EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT FOR SEVERANCE PAY

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT FOR SEVERANCE PAY

THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 22, 2005 with an effective date as of May 1, 2005 (the “Effective Date”) PLACER SIERRA BANK, a California banking corporation (“Bank”) and XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX, XX. (“Employee”) (collectively sometimes referred to as the “Parties”):

WHEREAS, Employee, PLACER SIERRA BANCSHARES, a California corporation (“PLSB”) and Bank entered into that certain Employment Agreement effective as of July 1, 2004, whereby Employee was employed as by PLSB as President of Bank of Orange County until the merger of the Bank of Orange County into the Bank, and, thereafter, was employed by the Bank as President of the Bank of Orange County Division of the Bank (hereinafter “Initial Employment Agreement”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Initial Employment Agreement, Employee became employed solely by the Bank on July 23, 2004;

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed to terminate Employee’s position as President of Bank of Orange County, Division of the Bank, effective as of the open of business on the Effective Date.

WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed Employee will remain employed with Bank as advisor to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank beginning as of the Effective Date through July 1, 2007 to assist in transitional matters.

WHEREAS, the Parties have further agreed that Employee’s employment as advisor to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank will terminate effective July 1, 2007.

WHEREAS, the Parties have reached this Agreement governing Employee’s right to severance pay, and to resolve all issues and disputes between Employee and Bank (and/or any parent company, predecessor parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof); and

WHEREAS, the Parties intend this Agreement to supersede any and all previous employment agreements between the Employee and Bank and/or PLSB, including the Initial Employment Agreement, (and each of its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates), if any;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Termination of Employment Agreement: Bank and Employee agree that the Initial Employment Agreement, as amended, and all prior employment agreements between Employee and Bank (and/or each of its parent companies, predecessor parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof) are hereby canceled, terminated, rescinded and superceded and Employee hereby releases Bank (and/or each of its parent companies, predecessor parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof) from any and all claims, debts or obligations under said Initial Employment Agreement, as amended, and all prior agreements.

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2. Employment and Duties. Effective May 1, 2005, Employee is hereby employed by Bank as advisor to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. In this position, Employee shall assist the Chairman of the Board of Bank in both public and transitional matters, and shall be available by telephone at such times as are mutually agreeable to Employee and the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. Employee shall not execute any contracts or incur any liabilities on behalf of Bank without the express written permission of the Chairman of the Board of Bank.

3. Extent of Services.

(a) Exclusive Employment. Employee shall be employed exclusively by Bank and shall provide such services during the Employment Term (as defined below) as provided in Section 2 above, and shall neither directly nor indirectly render any services of a business, commercial or professional nature to any other person, firm, corporation or organization for compensation without the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board of Bank.

(b) Employee Investment Activities. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as preventing Employee from (i) investing his personal assets in businesses which do not compete with Bank in such form or manner as will not require any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the companies in which such investments are made and in which his participation is solely that of an investor, (ii) purchasing securities in any corporation whose securities are regularly traded provided that such purchase shall not result in Employee collectively owning beneficially at any time five percent or more of the equity securities of any corporation engaged in a business competitive to that of Bank, and (iii) participating in conferences, preparing or publishing papers or books or teaching so long as Bank approves of such activities prior to Employee’s engaging in them.

4. Term of Employment. Subject to prior termination of this Agreement as hereinafter provided in section 6, Bank hereby employs Employee, and Employee hereby accepts employment with Bank, for a period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on July 1, 2007 (the “Employment Term”).

5. Compensation and Benefits. In consideration of Employee’s services to Bank during the Employment Term, Bank agrees to compensate Employee, subject to such limitations as may exist under any federal or state banking law or regulation, as follows:

(a) Base Compensation. Bank shall pay or cause to be paid to Employee a base compensation of $250,000 per year (hereinafter the “Base Salary”), less payroll taxes and withholding required by federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which Employee agrees in writing. Said Base Salary shall be payable in semi-monthly installments in accordance with Bank’s normal payroll procedures.

(b) General Expenses. Bank shall, upon submission and approval of written statements and bills in accordance with the then regular procedures of Bank, reimburse Employee for any and all reasonable necessary, customary and usual expenses incurred by him

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while traveling for or on behalf of Bank, and any and all other necessary, customary or usual expenses (including entertainment) incurred by Employee for or on behalf of Bank in the normal course of business, as determined to be appropriate by Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank.

