Exhibit 10.3

                       SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT BANCORP, INC.

       Southern Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Stock Option and Award Plan

                                                                     No. _______

                           NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION


         THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the grant date indicated in Section 3 below,
and  between  Southern  Connecticut  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  and  the
undersigned  individual (the "Optionee"),  pursuant to the Southern  Connecticut
Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Stock Option and Award Plan (the "Plan").  (Terms not defined
herein shall have the same meaning as in the Plan.)

         WHEREAS,  the Optionee is a person eligible for grants of Options under
the Plan, and the Company,  through the Plan's Committee, has approved the grant
of Non-Qualified Stock Options ("Options") under the Plan to the Optionee.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and pursuant to the Plan, the parties agree as follows:

1.       Grant of Options.  The Company  hereby grants to the Optionee the right
         and option to purchase  from the  Company,  at the  exercise  price set
         forth in Section 3 below,  all or any part of the  aggregate  number of
         shares of Common Stock of the Company (the  "Shares") set forth in said
         Section 3.

2.       Terms and  Conditions.  It is  understood  and  agreed  that the Option
         evidenced  hereby is subject to the  provisions  of the Plan (which are
         incorporated   herein  by  reference)  and  the  following   terms  and
         conditions:

         a.       Expiration  Date: The Option  evidenced hereby shall expire on
                  the date specified in Section 3 below, or at such earlier date
                  as is  provided in Section 8 of the Plan upon  termination  of
                  Optionee's services.

         b.       Exercise  of Option.  The  Option  evidenced  hereby  shall be
                  exercisable  from time to time by  submitting  an  appropriate
                  notice  of  exercise  ten days  prior to the date of  exercise
                  specifying  the number of shares for which the Option is being
                  exercised,  addressed to the Company at its principal place of
                  business

                    and either:

                    (i)  Cash Only Exercise -- submitting the full cash purchase
                         price of the exercised Shares; or

                    (ii) Share  Exercise --  tendering  Shares  (which have been
                         held at least 6  months)  in an  amount  sufficient  to
                         provide the full purchase price, or

                    (iii)Combination  -- tendering a combination of (i) and (ii)
                         above.

         c.       Withholding  Taxes.  Without  regard to the method of exercise
                  and  payment,  the  Optionee  shall pay to the  Company,  upon
                  notice of the amount due, any  withholding  taxes payable with
                  respect  to such  exercise,  which  payment  may be made  with
                  Shares which would otherwise be issued pursuant to the Option.





         d.       Exercise  Schedule.  Pursuant to Section  7(b) of the Plan and
                  except as  otherwise  provided in Section 18 of the Plan,  the
                  Option will become exercisable as set forth below:

                    For the period ending:     Percent of grant exercisable:
                    ----------------------     ----------------------------




         e.       Compliance  with Laws and  Regulations.  The Option  evidenced
                  hereby is subject to  restrictions  imposed at any time on the
                  exercise or delivery of Shares in  violation of the By-Laws of
                  the Company or of any law or governmental  regulation that the
                  Company may find to be valid and applicable.

         f.       Interpretation.   Optionee  hereby   acknowledges   that  this
                  Agreement  is governed by the Plan,  a copy of which  Optionee
                  hereby   acknowledges    having   received,    and   by   such
                  administrative  rules and regulations relative to the Plan and
                  not inconsistent  therewith as may be adopted and amended from
                  time by the Committee  (the  "Rules").  Optionee  agrees to be
                  bound by the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Rules.

3.       Option Data

                  Optionee's Name: ________________________


                  Number of Shares
                  Subject to this Option:  ________________________


                  Grant Date:  ________________________


                  Exercise Price Per Share:  ________________________


                  Expiration Date:  ________________________


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to
be  executed  by its  authorized  officer,  as of the Grant Date  identified  in
Section 3.


                                         SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT BANCORP, INC.



                                         By:  ________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

AGREED TO:

_____________________________
Signature of the Optionee
Date:  ________________________