FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL INC
10KSB40, 1996-12-27
SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 10-KSB

[X]      ANNUAL  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR  15(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
         [No Fee Required]

                  For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996

                                       OR

[ ]      TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
         [No Fee Required]

                  For the transition period from _______ to _______

                         Commission file number 0-22140.

                          FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name of small business Issuer in its charter)

           Delaware                                             42-1406262
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

    Fifth at Erie, Storm Lake, Iowa                                 50588
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

                    Issuer's telephone number: (712) 732-4117

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                      None

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
                                (Title of Class)

     Check  whether  the issuer (1) filed all  reports  required  to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 during the past 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports),  and (2) has been subject to such  requirements  for the past 90 days.
YES [X] NO [ ]

     Check if there is no disclosure  of  delinquent  filers in response to Item
405 of Regulation S-B contained herein,  and will not be contained,  to the best
of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information  statements
incorporated  by reference  in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any  amendment to
this Form 10-KSB. [X]
<PAGE>
     Issuer's revenues for the most recent fiscal year ended were $25.8 million

     As of  December  17,  1996,  the  Registrant  had  issued  and  outstanding
1,942,058 shares of Common Stock. The aggregate market value of the voting stock
held by non-affiliates  of the Registrant,  computed by reference to the average
of the closing price of such stock on the Nasdaq System as of December 17, 1996,
was $37.9  million.  (The  exclusion from such amount of the market value of the
shares owned by any person  shall not be deemed an  admission by the  Registrant
that such person is an affiliate of the Registrant.)

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

     PARTS II of Form  10-KSB -- Annual  Report to  Stockholders  for the fiscal
year ended  September 30, 1996.  

     PART III of Form 10-KSB -- Proxy  Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
<PAGE>
                                     PART I


Item 1.  Description of Business

General

         First  Midwest   Financial,   Inc.  ("First   Midwest,"  and  with  its
subsidiaries,  the "Company") is a Delaware corporation, the principle assets of
which are First  Federal  Savings  Bank of the  Midwest  ("First  Federal")  and
Security State Bank ("Security"). First Midwest, on September 20, 1993, acquired
all of the capital  stock of First Federal in  connection  with First  Federal's
conversion  from the  mutual to stock  form  ownership  (the  "Conversion").  On
September  30,  1996,  the  Company  became  a bank  holding  Company  upon  its
acquisition of Security, as discussed below. All references to the Company prior
to September 20, 1993, are to First Federal and its subsidiary on a consolidated
basis.

         Since  the  Conversion,  the  Company  has been an active  acquiror  of
financial  institutions.  On March 28, 1994,  First Midwest  acquired  Brookings
Federal Bank in  Brookings,  South Dakota  ("Brookings").  On December 29, 1995,
First  Midwest  acquired  Iowa  Savings  Bank,  FSB in Des  Moines,  Iowa ("Iowa
Savings").  Brookings  and Iowa Savings were both merged with and now operate as
divisions of First Federal.  Most recently, on September 30, 1996, First Midwest
completed  the  acquisition  of  Central  West  Bancorporation  ("CWB")  for  an
aggregate  merger  consideration  of  approximately  $5.25 million.  CWB was the
holding company for Security in Stuart,  Iowa, which upon the merger of CWB into
First Midwest  resulted in Security  becoming a stand-alone  subsidiary of First
Midwest. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the Company
include  First  Midwest,  Security and First Federal and its  subsidiaries  on a
consolidated  basis. See  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis -- Acquisitions
Completed" in the Annual Report to  Shareholders  attached  hereto as Exhibit 13
(the "Annual Report").