(c) Health, Life and Disability Insurance. Bank shall provide for Employee’s participation, at Bank’s expense, in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance benefits equivalent to the maximum benefits available under the group insurance programs maintained by Bank for its employees. Employee shall have the right, in Employee’s discretion, to designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries of any such insurance. Bank reserves the right to modify and amend such benefits from time to time. As provided under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) respecting continuation of any insurance coverage, Employee shall, upon a loss of any such coverage for himself under Bank’s health, dental, and/or vision plans (if any) resulting from (1) termination of Employee’s employment (for any reason other than for gross misconduct) or (2) a reduction in his hours, be entitled to exercise his COBRA rights. Employee shall pay all premiums for any such continuation coverage(s) elected by Employee.

(d) Other Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Term in all employee benefit, welfare and other plans, practices, policies and programs generally applicable to similarly situated employees of Bank as are in effect from time to time, in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions thereof. Bank reserves the right to modify and amend such benefits, plans, practices, policies and programs from time to time.

6. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated during the Employment Term in accordance with this section 6.

(a) Termination Upon Change in Control. “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) The consummation of a plan of dissolution or liquidation of Bank;

(ii) The consummation of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation involving Bank, except for a reorganization, merger or consolidation where (A) the shareholders of Bank immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation own directly or indirectly more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Corporation”) and the individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation constitute at least 50% of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation, or a corporation beneficially directly or indirectly owning a majority of the voting securities of the Surviving Corporation, or (B) Bank is reorganized, merged or consolidated with a corporation in which any shareholder owning at least 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Bank immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, owns at least 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation;

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(iii) The sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Bank to another person or entity;

(iv) The acquisition of beneficial ownership of stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of Bank then outstanding by another person or entity.

In the event of a Change in Control, Employee shall be eligible to receive a single sum severance payment equal to his Base Salary for the number of months remaining in the Employment Term (less payroll taxes and withholding required by any federal, state or local law, any additional withholding to which Employee has agreed, and any outstanding obligations owed by the Employee to Bank), provided that any and all stock options previously granted to Employee under any stock option plan of Bank or any affiliate of Bank and held by Employee at the date of termination shall become fully vested and shall be exercisable for a period of two (2) years after the date of termination. No portion of such severance pay shall be payable until eight days after delivery to Bank of a duly executed Release in the form of Exhibit “B” hereto.

Such severance pay shall constitute liquidated damages in lieu of any and all claims by Employee against Bank and each of its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates, and each of their respective directors, partners, officers, employees and agents, arising out of this Agreement or out of the employment relationship or termination of the employment relationship between Employee and Bank, and shall be in full and complete satisfaction of any and all rights which Employee may enjoy hereunder, and is expressly conditioned upon receipt by Bank of an executed, unconditional Release from Employee in the form of Exhibit “B”.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, in the event the amounts payable to Employee in the event of a Change in Control would, if they included such termination payments to be made pursuant to this section 6(a), constitute Excess Parachute Payments for purposes of Sections 280G(b) and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (“IRC”) or any successor statute) (after application of IRC section 280G(b)(4)), the amount payable under this section 6(a) shall be reduced by the amount necessary to cause Employee to receive no Excess Parachute Payments.

In the event that Employee is terminated pursuant to this section 6(a), Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) those benefits, if any, that have vested by operation of state or federal law or under any written term of a plan (“Vested Benefits”), and (ii) health care coverage continuation rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA Rights”).

(b) Early Termination by Bank Without Cause. This Agreement and Employee’s employment may be terminated by Bank without cause, for any reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole, absolute and unreviewable discretion of Bank, upon written notice by Bank to Employee.

In the event that Employee is terminated by Bank without cause, Employee shall be eligible to receive a single sum severance payment equal to his Base Salary for the number of months remaining in the Employment Term (less payroll taxes and withholding required by any

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federal, state or local law, any additional withholding to which Employee has agreed, and any outstanding obligations owed by the Employee to Bank), provided that any and all stock options previously granted to Employee under any stock option plan of Bank or any affiliate of Bank and held by Employee at the date of termination shall become fully vested and shall be exercisable for a period of two (2) years after the date of termination. No portion of such severance pay shall be payable until eight days after delivery to Bank of a duly executed Release in the form of Exhibit “B” hereto.

