AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Exhibit 2.1

Execution Copy

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

dated as of

December 13, 2006

between

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

and

CN BANCORP, INC.

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this " Agreement ") dated as of December 13, 2006 between SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC., a Maryland corporation (" Parent ") and CN BANCORP, INC., a Maryland corporation (the " Company ").

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Parent deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective stockholders and corporations to consummate the business combination transaction provided for herein in which the Company will merge with and into Parent (the " Merger "), with Parent as the surviving corporation in the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, in furtherance thereof, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Parent have approved this Agreement and the Merger contemplated hereby;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Sandy Spring Bank, a Maryland chartered commercial bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (" Parent Bank ") and County National Bank, a national banking association and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (" Company Bank "), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the " Bank Merger Agreement "), pursuant to which Company Bank shall merge with and into Parent Bank (the " Bank Merger ") with the Parent Bank as the surviving bank in the Bank Merger, and the Bank Merger shall be consummated concurrently with the consummation of the Merger;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, as a condition of the willingness of Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company have entered into a Voting Agreement (the " Voting Agreement ") substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A providing for, among other things, the agreement of such stockholders to vote Company Shares (as defined herein) in favor of the Merger and the approval and adoption of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the " Code "), and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

1.1                                  Definitions .  (a)  The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

" Acquisition Proposal " means, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any offer, proposal or inquiry relating to, or any Third Party indication of interest in, (A) any acquisition or purchase, direct or indirect, of 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or over 20% of any class of equity or voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute more than 20% of the consolidated assets of the Company, (B) any tender offer (including a self-tender offer) or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in such Third Party beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of equity or voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company, (C) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, sale of all or substantially all the assets, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company or (D) any other transaction to which the Company or the Company Bank is a party, the consummation of which could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent or materially delay the Merger or the Bank Merger or that could reasonably be expected to dilute materially the benefits to Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby.

" Affiliate " means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person.

" Bank Merger Act " means Section 18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, codified at 12 U.S.C. 1828(c).

" Business Day " means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the State of Maryland are authorized or required by law to close.

" Company Balance Sheet " means the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and the footnotes thereto.

" Company Balance Sheet Date " means December 31, 2005.

" Company DRIP " means the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.

" Company DSPP " means the Company’s Director Stock Purchase Plan.

" Company ESPP " means the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

" Company Option " means each option or right to acquire Company Shares granted under the Company’s Equity Plans.

" Company Option Plan " means the Company’s Stock Option Plan.

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" Company Equity Plans " means, collectively, the Company Option Plan, the Company DRIP, the Company ESPP and the Company DSPP.

" Company 10-K " means the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

" Confidentiality Agreement " means the Confidentiality Agreement dated as of September 18, 2006 between Parent and the Company.

" Employee Plan " means all bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase or other equity or incentive compensation, retirement, hospitalization, health benefits, medical or dental reimbursement, severance pay, vacation pay, disability, death benefits, insurance, fringe benefits, cafeteria plans, and all other similar plans, programs or arrangements providing benefits to any employee and/or non-employee director (including without limitation all "employee welfare benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, and all "employee pension benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA).  In the case of an Employee Plan funded through a trust described in Code Section 401(a), or any other funding vehicle, each reference to such Employee Plan funded through a trust described in Code Section 401(a), or any other funding vehicle, shall include a reference to such trust, organization or other vehicle.

" Environmental Laws " means any federal, state, local or foreign law (including common law), treaty, judicial decision, regulation, rule, judgment, order, decree, injunction, permit or governmental restriction or requirement or any agreement with any governmental authority or other third party, regarding human health and safety, the environment or pollutants, contaminants, wastes or chemicals or any toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous substances, wastes or materials.

" Environmental Permits " means all permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, approvals and other similar authorizations of governmental authorities relating to or required by Environmental Laws and affecting, or relating in any way to, the business of the Company or any Subsidiary as currently conducted.

" ERISA " means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

" ERISA Affiliate " of any entity means any other entity that, together with such entity, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

" FDIA " means the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

" FDIC " means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

" Hazardous Substance " has the meaning given to such term in 42 U.S.C. §9601(14); provided , however , that such term shall also include any form of petroleum or natural gas.

" HSR Act " means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

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" Insider " has the meaning set forth in 12 C.F.R. §215.1(h).

" Knowledge " of any Person that is not an individual means the knowledge of such Person’s Officers after reasonable inquiry.

" Lien " means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or other adverse claim of any kind in respect of such property or asset.  For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property or asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such property or asset.

" Maryland Law " means the Maryland Code.

