FIRST FEDERAL BANC OF THE SOUTHWEST, INC. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR GEORGE A. ROSENBAUM, JR.

Exhibit 10.8

FIRST FEDERAL BANC OF THE SOUTHWEST, INC.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

FOR

XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX, XX.

This Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 5th day of April 2005 by and between First Federal Banc of the Southwest, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, with its principal administrative office at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and of First Federal Bank, Roswell, New Mexico (the “Bank”), and the Company is the sole stockholder of the Bank;

WHEREAS, in consideration of Executive’s outstanding service to the Company, the Company and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement to reflect the terms of Executive’s employment by the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and the Company, respectively. During said period, if requested, Executive also agrees to serve as an officer and/or director of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. Failure to reelect Executive as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company without the consent of Executive during the term of this Agreement shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.

2. TERMS AND DUTIES

(a) The period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall begin as of the date first above written and shall continue for thirty-six (36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date of this Agreement (“Anniversary Date”) and continuing on each Anniversary Date thereafter, this Agreement shall renew for an additional year such that the remaining term shall be three (3) years unless written notice of non-renewal (“Non-Renewal Notice”) is provided to Executive at least thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to any such Anniversary Date, in which case his employment shall cease at the end of thirty-six (36) months following such Anniversary Date. Prior to each notice period for non-renewal, the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”) will conduct a performance review of Executive for purposes of determining whether to provide notice of nonrenewal.

(b) During the period of his employment hereunder, except for periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of absence approved by the Board, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder including activities and services

related to the organization, operation and management of the Company and the Bank; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board of the Company or the Bank, as evidenced by a resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve, or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, business companies or business organizations, which, in such Board’s judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank, or materially affect the performance of Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement (it being understood that membership in and service on boards or committees of social, religious, charitable or similar organizations does not require Board approval pursuant to this Section 2(b)).

3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT

(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute the salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Section 2(b). The Company shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less than $131,775 per year (“Base Salary”). Such Base Salary shall be payable biweekly, or in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Bank. During the period of this Agreement, Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually. Such review shall be conducted by a committee designated by the Board, and the Board may increase, but not decrease, Executive’s Base Salary (any increase in Base Salary shall become the “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement). In addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Company shall provide Executive at no cost to Executive with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Company and/or the Bank. Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under qualified and nonqualified plans maintained by the Bank.

(b) The Company will provide Executive with employee benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Company will not, without Executive’s prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, except as to any changes that are applicable to all participating employees or are reasonably or customarily available. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(b), Executive will be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any employee benefit plans of the Bank or the Company including, but not limited to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans, stock option and restricted stock plans, health-and-accident plans, medical coverage and any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Bank and/or the Company in the future to its senior executives and key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. Executive will be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan of the Company and/or the Bank in which Executive is eligible to participate. Nothing paid to Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement.

(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this Section 3, the Bank or the Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board may

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from time to time determine. The Bank or the Company shall reimburse Executive for his ordinary and necessary business expenses, including, without limitation, fees for memberships in such clubs and organizations as Executive and the Board shall mutually agree are necessary and appropriate for business purposes, and travel and entertainment expenses, incurred in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, upon presentation to the Bank of an itemized account of such expenses in such form as the Bank may reasonably require.

4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION

The provisions of this Section shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions stated in Sections 7 and 14.

(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during Executive’s term of employment under this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, an “Event of Termination” shall mean and include any one or more of the following:

(i) the termination by the Bank or the Company of Executive’s full-time employment hereunder for any reason other than (A) Disability or Retirement, as defined in Section 5 below, or (B) Termination for Cause as defined in Section 6 hereof; or

(ii) Executive’s resignation from the Company’s employ, upon any

(A) failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and/or the Company,

(B) material change in Executive’s function, duties, or responsibilities, which change would cause Executive’s position to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the position and attributes thereof described in Section 1 above,

(C) relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than 30 miles from its location at the effective date of this Agreement,

(D) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Company other than liquidations or dissolutions that are caused by reorganizations that do not affect the status of Executive, or

(E) breach of this Agreement by the Company.

Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (ii) (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by resignation upon sixty (60) days prior written notice given within a reasonable period of time not to exceed four (4) calendar months after the initial event giving rise to said right to elect. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event of a continuing breach of this Agreement by the Company, Executive, after giving due notice within the prescribed time frame of an initial event specified above, shall not waive any of his rights solely under this Agreement and this Section by virtue of the fact that Executive has submitted his resignation but has remained in the

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employment of the Company and is engaged in good faith discussions to resolve any occurrence of an event described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) above.

(iii) Executive’s involuntary termination by the Company or voluntary resignation from the Company’s employ on the effective date of, or at any time following, a Change in Control during the term of this Agreement, including extensions thereof. For these purposes, a Change in Control of the Company shall mean a change in control of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Company within the meaning of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “HOLA”) as in effect at the time of the Change in Control; or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (a) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of Company’s outstanding securities, except for any securities purchased by any employee benefit plan or trust maintained by the Bank or the Company; or (b) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be considered, for purposes of this clause (b), as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company or similar transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation occurs; or (d) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Company, by someone other than the then current Board of Directors of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Company; or (e) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the Company and the shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25% or more of the outstanding securities of the Company have tendered or offered to sell their shares pursuant to such tender offer and such tendered shares have been accepted by the tender offeror.

(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, as defined in Section 4(a)(i), (ii) or (iii), on the Date of Termination, as defined in Section 7(b) or, if different, within the time frame set forth in any sub-paragraph below, the Company shall pay Executive (or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be):

(i) his earned but unpaid salary as of the date of termination of employment with the Company;

(ii) as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a cash amount equal to the greater of the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement, or 2.99 (299%) times the sum of (A) the highest annual rate of Base Salary paid to Executive at any time under this

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Agreement and (B) the highest annual bonus awarded to Executive during the prior three years. At the election of Executive, which election is to be made on an annual basis during the month of                     , and which election is irrevocable for the year in which made and upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, any payments shall be made in a lump sum, or paid bi-weekly during the remaining term of this Agreement following Executive’s termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to Executive will be made in a lump sum within sixty (60) days of the termination of employment. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment;

(iii) at the Company’s expense, continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Company or the Bank for Executive prior to his termination of employment. Such coverage shall continue for each of Executive and his spouse and shall cease thirty-six (36) months following the Event of Termination.

5. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH

For purposes of this Agreement, termination by the Company of Executive’s employment based on “Retirement” shall mean termination in accordance with the Company’s and/or the Bank’s retirement policy or in accordance with any retirement arrangement established with Executive’s consent with respect to him. Upon termination of Executive upon Retirement, no amounts or benefits shall be due Executive under this Agreement, and Executive shall be entitled to all benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or the Bank and other plans to which Executive is a party.

In the event Executive is unable to perform his duties under this Agreement on a full-time basis for a period of six (6) consecutive months by reason of illness or other physical or mental disability (“Disability”), the Company may terminate this Agreement, provided that the Company shall continue to be obligated to pay Executive his Base Salary for the remaining term of the Agreement, or one year, whichever is the longer period of time, and provided further that any amounts actually paid to Executive pursuant to any disability insurance or other similar such program which the Company and/or the Bank has provided or may provide on behalf of its employees generally or its senior executives or pursuant to any xxxxxxx’x or social security disability program shall reduce the compensation to be paid to Executive pursuant to this paragraph.

In the event of Executive’s death during the term of the Agreement, his estate, legal representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive in writing) shall be paid Executive’s Base Salary as defined in Section 3(a) at the rate in effect at the time Executive’s death for a period of one (1) year from the date of Executive’s death.

6. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE

The term “Termination for Cause” shall mean termination because of Executive’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, any breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any material law, rule, or regulation (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Agreement. In determining

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incompetence, the acts or omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the savings institution industry. For purposes of this paragraph, no act or failure to act on the part of Executive shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Termination for Cause. Any non-vested stock options granted to Executive under any stock option plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon Executive’s receipt of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and shall not be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for Cause.