In the event that Employee is terminated pursuant to this section 6(b), Employee shall also be entitled to receive Vested Benefits, as defined hereinabove, and COBRA rights, as defined hereinabove.

(c) Early Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate this Agreement upon 90 days’ written notice to Bank. Employee shall continue to perform his duties under this Agreement until the end of such 90 day period, provided however, that Bank may, at its option, immediately terminate this Agreement, upon notice to Employee, and in the event that Bank so elects to terminate this Agreement, Bank shall continue to pay Employee his normal compensation through the end of such 90 day period. Thereafter, Employee shall not be entitled to receive compensation or other benefits under this Agreement, provided, however, that Employee shall be entitled to receive Vested Benefits, as defined hereinabove, and COBRA rights, as defined hereinabove.

(d) Early Termination Upon Disability. This Agreement and all benefits hereunder shall terminate if Employee is not able, as a result of an illness or other physical or mental disability, to perform the essential functions of his position as required by this Agreement for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or in excess of one hundred eighty (180) days in any one (1) year period, notwithstanding reasonable accommodation by Bank to Employee’s known physical or mental disability, solely in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the Americans with Disabilities Act, 29 U.S.C. Sections 12101-213 or any other state or local law governing the employment of disabled persons (the “ADA”) provided such accommodation would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of Bank’s business or a direct threat to the Employee or others pursuant to the ADA. In the event of termination of this Agreement by Bank pursuant to this section 6(d):

(i) Employee shall be entitled to disability benefits provided by the disability insurance coverage identified in section 5(c) of this Agreement; and

(ii) All other benefits provided for under this Agreement shall cease as of the date of termination (except insofar as the group insurance benefits provided under section 5(c) may be continued or convertible by Employee as provided under COBRA or other laws applicable at the time of termination).

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(iii) Employee shall also be entitled to receive Vested Benefits, as defined hereinabove.

For purposes of this Agreement, physical or mental disability shall mean the inability of Employee to fully perform under this Agreement for a continuous period of ninety (90) days, as determined in the case of physical disability by a physician, or in the case of mental disability by a psychiatrist, both of whom must be licensed to practice medicine in California and are to be selected with the approval of Bank and Employee. Upon demand by Bank, Employee shall act promptly to select such physician or psychiatrist jointly with Bank and shall consent to undergo any reasonable examination or test. Recurrent disabilities will be treated as separate disabilities if they result from unrelated causes or if they result from the same or related cause or causes and are separated by a continuous period of at least twelve (12) full months during which Employee was able to perform his duties hereunder equal to at least eighty percent (80%) of his capacity prior to disability. Otherwise, recurrent disabilities will be treated as a continuation of previous disabilities for the purpose of determining the limitations established in this Section.

(e) Death During Employment. This Agreement and all benefits hereunder shall terminate immediately upon the death of Employee, except that Employee’s heirs or estate shall also be entitled to receive Vested Benefits, as defined hereinabove, and Employee’s dependants may be entitled to COBRA rights, as defined hereinabove.

7. Survival of Obligations. The provisions of Sections 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 and 28 of this Agreement shall survive Employee’s termination of employment and the termination of this Agreement. Other provisions of this Agreement shall survive any termination of Employee’s employment to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of each Party’s respective rights and obligations.

8. Fidelity Bond. Employee agrees that he will furnish all information and take any other steps necessary to enable Bank to obtain or maintain a fidelity bond conditional on the rendering of a true account by Employee of all moneys, goods, or other property which may come into the custody, charge or possession of Employee during the Employment Term. The surety company issuing the bond and the amount of the bond must be acceptable to Bank and satisfy all banking laws and regulations. All premiums on the bond are to be paid by Bank.

9. Compliance with Bank Policies. Employee agrees to observe and comply with the rules and regulations of Bank respecting the performance of his duties and to carry out and perform orders, directions and policies communicated to him from time to time. Employee agrees to comply with all rules and policies contained in any applicable Employee Handbook which has been or will be issued by Bank.

10. Bank Property. All records, financial statements and similar documents obtained, reviewed or compiled by Employee in the course of the performance by him of services for Bank, whether or not confidential information or trade secrets, shall be the exclusive property of Bank. Employee agrees to hold as Bank’s property, all memoranda, books, papers, letters,

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formulas and other data, and all copies thereof and therefrom, in any way relating to Bank’s business and affairs, whether made by him or otherwise coming into his possession, and on termination of his employment, or on demand of Bank, at any time to deliver the same to Bank. Employee shall have no rights in such documents upon any termination of his employment.

