EXHIBIT 5

                          Firm Qualification Statement



                                                    FIRM QUALIFICATION STATEMENT


RP Financial provides financial and management consulting and valuation services
to the financial services industry nationwide, particularly federally-insured
financial institutions. RP Financial establishes long-term client relationships
through its wide array of services, emphasis on quality and timeliness, hands-on
involvement by our principals and senior consulting staff, and careful
structuring of strategic plans and transactions. RP Financial's staff draws from
backgrounds in consulting, regulatory agencies and investment banking, thereby
providing our clients with considerable resources.

STRATEGIC AND CAPITAL PLANNING

RP Financial's strategic and capital planning services are designed to provide
effective workable plans with quantifiable results. Through a program known as
SAFE (Strategic Alternatives Financial Evaluations), RP Financial analyzes
strategic options to enhance shareholder value or other established objectives.
Our planning services involve conducting situation analyses; establishing
mission statements, strategic goals and objectives; and identifying strategies
for enhancement of franchise value, capital management and planning, earnings
improvement and operational issues. Strategy development typically includes the
following areas: capital formation and management, asset/liability targets,
profitability, return on equity and market value of stock. Our proprietary
financial simulation model provides the basis for evaluating the financial
impact of alternative strategies and assessing the feasibility/compatibility of
such strategies with regulations and/or other guidelines.

MERGER AND ACQUISITION SERVICES

RP Financial's merger and acquisition (M&A) services include targeting
candidates and potential acquirors, assessing acquisition merit, conducting
detailed due diligence, negotiating and structuring transactions, preparing
merger business plans and financial simulations, rendering fairness opinions and
assisting in implementing post-acquisition strategies. Through our financial
simulations, comprehensive in-house data bases, valuation expertise and
regulatory knowledge, RP Financial's M&A consulting focuses on structuring
transactions to enhance shareholder returns.

VALUATION SERVICES

RP Financial's extensive valuation practice includes valuations for a variety of
purposes including mergers and acquisitions, mutual-to-stock conversions, ESOPs,
subsidiary companies, mark-to-market transactions, loan and servicing
portfolios, non-traded securities, core deposits, FAS 107 (fair market value
disclosure), FAS 122 (loan servicing rights) and FAS 123 (stock options). Our
principals and staff are highly experienced in performing valuation appraisals
which conform with regulatory guidelines and appraisal industry standards. RP
Financial is the nation's leading valuation firm for mutual-to-stock conversions
of thrift institutions.

OTHER CONSULTING SERVICES AND DATA BASES

RP Financial offers a variety of other services including branching strategies,
feasibility studies and special research studies, which are complemented by our
quantitative and computer skills. RP Financial's consulting services are aided
by its in-house data base resources for commercial banks and savings
institutions and proprietary valuation and financial simulation models.


RP Financial's Key Personnel (Years of Relevant Experience)
    Ronald S. Riggins, Managing Director (21)
    William E. Pommerening, Managing Director (17)
    Gregory E. Dunn, Senior Vice President (19)
    James P. Hennessey, Senior Vice President (16)
    James J. Oren, Senior Vice President (14)