7. NOTICE

(a) Any purported termination by the Company or by Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.

(b) “Date of Termination” shall mean (A) if Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if his employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, except upon the voluntary termination by Executive, in which case the Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company will continue to pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue Executive as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this

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Agreement, provided such dispute is resolved within the term of this Agreement. If such dispute is not resolved within the term of the Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated, upon final resolution of such dispute, to pay Executive compensation and other payments accruing beyond the term of the Agreement. Amounts paid under this Section shall be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

8. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS

(a) All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to Executive’s compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section during the term of this Agreement and for one (1) full year after the expiration or termination hereof.

(b) Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Company and/or the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Company and/or the Bank in connection with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.

9. ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS RELATED TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL

(a) In the event of a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company, the independent accountants of the Company shall determine if an excess parachute payment (as defined in Section 4999 of the Code) exists. Such determination shall be made after taking any reductions permitted pursuant to Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Any amount determined to be an excess parachute payment after taking into account such reductions shall be hereafter referred to as the “Initial Excess Parachute Payment.” As soon as practicable after a Change in Control, the Initial Excess Parachute Payment shall be determined. For purposes of this determination, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income tax (including, but not limited to, the Alternative Minimum Tax under Code Sections 55-59, if applicable) and state and local income tax, if applicable, at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence on the date such payment is payable, net of the maximum reduction in the federal income taxes which could be obtained from any available deduction of such state and local taxes. Any determination by the independent accountants shall be binding on the Company and Executive. Within five (5) days after such determination, the Company shall pay Executive, subject to applicable withholding requirements under applicable state or federal law an amount equal to:

(i) twenty (20) percent of the Initial Excess Parachute Payment (or such other amount equal to the tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code), and

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(ii) such additional amount (tax allowance) as may be necessary to compensate Executive for the payment by Executive of state and federal income and excise taxes on the payment provided under Clause (i) and on any payments under this Clause (ii). In computing such tax allowance, the payment to be made under Clause (i) shall be multiplied by the “gross up percentage” (“GUP”). The GUP shall be determined as follows:

GUP		=		Tax Rate
				1-Tax Rate

The Tax Rate for purposes of computing the GUP shall be the highest marginal federal and state income and employment-related tax rate, including any applicable excise tax rate, applicable to Executive in the year in which the payment under Clause (i) is made.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it shall subsequently be determined in a final judicial determination or a final administrative settlement to which Executive is a party that the excess parachute payment as defined in Section 4999 of the Code, reduced as described above, is different from the Initial Excess Parachute Payment (such different amount being hereafter referred to as the “Determinative Excess Parachute Payment”) then the Company’s independent accountants shall determine the amount (the “Adjustment Amount”) Executive must pay to the Company or the Company must pay to Executive in order to put Executive (or the Company, as the case may be) in the same position as Executive (or the Company, as the case may be) would have been if the Initial Excess Parachute Payment had been equal to the Determinative Excess Parachute Payment. In determining the Adjustment Amount, the independent accountants shall take into account any and all taxes (including any penalties and interest) paid by or for Executive or refunded to Executive or for Executive’s benefit. As soon as practicable after the Adjustment Amount has been so determined, the Company shall pay the Adjustment Amount to Executive or Executive shall repay the Adjustment Amount to the Company, as the case may be. The purpose of this paragraph is to assure that (i) Executive is not reimbursed more for the golden parachute excise tax than is necessary to make him whole, and (ii) if it is subsequently determined that additional golden parachute excise tax is owed by him, additional reimbursement payments will be made to him to make him whole for the additional excise tax.