11. Proprietary Information.

(a) Employee recognizes and acknowledges that Bank and its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates possess trade secrets and other confidential and/or proprietary information concerning their respective business affairs and methods of operation which constitute valuable, confidential, and unique assets of the business of Bank and its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates (“Proprietary Information”), which Bank and its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates have developed through a substantial expenditure of time and money and which are and will continue to be utilized in the business of Bank and its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates and which are not generally known in the trade. As used herein, Propriety Information includes the following:

(i) Customer lists, including information regarding the identity of clients and client contacts, client accounts, the business needs and preferences of clients, and information regarding business and contractual arrangements with clients. As used herein, “Customer List” is not limited to physical writing or compilations, and includes information which is contained in or reproduced from the memory of any employee.

(ii) Business plans, objectives and strategies, and marketing plans and information;

(iii) Financial information, sales information and pricing information, including information regarding vendors, suppliers and others doing business with Bank, or any parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof;

(iv) Personal identities and information regarding skills and compensation of the personnel of Bank, or any parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof;

(v) Bank manuals and handbooks, computer programs and data;

(vi) Any other confidential information which gives Bank, or any parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof, an opportunity to claim a competitive advantage or has economic value.

(b) During his employment with Bank, Employee will not use, copy, transmit or otherwise disclose Bank’s Proprietary Information for any purpose other than for the benefit of Bank, and Employee will make all reasonable efforts to protect the confidential nature of such information. Employee will not disclose Bank’s Proprietary Information to anyone not entitled to such disclosure without the advance written permission of the Chairman of the Board of the Bank.

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(c) Upon termination of his employment, Employee will immediately deliver to Bank all of Bank’s Proprietary Information. Employee will not retain any copies of Bank’s Proprietary Information after termination of his employment without the express written consent of the Chairman of the Board.

(d) After termination of his employment, Employee will not use Bank’s Proprietary Information for any purpose, or disclose or communicate the same to any person, firm or corporation for any purpose.

(e) In the event Employee should receive, during the Employment Term, or thereafter, any subpoena, search warrant or other court process requiring Employee to produce any documents containing Proprietary Information as defined herein, Employee shall immediately provide a copy of such request to Bank.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, information (i) already in the public domain; (ii) independently developed by the Employee; (iii) obtained from a source not subject to a confidentiality obligation to Bank or a third party; or (iv) that becomes public knowledge (other than by acts of the Employee in violation of this Agreement), shall not be deemed to be Proprietary Information as described in this section 11.

12. Non-Solicitation. During his employment with Bank, and for a period of one year immediately following his employment with Bank, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee of Bank, or of any parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof, to terminate his or her employment with said company, or to work for any other business, person or company.

13. Equitable Relief. Employee acknowledges that any breach or threatened breach by him of the provisions of Sections 10, 11 and 12 of this Agreement will result in immediate and irreparable harm to Bank, for which there will be no adequate remedy at law, and that Bank will be entitled (subject to section 28) to equitable relief to restrain Employee from violating the terms of these sections, or to compel Employee to cease and desist all unauthorized use and disclosure of the Confidential Information, without posting bond or other security. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to it for such breach or threatened breach, including recovery of damages from Employee.

14. Property of Others. Employee represents that his performance under this Agreement does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence confidential information or trade secrets, if any, acquired by Employee in confidence prior to this Agreement. There are no agreements, written or oral, conveying rights in any research conducted by Employee. Employee represents, as part of the consideration for entering into this Agreement, that he has not brought and will not bring to Bank or use in the performance of his responsibilities at Bank any equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of any current or former employer or organization with which he provided services which are not generally available to the public, unless he has obtained written authorization for their possession and use.

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15. Non-Competition by Employee. Employee shall not, during his employment with Bank, directly or indirectly, either as an employee, employer, consultant, agent, principal, partner, shareholder, corporate officer, director, or in any other individual or representative capacity, work for, or engage or participate in the business of, any competing company, bank, bank holding company or financial holding company or financial institution or financial services business without the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board.