         First  Federal and  Security  (collectively,  the "Banks") are the only
operating  subsidiaries  of First  Midwest.  The  Banks  are  community-oriented
financial  institutions  offering a variety of  financial  services  to meet the
needs of the communities they serve. The Company,  through its subsidiary Banks,
provides a full range of financial  services.  The  principal  business of First
Federal  historically  has  consisted of  attracting  retail  deposits  from the
general  public and  investing  those  funds  primarily  in one- to  four-family
residential mortgage loans and, to a lesser extent,  commercial and multi-family
real estate, agricultural operating and real estate, construction,  consumer and
commercial  business loans primarily in First Federal's  market area.  Recently,
First  Federal's  lending  activities  have  expanded  to include  an  increased
emphasis on  originations  and purchases of  commercial  and  multi-family  real
estate loans.  The  principal  business of Security has been and continues to be
attracting  retail deposits from the general public and investing those funds in
agricultural  real estate and operating  loans and, to a lesser extent,  one- to
four-family residential,  commercial business and consumer loans. The Banks also
purchase  mortgage-backed  securities  and invest in U.S.  Government and agency
obligations  and other  permissible  investments.  At September  30,  1996,  the
Company had total  assets of $388.0  million,  deposits of $233.4  million,  and
shareholders' equity of $43.2 million.
<PAGE>
         The Company's  revenues are derived primarily from interest on mortgage
loans,  mortgage-backed  securities,  investments,  consumer loans, agricultural
operating loans, commercial business loans, income from service charges and loan
originations,  loan  servicing  fee  income,  and income from the sale of mutual
funds, insurance products,  annuities and brokerage services through its service
corporation subsidiaries.

         First  Federal,  through its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  First Services
Financial  Limited  ("First  Services"),   offers  mutual  funds  and,  in  some
locations,  insurance  products and annuities.  In addition,  Brookings  Service
Corporation  (a  subsidiary  of First  Services)  offers full service  brokerage
services through PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc., a third party vendor.

         First  Midwest and the Banks are subject to  comprehensive  regulation.
See "Regulation" herein.

         The  executive  offices of the  Company  are  located at Fifth at Erie,
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588. Its telephone number at that address is (712) 732-4117.

Forward-Looking Statements

         When used in this Form 10-KSB or future filings by the Company with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  in the Company's  press releases or other
public  or  shareholder  communications,  or in oral  statements  made  with the
approval of an authorized  executive officer,  the words or phrases "will likely
result",  "are expected to",  "will  continue",  "is  anticipated",  "estimate",
"project",   "believe"   or  similar   expressions   are  intended  to  identify
"forward-looking  statements"  within  the  meaning  of the  Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.  The  Company  wishes to caution  readers not to
place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date made, and to advise readers that various factors, including regional
and national  economic  conditions,  changes in levels of market interest rates,
credit risks of lending  activities,  and  competitive  and regulatory  factors,
could affect the Company's  financial  performance and could cause the Company's
actual results for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or
projected.

         The  Company  does  not  undertake,   and  specifically  disclaims  any
obligation,  to revise any forward-looking  statements to reflect the occurrence
of anticipated or unanticipated  events or circumstances  after the date of such
statements.

Market Area

         First  Federal's  main office is located at Fifth at Erie,  Storm Lake,
Iowa.  First Federal also operates one branch office also located in Storm Lake,
as well as six  additional  branch  offices  located in the  communities  of Des
Moines, Lake View, Laurens,  Manson, Odebolt, Sac City, Storm Lake, Iowa and two
offices in Brookings,  South Dakota.  Security  currently  operates its business
through  three  full  service  offices in Casey,  Menlo and  Stuart,  Iowa.  The
Company's  primary market area includes Adair,  Buena Vista,  Calhoun,  Guthrie,
Ida,  Pocahontas,  Polk and Sac Counties in Iowa and  Brookings  County in South
Dakota.
<PAGE>
         Storm  Lake is  located  in  northwest  Iowa  approximately  150  miles
northwest  of Des  Moines  and 200 miles  south of  Minneapolis  in Buena  Vista
County.  Like much of the State of Iowa,  Storm Lake and the  Company's  primary
market area are highly  dependent upon farming and agricultural  markets.  Major
employers in the area include Buena Vista County Hospital, IBP, Inc. and Bil Mar
Foods of Iowa. Storm Lake is also home to Buena Vista University.

         Brookings is located in east central  South  Dakota,  approximately  50
miles  north of Sioux  Falls  and 200 miles  west of  Minneapolis  in  Brookings
County. First Federal's market area in South Dakota encompasses  approximately a
30 mile radius of Brookings.  The area is generally  rural, and agriculture is a
significant  industry in the  community.  South Dakota State  University  is the
largest  employer in Brookings.  The University had 8,350 students  enrolled for
the 1996 fall term and employs 107 full-time professors.  The community also has
several manufacturing companies, including 3M, Larson Manufacturing, Daktronics,
Falcon Plastics and Twin City Fan. The Brookings  division  operates from a main
office located in downtown Brookings and one drive-up branch office also located
in Brookings.