(c) In each calendar year that Executive receives payments or benefits under this Agreement and/or a Company or Bank sponsored employee benefit plan, Executive shall report on his state and federal income tax returns such information as is consistent with the determination made by the independent accountants of the Company as described above. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless from any and all losses, costs and expenses (including without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees, interest, fines and penalties) that Executive incurs as a result of so reporting such information. Executive shall promptly notify the Company in writing whenever Executive receives notice of the institution of a judicial or administrative proceeding, formal or informal, in which the federal tax treatment under Section 4999 of the Code of any amount paid or payable under this Section is being reviewed or is in dispute. The Company shall assume control at its expense over all legal and accounting matters pertaining to such federal tax treatment (except to the extent necessary or appropriate for Executive to resolve any such proceeding with respect to any matter unrelated to amounts paid or

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payable pursuant to this contract). Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in any such proceeding. Executive shall not enter into any compromise or settlement or otherwise prejudice any rights the Company may have in connection therewith without prior consent of the Company.

10. NON-COMPETITION

(a) Upon any termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, other than a termination (whether voluntary or involuntary) in connection with a Change in Control, as a result of which the Company and/or the Bank is paying Executive the benefits entitled to Executive under Section 4 of this Agreement, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank and/or the Company for a period of one (1) year following such termination in any city, town or county in which the Bank and/or the Company has an office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an office, determined as of the effective date of such termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board. Executive agrees that during such period and within said area, cities, towns and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with the depository, lending or other business activities of the Bank and/or the Company. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury would result to the Bank and/or the Company, its business and property in the event of Executive’s breach of this Subsection 10(a), agree that in the event of any such breach by Executive, the Bank and/or the Company would be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by Executive, Executive’s partners, agents, employers, employees and all persons acting for or with Executive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Bank and/or the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank and/or the Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the business activities and plans for business activities of the Company and affiliates thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique asset of the business of the Company. Executive will not, during or after the term of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Company or affiliates thereof to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever (except for such disclosure as may be required to be provided to any federal banking agency with jurisdiction over the Company or Executive). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the Company, and Executive may disclose any information regarding the Bank or the Company which is otherwise publicly available. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Company will be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Company or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to any person, firm, corporation or other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

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11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS

All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid by direct deposit into an account maintained by the Executive at the Bank and from the general funds of the Company.

12. NO ATTACHMENT

(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null, void, and of no effect.

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Executive and the Company and their respective successors and assigns.

13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

(a) This Agreement contains the entire agreement between Executive and the Company relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes in its entirety any and all prior agreements, understandings or representations relating to the subject matter hereof.

(b) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

(c) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically waived.

14. REGULATORY PROVISIONS

Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, any payments to Executive by the Company are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k), and the regulations promulgated thereunder in 12 C.F.R. Part 359.

15. SEVERABILITY

If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

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16. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY

The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

17. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Mexico but only to the extent not superseded by federal law.

18. ARBITRATION

Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the employee within twenty-five miles of Roswell, New Mexico, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

19. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES

All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed by the Company, provided that the dispute or interpretation has been settled by Executive and the Company or has been resolved in Executive’s favor.

20. INDEMNIFICATION

During the term of this Agreement and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the Company shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors and officers liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his having been a director, officer or employee of the Company (whether or not he continues to be a director, officer or employee at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys fees and the cost of reasonable settlements (such settlements must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company).

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and Executive has signed this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

ATTEST:						FIRST FEDERAL BANC OF THE SOUTHWEST, INC.
/s/    XXXX XXXXX						By:		/s/    XXXXXX X. XXXX, XX.
Assistant Secretary								President and CEO
WITNESS:						EXECUTIVE:
/s/    XXXXXX XXXXX						By:		/s/    XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX, XX.
								Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

Employment Agreement for Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.

In the event of my death, I, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx., hereby designate Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx as the named beneficiary of the Employment Agreement between myself and First Federal Banc of the Southwest, Inc. pursuant to Section 5 of the Agreement.

/s/    XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX, XX.				Dated April 13, 2005
Witness:
/s/    XXXXXX XXXXX
Acknowledged:
First Federal Banc of the Southwest, Inc.
/s/    XXXXXX X. XXXX, XX.

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