16. Indemnification. Bank shall indemnify Employee, to the maximum extent permitted under the Bylaws of Bank and governing laws and regulations, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Employee in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding to which Employee is made a party by reason of his position as an officer or agent of Bank or by reason of his service at the request of Bank, if Employee acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Bank. If available at rates determined by Bank, in its sole discretion, to be reasonable, Bank shall endeavor to apply for and obtain Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance to indemnify and insure Bank and Employee from such liability or loss. Employee shall indemnify Bank from and against all costs, expenses (including attorney’s fees), liability and damages arising out of any act of misconduct, other than actions taken in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Bank, by Employee during the term of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by any federal banking agency, Bank may only reimburse, indemnify or hold harmless Employee if Bank is in compliance with any applicable statute, rule, regulation or policy of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the California Department of Financial Institutions regarding permissible indemnification payments.

17. Breach. Breach by either Party of any of his or its respective obligations under Sections 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16 of this Agreement shall be deemed a material breach of that Party’s obligations hereunder, provided, however, that no breach of a monetary obligation shall be deemed a material breach until the Party allegedly in breach has failed to cure said breach within seven (7) business days after the aggrieved Party delivers written notice of such breach to the other Party.

18. Survival of Agreement in Event of Merger. This Agreement shall not be terminated by any merger in which Bank is not the surviving or resulting corporation, or on any transfer of all or substantially all of Bank’s assets. In the event of any such merger or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the surviving business entity or the business entity to which such assets shall be transferred. This section shall not serve to diminish Employee’s rights pursuant to section 6(a) above.

19. Tax Consequences. Employee is urged to review with his own tax advisors the federal and state tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Employee is relying solely on such advisors (if any) and not on any statements or representations of Bank or any of its agents.

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20. Withholding. All payments provided for hereunder shall be reduced by payroll taxes and withholding required by any federal, state or local law, and any additional withholding to which Employee has agreed in writing.

21. Notices. Any notices to be given hereunder by either Party to the other may be effected in writing either by personal delivery or by mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Notices to Bank shall be given to Bank at its then current principal office, c/o Chairman of the Board of Directors. Notices to Employee shall be sent to Employee’s last known personal residence. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as of actual receipt; mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of five (5) calendar days after mailing.

22. Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the Parties (or any parent company, shareholder, subsidiary, division or affiliate thereof) with respect to the employment of Employee (excluding only stock option agreements) and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the Parties with respect to such employment. Each Party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises or agreements, oral or otherwise, have been made by any Party, or anyone acting on behalf of any Party, which are not embodied herein, and that no other agreement, statement or promise not contained in this Agreement shall be valid and binding.

23. Amendment. This Agreement may be changed or modified, or any provisions hereof waived, only by a writing signed by the Party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change or modification is sought.

24. Severability. In the event that any term or condition contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or non-enforceability shall not affect any other term or condition of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable term or condition had never been contained herein.

25. Choice of Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States. Any action or proceeding brought upon, or arising out of, this Agreement or its termination shall be brought in a forum located within the State of California, and Bank and Employee hereby agree to be subject to service of process in California.

26. Waiver. The Parties hereto shall not be deemed to have waived any of their respective rights under this Agreement unless the waiver is in writing and signed by such waiving Party. No delay in exercising any rights shall be a waiver nor shall a waiver on one occasion operate as a waiver of such right on a future occasion.

27. Interpretation. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the plain meaning of its terms and not strictly for or against any of the Parties hereto. Captions and section headings used herein are for convenience and ready reference only and shall not be used in the construction or interpretation thereof.

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28. Arbitration. In the event of any dispute, claim or controversy between the Employee and Bank (or any of Bank’s parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and/or affiliates and/or any of its or their respective officers, partners, directors, members, managers, employees, agents or employees) arising out of this Agreement or the Employee’s employment with Bank, Employee and Bank agree to submit such dispute, claim or controversy to final and binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with the AAA National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. The claims governed by this arbitration provision include, but are not limited to, claims for breach of contract, civil torts and employment discrimination such as violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other employment laws.

(a) The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator selected either by mutual agreement of the Employee and Bank or, if they cannot agree, from an odd-numbered list of experienced employment law arbitrators provided by the American Arbitration Association. Each Party shall strike one arbitrator from the list alternately until only one arbitrator remains.

(b) Each Party shall have the right to conduct reasonable discovery, as determined by the arbitrator.

(c) The arbitrator shall have all powers conferred by law and a judgment may be entered on the award by a court of law having jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall render a written arbitration award that contains the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based. The award and judgment shall be binding and final on both Parties.

