March 30, 2000

RNM 135 Main, L.P.
C/o La Salle Partners
135 Main Street, Suite 1140
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attn:  Mr. John McNulty

RE:    LEASE  AGREEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 15, 1990, AS AMENDED (THE "LEASE") BY AND
       BETWEEN RNM 135 MAIN, L.P., A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP SUCCESSOR IN
       INTEREST TO WEBB/SAN FRANCISCO VENTURE,  LTD. ("LANDLORD") AND CALIFORNIA
       FEDERAL  BANK,  A FEDERAL  SAVINGS  BANK  SUCCESSOR  IN INTEREST TO FIRST
       NATIONWIDE  BANK, A FEDERAL  SAVINGS BANK ("TENANT") FOR 135 MAIN STREET,
       SAN FRANCISCO, CA, FLOORS 3-8 & 20, SUITE 1030 & 1120 AND PORTIONS OF THE
       BASEMENT AND GROUND FLOOR AS MORE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN THE LEASE.

Dear Mr. McNulty:

By this letter,  Tenant hereby  notifies  Landlord that Tenant  irrevocably  and
unconditionally  exercises  its  option to extend  the Term of the Lease for the
first five year Renewal Term for all of the premises  presently leased by Tenant
at 135 Main Street, San Francisco,  specifically,  Floors 3 through 8 inclusive,
Floor 20,  Suites 1030 & 1120 and  portions of the basement and the Retail Space
as more  specifically  described in the Lease (the  "Premises"),  as well as all
eight (8) of the parking stalls currently leased by Tenant.

The Minimum Rent payable  during the Renewal Term for all of the Premises  other
than the Parking shall be as stated on the attached Exhibit "A", which is 95% of
the Fair Market  Rental Rate as  determined  under the terms of Paragraph 20b of
the Lease by Mark  McGranahan  (the "Third  Expert") in his letters dated May 3,
2000 and May 4, 2000, respectively.

Please send us a letter acknowledging your receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

California Federal Bank

     /s/Charles W. Kay
- --------------------------------
        Charles W. Kay
        Senior Vice President

cc:    Rayburn Tucker
       Edward Murphy, Esq.
       Michael Fleishman, Esq.
       Helen Sedwick, Esq.