         Security's  main office is in Stuart,  which is located in west central
Iowa  approximately  40 miles  west of Des  Moines  on the  border  of Adair and
Guthrie  counties.  Security's  market area is highly  dependent  on farming and
agriculture-related  businesses.  In recent years, the westward expansion of Des
Moines,  combined with direct interstate  highway access to Stuart, has resulted
in significant  development of new service-related  businesses in the community.
This development provides economic diversity to Security's market area.

Lending Activities

         General.  Historically,  the Company has originated fixed-rate, one- to
four-family  mortgage loans. In the early 1980's,  the Company began to focus on
the origination of  adjustable-rate  mortgage ("ARM") loans and short-term loans
for retention in its  portfolio in order to increase the  percentage of loans in
its portfolio with more frequent  repricing or shorter  maturities,  and in some
cases   higher   yields,   than   fixed-rate    residential    mortgage   loans.
Notwithstanding,  the Company has continued to originate fixed-rate  residential
mortgage loans in response to consumer demand. See "Management's  Discussion and
Analysis -- Asset/Liability Management" in the Annual Report.

         While the Company  historically  has focused its lending  activities on
the  origination of loans secured by first mortgages on  owner-occupied  one- to
four-family  residences,   it  also  originates  and  purchases  commercial  and
multi-family  real estate loans and originates  consumer,  commercial  business,
residential   construction  and   agriculturally   related  loans.  The  Company
originates  most of its loans in its primary  market area.  More  recently,  the
Company has increased its emphasis, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage
of its gross loan portfolio,  on these less traditional lending  activities.  At
September 30, 1996, the Company's net loan portfolio totalled $243.5 million, or
62.8% of the Company's total assets.

         Loan  applications  are  initially  considered  and approved at various
levels of authority,  depending on the type, amount and  loan-to-value  ratio of
the loan.  The Company has loan  committees  for each of the Banks  comprised of
officers of such Banks.  Loans in excess of certain amounts require the approval
of at least two  committee  members who must also be executive  officers,  or by
such  Bank's  Board of  Directors,  which  has  responsibility  for the  overall
supervision  of  the  loan  portfolio.   The  Company   reserves  the  right  to
discontinue,  adjust or create new lending  programs to respond to its needs and
to competitive factors.
<PAGE>
         The aggregate  amount of loans that the Banks are permitted to make are
subject to regulatory restrictions under their applicable governing agencies. At
September 30, 1996, the maximum amount which First Federal could lend to any one
borrower and the borrower's related entities,  pursuant to OTS regulations,  was
approximately  $5.0 million and the maximum  amount which Security could lend to
any one borrower and the borrower's  related entities,  pursuant to FRB and Iowa
regulations,  was approximately $540,000. At September 30, 1996, the Company had
no loans or groups of loans to related  borrowers with  outstanding  balances in
excess of these amounts.

         At that date, the Company's  largest  lending  relationship to a single
borrower or group of related borrowers  totalled $4.1 million  consisting of two
loans to a single borrower secured by two assisted living  complexes  located in
St. Cloud,  Minnesota.  There was only one other lending relationships in excess
of $3.0 million as of September 30, 1996.  At September 30, 1996,  each of these
loans was performing in accordance with its repayment terms.
<PAGE>
         Loan Portfolio  Composition.  The following table provides  information
about the  composition  of the Company's loan portfolio in dollar amounts and in
percentages (before deductions for loans in process, deferred fees and discounts
and allowances for losses) as of the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          September 30,
                                              --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                     1992                     1993                     1994         
                                                     ----                     ----                     ----         
                                              Amount      Percent      Amount      Percent      Amount      Percent       
                                              ------      -------      ------      -------      ------      -------       
                                                                           (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                           <C>            <C>       <C>            <C>      <C>             <C>
Real Estate Loans
 One- to four-family....................      $38,436         50.9%    $34,485         41.8%   $ 55,162         34.3%    
 Commercial and multi-family............       20,195         26.7      23,775         28.8      59,920         37.3    
 Agricultural...........................        6,161          8.2       6,065          7.4       8,064          5.0    
 Construction...........................          208           .3       4,037          4.9      10,248          6.4    
                                              -------        -----     -------        -----    --------        -----
     Total real estate loans............       65,000         86.1      68,362         82.9     133,394         83.0    
                                              -------        -----     -------        -----    --------        -----
Other Loans:
 Consumer Loans:
  Home equity...........................        2,097          2.8       2,158          2.6       3,784          2.4    
  Automobile............................          900          1.2         700           .9       2,944          1.8    
  Student...............................          622           .8         268           .3         422           .3    
  Deposit account.......................        1,493          2.0       1,421          1.7         385           .2    
  Other (1).............................          893          1.2         668           .8       3,063          1.9    
                                              -------        -----     -------        -----    --------        -----
     Total consumer loans...............        6,005          8.0       5,215          6.3      10,598          6.6    

