SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT BANCORP, INC.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

Purpose

The Compensation Committee (“CC”) is appointed by the Board to discharge the Board’s responsibilities concerning compensation of the Company’s Directors and officers including review and oversight of all compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company.  The CC must also prepare an annual report on executive compensation and Director’s fees for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and will evaluate the performance of the CEO.

The Compensation Committee shall operate as the Stock Committee or Stock Sub-Committee for purposes of awards under the Company Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan.

Committee Membership

The CC will consist of not less than three Directors who shall meet the independence requirements of the American Stock Exchange, Securities Exchange Commission and any and all regulators requirements on independence.

In order to maintain independence on a continual basis, the members of the Compensation Committee will serve on a rotating basis with a maximum of three years served consecutively.

The members shall be appointed and replaced by the Board.

In addition to independence, qualification for membership shall include financial literacy and business management experience.

Committee Authority and Responsibilities

1. Annually, the CC shall determine the form and amount of Director compensation with review and comparison against peer companies of  like size and operation. 
2. Annually, the CC shall do an evaluation of all Directors as to their attendance, committee participation, and contribution to all board meetings and matters.
3. The CC shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant or benefits consultant to be used to assist in the evaluation of Director, CEO or executive compensation and shall have sole authority to approve consultant fees and other retention terms.  The CC shall have sole authority to set the parameters of the engagement and to receive the reports of consultants retained by them.
4. The CC has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting and other advisors as it may require.
5. Annually, the CC shall review and approve the corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, and evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives.  The CC will determine the CEO’s long term incentive compensation, the CC will consider the Company’s performance, relative shareholder return, peer comparisons and the awards granted to the CEO in past years.
6. Annually, the CC, based on Management’s recommendations, shall review the compensation of the executive officers and other key executives, including compensation plans, incentive plans and equity based plans and make recommendations to the Board for:

(a)  annual base salary level

(b)  annual incentive opportunity level

(c) long term incentive opportunity level

(d) employment agreements, severance arrangements and change-in-control agreements/provisions, and if appropriate

(e) any special or supplemental benefits.

7. The CC is the designated administrator of all employee benefit plans and has the authority to make all decisions concerning the administration of the benefit plans.
8. The CC shall review its charter annually to make recommendations to the Board for change.
9. The CC shall report to the Board at least semi annually.
10. The CC shall conduct a self evaluation to determine whether it is functioning effectively at least annually.
11. The CC shall consider methods of creating incentives for management to achieve sustained growth in earnings and shareholder value and shall make recommendations to the Board.