Corporation who is
present at a meeting of the board of directors at which action on any
Corporation matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action
taken unless his or her dissent or abstention shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless he or she shall file a written dissent to such action with
the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof
or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the
Corporation within five days after the date a copy of the minutes of the meeting
is received. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in
favor of such action.
Section 14. Removal of Directors. At a meeting of shareholders called
expressly for that purpose, any director may be removed for cause by a vote of
the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of
directors. Whenever the holders of the shares of any class are entitled to elect
one or more directors by the provisions of the charter or supplemental sections
thereto, the provisions of this section shall apply, in respect to the removal
of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of that class and not to the vote of the outstanding shares
as a whole.
Section 15. Age Limitation. No person who has attained the age of 75
years shall be eligible for nomination for election, appointment or continued
service as a director. A director who attains such age during his or her service
shall, no later that the last day of the month following the month in which the
director's 75th birthday occurred, resign his her office in accordance with
Section 10 of this Article; provided however, that by resolution adopted by a
unanimous vote of the other directors in office, such director may continue to
serve in office until the expiration of his or her then current term.
Article IV - Executive And Other Committees
Section 1. Appointment. The board of directors, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the full board, may designate the chief executive officer and
two or more of the other directors to constitute an executive committee. The
designation of any committee pursuant to this Article IV and the delegation of
authority shall not operate to relieve the board of directors, or any director,
of any responsibility imposed by law or regulation.
Section 2. Authority. The executive committee, when the board of
directors is not in session, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of
the board of directors except to the extent, if any, that such authority shall
be limited by the resolution appointing the executive committee; and except also
that the executive committee shall not have the authority of the board of
directors with reference to: the declaration of dividends; the amendment of the
7
charter or bylaws of the Corporation or recommending to the shareholders a plan
of merger, consolidation, or conversion; the sale, lease, or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation
otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business; a voluntary
dissolution of the Corporation; a revocation of any of the foregoing; or the
approval of a transaction in which any member of the executive committee,
directly or indirectly, has any material beneficial interest.
Section 3. Tenure. Subject to the provisions of Section 8 of this
Article IV, each member of the executive committee shall hold office until the
next regular annual meeting of the board of directors following his or her
designation and until a successor is designated as a member of the executive
committee.
Section 4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the executive committee may be
held without notice at such times and places as the executive committee may fix
from time to time by resolution. Special meetings of the executive committee may
be called by any member thereof upon not less than one days notice stating the
place, date, and hour of the meeting, which notice may be written or oral. Any
member of the executive committee may waive notice of any meeting and no notice
of any meeting need be given to any member thereof who attends in person. The
notice of a meeting of the executive committee need not state the business
proposed to be transacted at the meeting.
Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the members of the executive committee
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
thereof, and action of the executive committee must be authorized by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present.
Section 6. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted
to be taken by the executive committee at a meeting may be taken without a
meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be
signed by all of the members of the executive committee.
Section 7. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the executive committee may be
filled by a resolution adopted by a majority of the full board of directors.
Section 8. Resignations and Removal. Any member of the executive
committee may be removed at any time with or without cause by resolution adopted
by a majority of the full board of directors. Any member of the executive
committee may resign from the executive committee at any time by giving written
notice to the president or secretary of the Corporation. Unless otherwise
specified, such resignation shall take effect upon its receipt; the acceptance
of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 9. Procedure. The executive committee shall elect a presiding
officer from its members and may fix its own rules of procedure which shall not
be inconsistent with these bylaws. It shall keep regular minutes of its
proceedings and report the same to the board of directors for its information at
the meeting held next after the proceedings shall have occurred.
8
Section 10. Other Committees. The board of directors may by resolution
establish an audit, loan, or other committee composed of directors as they may
determine to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the
Corporation and may prescribe the duties, constitution, and procedures thereof.