 Agricultural operating.................        3,865          5.1       7,817          9.5       7,784          4.8    
 Commercial business....................          667           .8       1,089          1.3       8,931          5.6    
                                              -------        -----     -------        -----    --------        -----
     Total other loans..................       10,537         13.9      14,121         17.1      27,313         17.0    
                                              -------        -----     -------        -----    --------        -----
     Total loans........................       75,537       100.0%      82,483       100.0%     160,707       100.0%    
                                                            =====                    =====                    =====    
Less:
 Loans in process.......................          308                    1,345                    3,425                 
 Deferred fees and discounts............           68                       88                      343                 
 Allowance for losses...................          600                      825                    1,442                 
                                              -------                   -------                --------        
 Total loans receivable, net............      $74,561                  $80,225                 $155,497                 
                                              =======                  =======                 ========  
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           September 30,
                                          ---------------------------------------------
                                                  1995                     1996                
                                                  ----                     ----
                                          Amount       Percent     Amount       Percent  
                                          ------       -------     ------       -------
<S>                                      <C>            <C>      <C>             <C>                                          
Real Estate Loans                         
 One- to four-family.................... $ 57,274        30.4%   $  78,476         31.6%      
 Commercial and multi-family............   73,419        38.9       85,157         34.2      
 Agricultural...........................    7,021         3.7       11,068          4.5      
 Construction...........................   17,877         9.5        7,819          3.1      
                                         --------       -----    ---------        -----                                
     Total real estate loans............  155,591        82.5      182,520         73.4    
                                         --------       -----    ---------        -----                                
                                                                                        
Other Loans:                                                                            
 Consumer Loans:                                                                        
  Home equity...........................    4,906         2.6        7,823          3.1    
  Automobile............................    3,663         1.9        5,356          2.2    
  Student...............................      382          .2          324           .1    
  Deposit account.......................      330          .2          666           .3    
  Other (1).............................    3,727         2.0        6,259          2.5    
                                         --------       -----    ---------        -----                                
     Total consumer loans...............   13,008         6.9       20,428          8.2    
                                                                                        
 Agricultural operating.................   11,905         6.3       30,364         12.2    
 Commercial business....................    8,173         4.3       15,468          6.2    
                                         --------       -----    ---------        -----                                
     Total other loans..................   33,086        17.5       66,260         26.6    
                                         --------       -----    ---------        -----                                
     Total loans........................  188,677       100.0%     248,780       100.0%    
                                                        =====                    =====     
Less:                                                                                   
 Loans in process.......................    8,071                    2,240                 
 Deferred fees and discounts............      404                      650                 
 Allowance for losses...................    1,650                    2,356                 
                                         --------                ---------                                        
 Total loans receivable, net............ $178,552                $ 243,534                 
                                         ========                =========   
(1)  Consist generally of various types of secured and unsecured consumer loans.           
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The  following  table  shows  the  composition  of the  Company's  loan
portfolio by fixed and adjustable rate at the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               September 30,
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1992                      1993                     1994                   
                                                         ----                      ----                     ----                   
                                                 Amount       Percent       Amount      Percent      Amount      Percent     
                                                 ------       -------       ------      -------      ------      -------     
                                                                          (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                              <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>      <C>             <C>
Fixed Rate Loans:
 Real estate:
  One- to four-family....................        $16,561         21.9%     $14,991         18.2%   $ 19,913         12.4%   
  Commercial and multi-family............          9,623         12.7        7,955          9.6      13,340          8.3   
  Agricultural...........................          2,963          4.0        1,144          1.4       1,806          1.1   
  Construction...........................            ---          ---          155           .2       4,231          2.6   
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
     Total fixed-rate real estate loans..         29,147         38.6       24,245         29.4      39,290         24.4 
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
 