" Material Adverse Effect " means, with respect to any Person, a material adverse effect on (i) the condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets or results of operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of such Person to perform its obligations under or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided , however , that none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse Effect: (a) changes in tax, banking and similar laws or interpretations thereof by courts or governmental authorities, but only to the extent the effect on such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not materially worse than the effect on similarly situated banks and their holding companies, (b) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks and their holding companies generally, but only to the extent the effect on such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not materially worse than the effect on similarly situated banks and their holding companies, (c) changes in economic conditions affecting financial institutions generally, including changes in market interest rates or the projected future interest rate environment, but only to the extent the effect on such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not materially worse than the effect on similarly situated banks and their holding companies, (d) actions and omissions of Parent or the Company taken with the prior written consent of the other party hereto in contemplation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (e) direct effects of compliance with this Agreement on operating performance of any Person, including expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (f) the effect of any change, or prospective change, in loan valuation, accrual or reserve policy which is undertaken by the Company or the Company Bank with the consent of Parent prior to the Effective Time to conform to those of Parent or Parent Bank, or the impact of changes in the fair market valuation policies of the Company’s and the Company Bank’s loans as of the Effective Time made with the consent of Parent, where the facts on which such adjusted valuation are based relate to events occurring prior to the date hereof, or (g) changes in national or international political or social conditions including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United States, but only to the extent the effect on such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not materially worse than the effect on similarly situated banks and their holding companies.

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" Multiemployer Plan " means an employee pension or welfare benefit plan to which more than one unaffiliated employer contributes and which is maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements.

" 1933 Act " means the Securities Act of 1933.

" 1934 Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

" OCC " means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

" Officer " of any Person means any executive officer of such Person within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 of the 1934 Act.

" Parent Balance Sheet " means the consolidated balance sheets of Parent as of December 31, 2005 and the footnotes thereto.

" Parent Balance Sheet Date " means December 31, 2005.

" Parent Banking Subsidiary " means Parent Bank.

" Parent 10-K " means Parent’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

" Person " means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

" Regulation O Affiliate " means an "Affiliate" as defined in 12 C.F.R. § 215.2(a).

" Regulatory Authorities " means, collectively, the SEC, the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Department of Justice, the Board, the FDIC, the OCC, the Commissioner of Financial Regulation of the State of Maryland and all other federal, state, county, local or other governmental or regulatory agencies, authorities (including self-regulatory authorities), instrumentalities, commissions, boards or bodies having jurisdiction over the parties hereto and their Subsidiaries.

" Sarbanes-Oxley Act " means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

" SEC " means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

" Subsidiary " means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at any time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.

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" Third Party " means any Person as defined in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, other than Parent or any of its Affiliates.

" Transaction Documents " means this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement.

Any reference in this Agreement to a statute shall be to such statute, as amended from time to time, and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(b)                                  Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:

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1.2                                  Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions .  Unless specified otherwise, in this Agreement the obligations of any party consisting of more than one person are joint and several.  The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.  References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein.  Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement.  Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular.  The use of the neuter gender in this Agreement

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shall be deemed to include the masculine and feminine genders wherever necessary or appropriate, the use of the masculine gender in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the neuter and feminine genders wherever necessary or appropriate and the use of the feminine gender in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the neuter and masculine genders wherever necessary or appropriate.  Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation", whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import.  "Writing", "written" and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form.  References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.  References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person.  References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. References to "law", "laws" or to a particular statute or law shall be deemed also to include any and all related rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, treaties and judicial or administrative decisions, judgments, decrees or injunctions of any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority.

ARTICLE II
THE MERGER; CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS

2.1                                  The Merger; Closing .  (a)  As soon as practicable, and in any event not more than five Business Days after satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger, the Company and Parent shall file articles of merger with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (the " MSDAT ") and make all other filings or recordings required by Maryland Law in connection with the Merger.  The Merger shall become effective (the " Effective Time ") at the time the Certificate of Merger is issued by the MSDAT (or at such later time as may be specified in the Certificate of Merger) in accordance with Maryland Law.  Upon and following the Merger, the separate existence of the Company shall cease, and Parent shall be the Surviving Corporation (the " Surviving Corporation ") in the Merger and shall continue its corporate existence under the laws of the State of Maryland. The name of the Surviving Corporation shall continue to be "Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc."

(b)                                  From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises and be subject to all of the obligations, liabilities, restrictions and disabilities of the Company and Parent, all as provided under Maryland Law.

(c)                                   The closing of the Merger (the " Closing ") shall take place at such time and place as Parent and the Company shall agree, on the date when the Effective Time is to occur (the " Closing Date ").