Article V - Officers
Section 1. Positions. The officers of the Corporation shall be a
president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer, each of
whom shall be elected by the board of directors. The board of directors also may
designate the chairman of the board as an officer. The president shall be the
chief executive officer, unless the board of directors designates the chairman
of the board as chief executive officer. The president shall be a director of
the Corporation. The offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by the
same person and a vice president also may be either the secretary or the
treasurer. The board of directors may designate one or more vice presidents as
executive vice president or senior vice president. The board of directors also
may elect or authorize the appointment of such other officers as the business of
the Corporation may require. The officers shall have such authority and perform
such duties as the board of directors may from time to time authorize or
determine. In the absence of action by the board of directors, the officers
shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective
offices.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation
shall be elected annually at the first meeting of the board of directors held
after each annual meeting of the shareholders. If the election of officers is
not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as
possible. Each officer shall hold office until a successor has been duly elected
and qualified or until the officers death, resignation, or removal in the manner
hereinafter provided. Election or appointment of an officer, employee, or agent
shall not of itself create contractual rights. The board of directors may
authorize the Corporation to enter into an employment contract with any officer
in accordance with regulations of the Office; but no such contract shall impair
the right of the board of directors to remove any officer at any time in
accordance with Section 3 of this Article V.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer may be removed by the board of
directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be
served thereby, but such removal, other than for cause, shall be without
prejudice to any contractual rights of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death,
resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise may be filled by the board
of directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 5. Remuneration. The remuneration of the officers shall be
fixed from time to time by the board of directors.
9
Article VI - Contracts, Loans, Checks, and Deposits
Section 1. Contracts. To the extent permitted by regulations of the
Office, and except as otherwise prescribed by these bylaws with respect to
certificates for shares, the board of directors may authorize any officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and
deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 2. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation
and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by
the board of directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section 3. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts, or other orders for
the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the
name of the Corporation shall be signed by one or more officers, employees, or
agents of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by the board of directors.
Section 4. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise
employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the association
in any duly authorized depositors as the board of directors may select.
Article VII - Certificates for Shares and Their Transfer
Section 1. Certificates for Shares. Certificates representing shares of
capital stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by
the board of directors and approved by the Office. Such certificates shall be
signed by the chief executive officer or by any other officer of the Corporation
authorized by the board of directors, attested by the secretary or an assistant
secretary, and sealed with the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. The
signature of such officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the
certificate is manually signed on behalf of a transfer agent or a registrar
other than the Corporation itself or one of its employees. Each certificate for
shares of capital stock shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified.
The name and address of the person to whom the shares are issued, with the
number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books
of the Corporation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer
shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former
certificate for a like number of shares has been surrendered and canceled,
except that in the case of a lost or destroyed certificate, a new certificate
may be issued upon such terms and indemnity to the Corporation as the board of
directors may prescribe.
Section 2. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation shall be made only on its stock transfer books. Authority for
such transfer shall be given only by the holder of record or by his or her legal
representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of such authority, or by his
or her attorney authorized by a duly executed power of attorney and filed with
the Corporation. Such transfer shall be made only on surrender for cancellation
of the certificate for such shares. The person in whose name shares of capital
10
stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the Corporation
to be the owner for all purposes.
Article VIII - Fiscal Year; Annual Audit
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the last day of
September of each year. The Corporation shall be subject to an annual audit as
of the end of its fiscal year by independent public accountants appointed by and
responsible to the board of directors.
Article IX - Dividends
Subject only to the terms of the Corporation's charter and the
regulations and orders of the Office, the board of directors may, from time to
time, declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares
of capital stock.
Article X - Corporate Seal
The board of directors shall provide a Corporation seal which shall be
two concentric circles between which shall be the name of the Corporation. The
year of incorporation or an emblem may appear in the center.
ARTICLE XI - Indemnification
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"),
by reason of the fact that he is or was a Director, officer or employee of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Director,
Officer or employee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit
plan (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such proceeding is
alleged action in an official capacity as a Director, officer or employee or in
any other capacity while serving as a Director, officer or employee, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by
the Regulations of the Office, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended
against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments,
fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement)
reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith.
The right to indemnification conferred herein shall include the right
to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding
in advance of its final disposition, to the fullest extent authorized by the
Regulations of the Office. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement
of expenses conferred herein shall be contract rights and such rights shall
continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer or
employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and
administrators.
11
ARTICLE XII - Amendments
These bylaws may be amended in a manner consistent with regulations of the
Office and shall be effective after: (i) approval of the amendment by a majority
vote of the authorized board of directors, or by a majority vote of the votes
cast by the shareholders of the Corporation at any legal meeting; and (ii)
receipt of any applicable regulatory approval. When the Corporation fails to
meet its quorum requirements, solely due to vacancies on the board, then the
affirmative vote of a majority of the sitting board will be required to amend
the bylaws.
12