 Consumer................................          5,553          7.4        4,676          5.7      10,022          6.2   
  Agricultural operating.................          2,336          3.1        2,159          2.6       5,945          3.7   
  Commercial business....................            295           .4          730           .9       7,887          4.9   
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
     Total fixed-rate loans..............         37,331         49.5       31,810         38.6      63,144         39.2   
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
Adjustable Rate Loans:
 Real estate:
  One- to four-family....................         21,875         29.0       19,494         23.6      35,249         21.9   
  Commercial and multi-family............         10,572         14.0       15,820         19.2      46,580         29.0   
  Agricultural...........................          3,198          4.2        4,921          6.0       6,258          3.9   
  Construction or development............            208           .3        3,882          4.7       6,017          3.8   
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
     Total adjustable-rate real                                                                                            
     estate loans........................         35,853         47.5       44,117         53.5      94,104         58.6   
 Consumer................................            452           .5          539           .7         576           .4   
 Agricultural operating..................          1,529          2.0        5,658          6.8       1,839          1.1   
 Commercial business.....................            372           .5          359           .4       1,044           .7  
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
     Total adjustable rate loans.........         38,206         50.5       50,673         61.4      97,563         60.8 
                                                 -------       ------      -------        -----    --------        -----        
     Total loans.........................         75,537       100.0%       82,483       100.0%     160,707       100.0%   
                                                               =====                     =====                    ===== 
Less:        
 Loans in process........................            308                     1,345                    3,425                
 Deferred fees and discounts.............             68                        88                      343                
 Allowance for loan losses...............            600                       825                    1,442
                                                 -------                   -------                 --------                
     Total loans, net....................        $74,561                   $80,225                 $155,497                
                                                 =======                   =======                 ========                

<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             September 30,
                                              --------------------------------------------
                                                     1995                     1996                
                                                     ----                     ----                
                                              Amount      Percent      Amount      Percent  
                                              ------      -------      ------      -------  
<S>                                          <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>
Fixed Rate Loans:                             
 Real estate:                                 
  One- to four-family....................    $22,875         12.1%   $ 41,322        16.6%      
  Commercial and multi-family............     14,262          7.6      14,036         5.6    
  Agricultural...........................      5,536          2.9       4,250         1.7    
  Construction...........................      2,342          1.3       2,938         1.2  
                                             -------        -----    --------       -----  
     Total fixed-rate real estate loans..     45,015         23.9      62,546        25.1 
                                             -------        -----    --------       -----  
 Consumer................................     12,303          6.5      19,145         7.7  
  Agricultural operating.................      7,335          3.9      14,998         6.1  
  Commercial business....................      5,521          2.9       7,200         2.9  
                                             -------        -----    --------       -----     
     Total fixed-rate loans..............     70,174         37.2     103,889        41.8  
                                             -------        -----    --------       -----   
Adjustable Rate Loans:                                                                     
 Real estate:                                                                              
  One- to four-family....................     34,399         18.2      37,154        14.9  
  Commercial and multi-family............     59,157         31.4      71,121        28.6  
  Agricultural...........................      1,485           .8       6,818         2.7  
  Construction or development............     15,535          8.2       4,881         2.0  
                                             -------        -----    --------       -----   
     Total adjustable-rate real                                        
     estate loans........................    110,576         58.6     119,974        48.2  
 Consumer................................        705           .4       1,283          .5  
 Agricultural operating..................      4,570          2.4      15,366         6.2  
 Commercial business.....................      2,652          1.4       8,268         3.3 
                                             -------       ------    --------       -----     
     Total adjustable rate loans.........    118,503         62.8     144,891        58.2 
                                             -------       ------    --------       -----   
     Total loans.........................    188,677        100.0%    248,780       100.0% 
                                                           ======                   =====  
Less:                                                                                      
 Loans in process........................      8,071                    2,240         
 Deferred fees and discounts.............        404                      650   
 Allowance for loan losses...............      1,650                    2,356   
     Total loans, net....................   $178,552                 $243,534   
                                            ========                 ========   
                                            