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ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF THE COMPANY SHARES; CASH ELECTION;
EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

3.1                                  Conversion of the Company Shares .  At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of shares of capital stock of the Company or Parent:

(a)                                   each issued Company Share owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares held for the account of clients, customers or other Persons) or owned by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares held for the account of clients, customers or other Persons) shall be canceled, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto;

(b)                                  each Company Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.6 or as adjusted pursuant to Section 11.1(d)(iii), be converted into the following (collectively, the " Merger Consideration "):

(i)                                      for each such Company Share with respect to which an election to receive cash has been effectively made and not revoked or deemed converted into the right to receive the Stock Election Price pursuant to Section 3.3(b), or is deemed made pursuant to Section 3.3(d), as the case may be (each, a " Cash Electing Company Share "), the right to receive an amount equal to $25.00 (the " Cash Election Price ") in cash without interest (the " Cash Election Consideration "); and

(ii)                                   for each other such Company Share, the right to receive 0.6657 of a share (the " Exchange Ratio ") of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (" Parent Stock "), of the Parent (the " Stock Election Consideration ") as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 11.1(d)(iii).

3.2                                  Elections .   Each Person (other than the Company and Parent) who, at the close of business on the date of the Company Stockholder Meeting (as defined in Section 7.2) or on such other date as the Parent and the Company publicly announce as the Election Date (such date, the " Election Date "), is a record holder of Company Shares will be entitled, with respect to any or all of such Company Shares, to make an election (a " Cash Election ") on or prior to such date to receive the Cash Election Consideration on the basis hereinafter set forth.  No such Person shall be entitled to make a Cash Election with respect to Dissenters’ Shares; provided , however , that stockholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or otherwise lost their rights to appraisal of such shares under Maryland Law shall thereupon be deemed to have made a Cash Election with respect to such Company Shares pursuant to Section 3.6.

3.3                                  Proration of Election Price .  (a)  Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11.1(d)(iii), the number of Company Shares to be converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Consideration at the Effective Time shall not be less than the number of Company Shares which is equal to (i) 40% of the Company Shares outstanding at the Effective Time (excluding any Company Shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 3.1(a)) minus (ii) the number of Dissenters’ Shares at the Effective Time (such difference, the " Minimum Cash Election

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Number ") and shall not exceed the number of Company Shares which is equal to (i) 50% of the Company Shares outstanding at the Effective Time (excluding any Company Shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 3.1(a)) minus (ii) the number of Dissenters’ Shares at the Effective Time (such difference, the " Maximum Cash Election Number ").

(b)                                  If the number of Cash Electing Company Shares exceeds the Maximum Cash Election Number, then such Cash Electing Company Shares shall be treated in the following manner:

(i)                                      A cash proration factor (the " Cash Proration Factor ") shall be determined by dividing (x) the Maximum Cash Election Number by (y) the total number of Cash Electing Company Shares.

(ii)                                   A number of Cash Electing Company Shares covered by each stockholder’s Cash Election equal to the product of (x) the Cash Proration Factor and (y) the total number of Cash Electing Company Shares covered by such Cash Election shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Consideration.

(iii)                                Each Cash Electing Company Share, other than those Company Shares converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Price in accordance with Section 3.3(b)(ii), shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Election Consideration as if such Company Shares were not Cash Electing Company Shares.

(c)                                   If the number of Cash Electing Company Shares is greater than or equal to the Minimum Cash Election Number and less than or equal to the Maximum Cash Election Number, then each Cash Electing Company Share shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Price and each other Company Share (other than Company Shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 3.1(a) and other than Dissenters’ Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Election Consideration.

(d)                                  If the number of Cash Electing Company Shares is less than the Minimum Cash Election Number, then:

(i)                                      Each Cash Electing Company Share shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Price.

(ii)                                   The Company Shares as to which a Cash Election is not in effect, excluding Company Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 3.1(a), (the " Non-Electing Company Shares ") shall be treated in the following manner:

(A)                               A stock proration factor (the " Stock Proration Factor ") shall be determined by dividing (x) the difference between the Minimum Cash Election Number and the number of Cash Electing Company Shares, by (y) the total number of Non-Electing Company Shares.

(B)                                 A number of Non-Electing Company Shares of each stockholder equal to the product of (x) the Stock Proration Factor and (y) the total number of Non-Electing Company Shares of such stockholder shall be converted into the right to receive

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the Cash Election Price (and a Cash Election shall be deemed to have been made with respect to such Company Shares).

(C)                                 Each Non-Electing Company Share of each stockholder as to which a Cash Election is not deemed made pursuant to Section 3.3(d)(ii)(B) shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Election Consideration.