(d) Bank will pay the arbitrator’s fees and costs as well as any AAA administrative fees. The Parties shall each pay the fees of their own attorneys and the expenses of their own witnesses.

(e) This agreement to arbitrate shall continue during Employment Term and thereafter regarding any employment-related disputes.

(f) The Employee and Bank understand that by signing this Agreement, they give up their right to a civil trial and their right to a trial by jury.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is entered into as of the date and year above written.


“BANK”		“EMPLOYEE”
PLACER SIERRA BANK		XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX, XX.

	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
By:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Title:	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

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EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

This Release Agreement (“Release”) was given to me, XXXXXX XXXXXXXX (“Employee”), this day of , 200 , by PLACER SIERRA BANK, a California banking corporation (“Bank”). At such time as this Release becomes effective and enforceable (i.e., the revocation period set forth below has expired), and assuming such Employee is otherwise eligible for payments under the terms of that certain Employment Agreement and Agreement for Severance Pay between Employee and Bank entered into as of September 1, 2003 (the “Agreement”), Bank agrees to pay Employee, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, a single sum severance payment in the amount of $275,000, plus Employee’s incentive bonus for the 2003 calendar year (which incentive bonus shall be pro-rated if the Agreement is terminated by Employee prior to the expiration of the Employment Term pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Agreement) (less payroll taxes and withholding required by any federal, state or local law, any additional withholding to which Employee has agreed, and any outstanding obligations owed by the Employee to Bank), provided that the Bank shall be obligated to pay Employee’s incentive bonus under the Bank’s 2003 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan at the same time as it makes payment of any other incentive bonuses paid to other officers of the Bank under such plan and shall not be obligated to make such payment to Employee at any earlier time.

Employee is also entitled to receive (i) those benefits, if any, that have vested by operation of state or federal law or under any written term of a plan (“Vested Benefits”), and (ii) health care coverage continuation rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

In consideration of the receipt of the promise to pay such amount, Employee hereby agrees, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (hereinafter referred to as the “Releasors”), to fully release and discharge Bank and each of its parent companies, shareholders, subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates, and each of their respective officers, partners, directors, members, managers, employees and agents, and each of their respective predecessors, successors, heirs and assigns (hereinafter referred to as the “Releasees”) from any and all claims, suits, causes of action, debts, obligations, costs, losses, liabilities, damages and demands under any federal, state or local law or laws, or contract, tort or common law, whether or not known, suspected or claimed, which the Releasors have, or hereafter may have, against the Releasees arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment (or other contractual relationship) with Bank and/or the termination of that relationship. The claims released herein include claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act, the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Equal Pay Act, The Workers Adjustment and Notification Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the California Labor Code. Provided, however, that this Agreement does not waive rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act that may arise after the date this Release is executed.

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It is understood and agreed that this Release extends to all such claims and/or potential claims, and that Employee, on behalf of the Releasors, hereby expressly waives all rights with respect to all such claims under California Civil Code section 1542, which provides as follows:

A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.

The monies to be paid to the Employee in this Release are in addition to any sums to which he would be entitled without signing this Release.

Employee acknowledges that he has read and does understand the provisions of this Release. Employee acknowledges that he affixes his signature hereto voluntarily and without coercion, and that no promise or inducement has been made other than those set out in this Release and that he executes this Release without reliance on any representation by any Releasee.

Employee understands that this Release involves the relinquishment of his legal rights, and that he has the right to, and has been given the opportunity to, consult with an attorney of his choice. Employee acknowledges that he has been (and hereby is) advised by Bank that he should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release.

This document does not constitute, and shall not be admissible as evidence of, an admission by any Releasee as to any fact or matter.

In case any part of this Release is later deemed to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, Employee agrees that the legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Release will not be affected in any way.

Employee acknowledges that he has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days from receipt of this Release within which to consider this Release and decide whether or not to execute this Release. If Employee executes this Release at any time prior to the end of the 21 day period, such early execution was a knowing and voluntary waiver of Employee’s right to consider this Release for at least 21 days, and was due to his belief that he had ample time in which to consider this Release.

Employee may, within seven (7) days of his execution and delivery of this Release, revoke this Release by a written document received by Bank on or before the end of the seven (7) day period. The Release will not be effective until said revocation period has expired. No payments will be made hereunder if the Employee revokes this Release.


Dated:
		XXXXXX XXXXXXXX

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT FOR SEVERANCE PAY

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