3.4                                  Election Procedures; Exchange Agent .  (a)  Prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Meeting, Parent and the Company shall prepare a form (an " Election Form ") pursuant to which a holder of record of Company Shares may make a Cash Election with respect to each Company Share owned by such holder.  The Company shall cause an Election Form and a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) for use in exchanging certificates representing Company Shares (the " Certificates ") for the Merger Consideration to be included with the Company Proxy Statement (as defined in Section 5.9(a)) and mailed to each holder of record of Company Shares as of the record date for such meeting.

(b)                                  Prior to the date of the Company Stockholder Meeting, Parent shall appoint an agent independent of and unaffiliated with Parent or the Company (the " Exchange Agent ") for the purpose of (i) receiving Election Forms and determining, in accordance with this Article 3, the form of Merger Consideration to be received by each holder of Company Shares, and (ii) exchanging for the Merger Consideration (A) Certificates or (B) uncertificated Company Shares (the " Uncertificated Shares ").  At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Certificates and the Uncertificated Shares, for exchange in accordance with this Article 3, (i) subject to Section 3.4(c), certificates representing the shares of Parent Stock that constitute the stock portion of the Merger Consideration and (ii) an amount of cash necessary to satisfy the cash portion of the Merger Consideration (the " Exchange Fund ").  At the Effective Time or promptly thereafter, Parent shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of record of Company Shares which have not previously been delivered to the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 3.5(a) at the Effective Time, a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) for use in such exchange.

(c)                                   A Cash Election shall be effective only if the Exchange Agent shall have received no later than 5:00 p.m. eastern time on the date of the Company Stockholder Meeting (the " Election Deadline ") (i) an Election Form covering the Company Shares to which such Cash Election applies, executed and completed in accordance with the instructions set forth in such Election Form and (ii) Certificates, in such form and with such endorsements, stock powers and signature guarantees as may be required by such Election Form or the letter of transmittal.  Any Company Share with respect to which the Exchange Agent has not received an effective Cash Election meeting the requirements of this Section 3.4(c) by the Election Deadline shall be deemed to be a Non-Electing Company Share.  A Cash Election may be revoked or changed only by delivering to the Exchange Agent, prior to the Election Deadline, a written notice of revocation or, in the case of a change, a properly completed revised Election Form that identifies the Company Shares to which such revised Election Form applies.  Delivery to the Exchange

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Agent prior to the Election Deadline of a revised Election Form with respect to any Company Shares shall result in the revocation of all prior Election Forms with respect to all such Company Shares.  Any termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 11 shall result in the revocation of all Election Forms delivered to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the date of such termination.

(d)                                  The Company and Parent shall have the right to make rules, not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, governing the validity and effectiveness of Election Forms and letters of transmittal.

3.5                                  Exchange Procedures; Surrender and Payment .  (a)  Each holder of Company Shares that have been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration shall be entitled to receive, upon (i) surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal, or (ii) receipt of an "agent’s message" by the Exchange Agent (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request) in the case of a book-entry transfer of Uncertificated Shares, the Merger Consideration in respect of the Company Shares represented by a Certificate or Uncertificated Share.  Until so surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, each such Certificate or Uncertificated Share shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive such Merger Consideration.

(b)                                  If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate or the transferred Uncertificated Share is registered, it shall be a condition to such payment that (i) either such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer or such Uncertificated Share shall be properly transferred and (ii) the Person requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or Uncertificated Share or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(c)                                   After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Shares.  If, after the Effective Time, Certificates or Uncertificated Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article 3.

(d)                                  Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 3.4(b) that remains unclaimed by the holders of Company Shares six months after the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged Company Shares for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 3.5 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of the Merger Consideration, and any dividends and distributions with respect thereto, in respect of such shares without any interest thereon.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be liable to any holder of Company Shares for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

(e)                                   No dividends or other distributions with respect to securities of Parent constituting part of the Merger Consideration, and no cash payment in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 3.9, shall be paid to the holder of any Certificates not surrendered or of any

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Uncertificated Shares not transferred until such Certificates or Uncertificated Shares are surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, as provided in this Section.  Following such surrender or transfer, there shall be paid, without interest, to the Person in whose name the securities of Parent have been registered, (i) at the time of such surrender or transfer, the amount of any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares to which such Person is entitled pursuant to Section 3.9 and the amount of all dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time previously paid or payable on the date of such surrender with respect to such securities, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time and prior to surrender or transfer and with a payment date subsequent to surrender or transfer payable with respect to such securities.

3.6                                  Dissenters’ Shares .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Company Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who shall not have voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who shall have properly demanded appraisal for such shares in accordance with Maryland Law (collectively, the " Dissenters’ Shares ") shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and such stockholders instead shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such shares held by them in accordance with the provisions of Maryland Law; provided that all Dissenters’ Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or otherwise lost their rights to appraisal of such shares under Maryland Law shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have become exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, for the right to receive, without any interest thereon, the Cash Election Price upon surrender in the manner provided in Section 3.5 of the Certificates that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced such shares, subject to proration in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 hereof in the event that such failure to perfect, withdrawal or other loss of appraisal rights occurs prior to the Effective Time.  The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any written objections to the Merger and any written demands for the payment of the fair value of any shares, withdrawals of such demands and any other instruments received by the Company relating to appraisal rights under Maryland Law with respect to the Company Shares and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands.  The Company shall not voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for payment of the fair value of the Company Shares and shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, settle or offer to settle any such demands.

3.7                                  Stock Options .  Subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.7, each Company Option issued and outstanding at the Effective Time under the Company Option Plan shall be converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Parent Stock in accordance with (a) the terms and conditions of the Company Option Plan pursuant to which such Company Option was issued, (b) the agreement evidencing the grant of such Company Option and (c) any other agreement between the Company and such optionee regarding such Company Option; provided , however , that from and after the Effective Time, each such Company Option shall be exercisable solely for Parent Stock; the number of shares of Parent Stock which may be acquired pursuant to such Company Option shall be the number of Company Shares subject to such Company Option multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share; and the exercise price per share shall be equal to the exercise price per Company Share divided by the Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest cent.  It is intended that the foregoing assumption and

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adjustment shall be effected in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424 of the Code, as to each Company Option which is an incentive stock option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parent in its sole and complete discretion may offer to cancel any Company Option in exchange for a cash payment at Closing in an amount equal to the Cash Election Price minus the per share exercise price for such Company Option, subject to any required withholding of taxes.

3.8                                  Adjustments .  If, during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, (i) any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company or Parent shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, in each case whether by merger or otherwise or (ii) any stock dividend thereon with a record date during such period shall occur, the Merger Consideration, and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement and, if applicable, the Cash Election Price, Exchange Ratio and their determination shall be appropriately adjusted.

3.9                                  Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of Parent Stock shall be issued in the Merger.  All fractional shares of Parent Stock that a holder of Company Shares would otherwise be entitled to receive as a result of the Merger shall be aggregated and if a fractional share results from such aggregation, such holder shall be entitled to receive, in lieu thereof, an amount in cash without interest determined by multiplying the closing sale price of a share of Parent Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, as reported in the New York City edition of The Wall Street Journal , on the trading day immediately preceding the Effective Time by the fraction of a share of Parent Stock to which such holder would otherwise have been entitled.

3.10                            Withholding Rights .  Each of the Exchange Agent, Surviving Corporation and Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article 3 such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of federal, state, local or foreign tax law.  If the Exchange Agent, Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, so withholds amounts, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company Shares in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

3.11                            Lost Certificates .  If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Company Share represented by such Certificate, as contemplated by this Section 3.11.

ARTICLE IV
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

4.1                                  Certificate of Incorporation .  The articles of incorporation of Parent in effect at the Effective Time shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with applicable law.

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4.2                                  Bylaws . The bylaws of Parent in effect at the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with applicable law.

4.3                                  Directors and Officers .  From and after the Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with applicable law, (i) the directors of Parent at the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and (ii) the officers of Parent at the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation.

ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent on or prior to the date hereof (the " Company Disclosure Schedule "), the Company represents and warrants to Parent that:

5.1                                  Corporate Existence and Power .  The Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, except for those licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the " BHC Act ").  The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The Company has heretofore delivered to Parent true and complete copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as currently in effect.

5.2                                  Corporate Authorization .  (a)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the Company’s corporate powers and, except for the required approval of the Company’s stockholders in connection with the consummation of the Merger, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company.  The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding Company Shares is the only vote of the holders of any of the Company’s capital stock necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger.  This Agreement (assuming due authorization and delivery by Parent) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, and will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any such proceeding may be brought.

(b)                                  The execution, delivery and performance of the Bank Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company Bank.  The Board of Directors of the Company Bank has declared the transactions contemplated by the Bank Merger Agreement to be

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advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Company Bank’s sole stockholder and has directed that the Bank Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby be submitted to the Company as the Company Bank’s sole stockholder for approval and, except for the approval of the Bank Merger Agreement by the Company as the Company Bank’s sole stockholder, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company Bank are necessary to approve the Bank Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.  The Bank Merger Agreement (assuming due authorization and delivery by Parent Bank) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company Bank, and will be enforceable against the Company Bank in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any such proceeding may be brought.

(c)                                   At a meeting duly called and held, the Company’s Board of Directors has (i) unanimously determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders, (ii) unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and (iii) unanimously resolved (subject to Section 7.3(b)) to recommend approval of the Merger and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Company’s stockholders.

5.3                                  Governmental Authorization .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, by the Company Bank of the Bank Merger Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and the consummation by the Company Bank of the transactions contemplated by the Bank Merger Agreement, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency, official or authority, domestic, foreign or supranational, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the " Board "), the FDIC, the OCC and the banking authorities of the State of Maryland (any of the foregoing, a " Governmental Entity ") other than (i) (A) the filing of articles of merger with respect to the Merger with the MSDAT, (B) the filing with and approval of the Bank Merger Agreement, and the issuance of a Certificate of Merger, by the Commissioner of Financial Regulation of Maryland and the filing of the Bank Merger Agreement and such Certificate of Merger with the MSDAT, (C) the filing with the Commissioner of Financial Regulation of Maryland of an application under Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Financial Regulation of the Maryland Code (including a copy of the applications filed with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond under the Bank Merger Act with respect to the Bank Merger), and the approval of the Merger and the Bank Merger by the Commissioner of Financial Regulation of Maryland, and (D) the filing of appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company and the Company Bank are qualified to do business, (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (iii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and any other applicable state or federal securities laws, (iv) the applications and notices required by, the filing with and approval of the Board under Section 3 of the BHC Act, with respect to the Merger, (v) the applications and notices required by, the filing with and approval of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Merger Act, and (vi) any other filings and approvals required by the banking authorities of the State of Maryland or any other state or the District of Columbia with respect to the Merger or the Bank Merger (the filings and approvals set forth in clauses (i) through (vi), the " Required Filings and Approvals "), and any

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other actions or filings the absence of which would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

5.4                                  Consents and Approvals .  Except for (i) the approval of the stockholders of the Company of this Agreement and the Merger in the manner described in Section 5.2(a) hereof, (ii) the approval of the Company in its capacity as the sole stockholder of the Company Bank of the Bank Merger Agreement and the Bank Merger, (iii) the Required Filings and Approvals and (iv) as set forth in Section 5.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no material consents or approvals of any Person are necessary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby, or the execution, delivery and performance by the Company Bank of the Bank Merger Agreement, the consummation of the Bank Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated thereby.

5.5                                  Non-contravention .  (a)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company Bank of the Bank Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, do not and will not (i) contravene, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws or other governing documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Sections 5.3 and 5.4, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any applicable law, (iii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Sections 5.3 and 5.4, require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default, or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, under, or cause or permit the termination, cancellation, acceleration or other change of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit, certificate, approval or other similar authorization affecting, or relating in any way to, the assets or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such contraventions, conflicts and violations referred to in clause (ii) and for such failures to obtain any such consent or other action, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations, changes, losses or Liens referred to in clauses (iii) and (iv) that in the case of clause (ii), (iii) and (iv) would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(b)                                  As of the date hereof, the Company knows of no reason why the tax opinion referred to in Section 10.1(g) should not be obtained on a timely basis.

5.6                                  Capitalization .  (a)  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 5,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $10.00 per share (" Company Shares "), and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.  As of the date hereof, there are (i) 1,728,011 Company Shares outstanding and (ii) Company Options to purchase an aggregate of 97,500 Company Shares outstanding (all of which are exercisable).  All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the Company Equity Plans will be, when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  No Subsidiary of the Company

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owns any shares of capital stock of the Company.  All outstanding Company Shares and Company Options were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right or similar right or any right of first refusal or similar right.  In connection with each offering of Company Shares or Company Options, no documents or other information provided to the offerees by or on behalf of the Company contained any untrue statement of a material fact or failed to state a material fact required to be stated therein or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b)                                  Except as set forth in this Section 5.6, there are no outstanding (i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company or (iii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company, or other obligations of the Company to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) being referred to collectively as the " Company Securities ").  There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of the Company Securities.

(c)                                   The Company has taken all actions necessary to suspend, effective as of the date hereof, the issuance of any Company Shares or any rights to acquire Company Shares under the Company DRIP, as required by the terms of the Company DRIP and any applicable laws.

5.7                                  Subsidiaries .  (a) (i) Company Bank is a duly organized national banking association and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America, has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted and (ii) each other Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation or other entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, except, in each of clauses (i) and (ii), for those licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  Company Bank is an "insured bank" as defined in Section 3(h) of the FDIA.  Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  All Subsidiaries of the Company and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation are identified in Section 5.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

(b)                                  Except as set forth in Section 5.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of the outstanding capital stock of, or other voting securities or ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company, is owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other voting securities or ownership interests). There are no outstanding (i) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries

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convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or other obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company (the items in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to collectively as the " Company Subsidiary Securities ").  There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of the Company Subsidiary Securities.

(c)                                   Other than Company Bank, the Company does not own or control any shares of any class of capital stock of any "depository institution" as defined in Section 3 of the FDIA.

5.8                                  SEC Documents; Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Regulatory Statements .  (a)  The Company has made available to Parent (i) the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-KSB for its fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and (ii) all of its other reports, statements, schedules and registration statements filed with the SEC since December 31, 2003 (the documents referred to in this Section 5.8(a) and the amendments thereto, collectively, the " Company SEC Documents ").

(b)                                  As of its filing date, each Company SEC Document complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and all other statutes, rules and regulations adopted, enforced or promulgated by the SEC or applicable regulatory body, as the case may be.

(c)                                   As of its filing date (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date hereof, on the date of such filing), each Company SEC Document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act did not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(d)                                  Each Company SEC Document that is a registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, as of the date such registration statement or amendment became effective, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(e)                                   The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act).  Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the 1934 Act are being prepared.  Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports required under the 1934 Act.

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(f)                                     The Company is not deemed an accelerated filer as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the 1934 Act.

(g)                                  Except as set forth in Section 5.8(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Officer or director or Insider of the Company or Insider of any Regulation O Affiliate.  The Company has not since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  All outstanding extensions of credit, if any, were, at the time they were made, and continue to be, permitted and in compliance with the provisions of Regulation O, 12 C.F.R. Part 215.

(h)                                  Since January 1, 2001, the Company and the Company Bank have timely filed all required annual and quarterly statements, reports and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated therein) required to be filed with Regulatory Authorities (collectively, the " Company Regulatory Statements ").  The Company Regulatory Statements, including the method for determining the Company’s and the Company Bank’s provision for loan and lease losses, are and have been prepared in conformity with regulatory accounting practices, applicable law and supervisory policy, consistently applied, for the periods covered thereby and (as may have been amended and restated or supplemented by Company Regulatory Statements filed subsequently but prior to the date hereof), fairly present in all material respects the statutory financial position of the Company and the Company Bank, as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations of the Company and the Company Bank for the respective periods then ended.  The Company Regulatory Statements complied in all material respects with any requirement of law when filed and no material deficiency has been asserted with respect to any Company Regulatory Statement by the Board, the OCC, the FDIC or any other Governmental Entity. The annual statutory balance sheets and income statements included in the Company Regulatory Statements have been audited, and the Company and the Company Bank have made available to Parent true and complete copies of all audit opinions related thereto.  Neither the Company’s nor the Company Bank’s independent public accountants nor any employee of the Company or the Company Bank has alleged that any Company Regulatory Statement contains any misstatement or other defect which, if true, would cause the representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.8(h) to be untrue.

5.9                                  Financial Statements .  The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents fairly present, in all material respects, in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (" GAAP ") applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements).

5.10                            Proxy Statement; Registration Statement .  (a)  The proxy statement of the Company to be filed as part of the Registration Statement with the SEC in connection with the Merger (the " Company Proxy Statement ") and any amendments or supplements thereto will, when filed, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1934 Act.  At the time the Company Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto

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is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, and at the time such stockholders vote on adoption of this Agreement and at the Effective Time, the Company Proxy Statement, as supplemented or amended, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.10(a) will not apply to statements or omissions included in the Company Proxy Statement based upon information furnished to the Company in writing by Parent specifically for use therein.

(b)                                  None of the information provided by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 6.9(b)) or any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective and at the Effective Time, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

5.11                            Absence of Certain Changes .  Since the Company Balance Sheet Date, the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and, except as disclosed in Section 5.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Documents, there has not been:

(a)                                   any event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts that has had or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

(b)                                  any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company, or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(c)                                   any amendment of any material term of any outstanding security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(d)                                  any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the ordinary course of business and in amounts and on terms consistent with past practices;

(e)                                   any creation or other incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Lien on any material asset other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(f)                                     any making of any material loan, advance or capital contributions to or investment in any Person other than (x) loans in the ordinary course of the Company Bank’s lending business consistent with past practices and (y) loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in its wholly-owned Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

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(g)                                  any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the business or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(h)                                  any transaction or commitment made, or any contract or agreement entered into, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to its assets or business (including the acquisition or disposition of any assets) or any relinquishment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any contract or other right, in either case, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than transactions and commitments in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and those contemplated by this Agreement;

(i)                                      any change in any material method of accounting or accounting principles or practice by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any such change required by reason of a concurrent change in GAAP or Regulation S-X under the 1934 Act;

(j)                                      any (i) grant of any severance or termination pay to (or amendment to any existing arrangement with) any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) increase in benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements, (iii) entry into any employment, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such existing agreement) with any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) establishment, adoption or amendment (except as required by applicable law) of any collective bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, compensation, stock option, restricted stock or other benefit plan or arrangement covering any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than, in the case of clause (v), increases granted to employees (other than officers) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(k)                                   any labor dispute, other than routine individual grievances, or any activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which employees were not subject to a collective bargaining agreement at the Company Balance Sheet Date, or any lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or threats thereof by or with respect to such employees; or

(l)                                      any material Tax election made (other than elections consistent with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ past practice) or changed, any annual tax accounting period changed, any material method of Tax accounting adopted or changed, any material amended Tax Returns or claims for material Tax refunds filed, any material closing agreement entered into, any material Tax claim, audit or assessment settled, or any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability surrendered.

5.12                            No Undisclosed Material Liabilities .  Except as set forth in Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no liabilities or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability or obligation, other than:

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(a)                                   liabilities or obligations disclosed and provided for in the Company Balance Sheet or in the notes thereto or in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, and

(b)                                  liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

5.13                            Compliance with Laws and Court Orders .  Except as set forth in Section 5.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and, since January 1, 2003, has been in compliance with, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is not under investigation with respect to and has not been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any applicable law (including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, all other applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices, the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (which provisions do not include Section 404), the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorist (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act), except for failures to comply or violations that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

5.14                            Litigation .  Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof and except as set forth in Section 5.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding (or any basis therefor) pending against, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any present or former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Person for whom the Company or any Subsidiary may be liable or any of their respective properties before any court or arbitrator or before or by any governmental body, agency or official, domestic, foreign or supranational, that (i) in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the Merger or the Bank Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or by the Bank Merger Agreement or (ii) if determined or resolved adversely in accordance with the plaintiff’s demands, would (A) involve damages in excess of $100,000, (B) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or (iii) as of the date hereof, involve the imposition of permanent injunctive relief.

5.15                            Material Contracts .

(a)                                   Except for those agreements and other documents listed as exhibits to the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, bound by or subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) (i) that is a "material contract" within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K or (ii) that restricts the conduct of business or any line of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, after the consummation of the Merger, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries).  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of or default under any material contract, agreement, commitment, understanding, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party, by which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s respective assets,

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business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s respective assets, business, or operations receives benefits (collectively " Material Contracts "), and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a breach or default, except for such breaches and defaults as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  No other party to any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Material Contracts is, to the Company’s Knowledge, in default in respect of any such Material Contract, the effect of which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(b)                                  Each of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Material Contracts is valid and binding and in full force and effect and, to the Company’s Knowledge, enforceable against the other party or parties thereto in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).  Section 5.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true, correct and complete list of all the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Material Contracts.  The Company has previously made available to Parent true and correct copies of each Material Contract set forth in Section 5.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

5.16                            Finders’ Fees .  Except for Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., a copy of whose engagement agreement has been provided to Parent, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Company or any of its Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.17                            Opinion of Financial Advisor .  The Company has received the opinion of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., financial advisor to the Company, to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Merger Consideration is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view.

5.18                            Taxes . 

(a)                                   All income tax and other material Tax Returns required by applicable law to be filed with any Taxing Authority by, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been filed when due (taking into account valid extensions) under all applicable laws, and all such Tax Returns are, or shall be at the time of filing, true and complete in all material respects.

(b)                                  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has paid (or has had paid on its behalf) or has withheld and remitted to the appropriate Taxing Authority all material Taxes due and payable, or, where payment is not yet due, has established (or has had established on its behalf and for its sole benefit and recourse) in accordance with GAAP an adequate accrual for all Taxes through the end of the last period for which the Company and its Subsidiaries ordinarily record items on their respective books.

(c)                                   The income and franchise Tax Returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries through the Tax year ended December 31, 2000 have been examined and closed or are Tax Returns with respect to which the applicable period for assessment under applicable law, after giving effect to extensions or waivers, has expired.

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(d)                                  There is no claim, audit, action, suit, proceeding or investigation now pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax or Tax Return.

(e)                                   During the five-year period ending on the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries was a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a transaction intended to be governed by Section 355 of the Code.

(f)                                     Except as set forth in Section 5.18(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns an interest in real property in any jurisdiction in which a Tax is imposed, or the value of the interest is reassessed, on the transfer of an interest in real property and which treats the transfer of an interest in an entity that owns an interest in real property as a transfer of the interest in real property.

(g)                                  Section 5.18(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all jurisdictions (whether foreign or domestic) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries currently files Tax Returns.

(h)                                  " Tax " means (i) any tax, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever (including withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person), together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any governmental authority (a " Taxing Authority ") responsible for the imposition of any such tax (domestic or foreign), and any liability for any of the foregoing as transferee, (ii) in the case of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in clause (i) as a result of being or having been before the Effective Time a member of an affiliated,