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The following table  illustrates  the interest rate  sensitivity of the
Company's loan portfolio at September 30, 1996.  Mortgages which have adjustable
or renegotiable  interest rates are shown as maturing in the period during which
the  contract  reprices.  The table does not  reflect  the  effects of  possible
prepayments or enforcement of due-on-sale clauses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Real Estate
                            ------------------------------------------                            Agricultural          
                               Mortgage(1)            Construction            Consumer              Operating 
                            ------------------     -------------------    -------------------     ----------------
                                      Weighted                Weighted               Weighted             Weighted 
                                       Average                 Average                Average              Average 
                            Amount       Rate      Amount       Rate      Amount       Rate       Amount     Rate   
                            ------       ----      ------       ----      ------       ----       ------     ----
   <S>                      <C>           <C>      <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>         <C>
   Due During
   Years Ending
   September 30,
   -------------
   
   1997(2).............    $ 11,396       8.1%     $1,329       8.3%      $ 7,890       9.8%      $27,960     9.7% 
   1998-2001...........      44,259       8.6       3,040       9.3        11,075       9.6         2,398     9.4 
   2001 and following..     119,046       8.4       3,450       8.7         1,463      10.0            6      9.1 

<CAPTION>

                            Commercial                                  
                             Business                Total 
                         ------------------     -----------------             
                                   Weighted              Weighted  
                                    Average               Average  
                          Amount      Rate      Amount      Rate    
                          ------      ----      ------      ----    
   <S>                   <C>           <C>    <C>            <C>                                            
   Due During           
   Years Ending         
   September 30,
   -------------
        
   1997(2).............  $10,804       9.9%   $ 59,379       9.4%  
   1998-2001...........    4,454       9.9      65,226       8.9  
   2001 and following..      210       9.5     124,175       8.4  
                        

(1) Includes one- to four-family, multi-family, commercial and agricultural real
estate loans.
 
(2) Includes demand loans, loans having no stated maturity and overdraft loans.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The total  amount of loans due after  September  30,  1997  which  have
predetermined  interest rates is $61.4 million,  while the total amount of loans
due after such date which have floating or adjustable  interest  rates is $128.0
million.

         One- to Four-Family  Residential Mortgage Lending.  One- to four-family
residential  mortgage loan originations are generated by the Company's marketing
efforts, its present customers, walk-in customers and referrals from real estate
agents and builders.  At September 30, 1996,  the Company's  one- to four-family
residential  mortgage loan portfolio  totalled  $78.4  million,  or 31.6% of the
Company's total gross loan portfolio.  Approximately 13.7% of the Company's one-
to  four-family  mortgage  loans or 4.4% of the Company's  gross loans have been
purchased,  generally from other financial  institutions.  See  "--Originations,
Purchases, Sales and Servicing of Loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities."

         The  Company  offers  fixed-rate  and ARM loans.  During the year ended
September 30, 1996,  the Company  originated  $10.6  million of  adjustable-rate
loans and $6.2  million  of  fixed-rate  loans  secured  by one- to  four-family
residential real estate. The Company's one- to four-family  residential mortgage
originations are secured  primarily by properties  located in its primary market
area and surrounding areas.

         The Company originates one- to four-family  residential  mortgage loans
with terms up to a maximum of 30-years and with  loan-to-value  ratios up to 95%
of the lesser of the  appraised  value of the security  property or the contract
price.  The Company  generally  requires  that  private  mortgage  insurance  be
obtained in an amount sufficient to reduce the Company's exposure to at or below
the  80%  loan-to-value  level.  Residential  loans  generally  do  not  include
prepayment penalties.

         The Company currently offers one, three and five year ARM loans with an
initial interest rate margin over the yield on the  corresponding  U.S. Treasury
Security.  These loans have a fixed-rate for the stated period and,  thereafter,
such loans  adjust  annually.  These loans  provide for up to a 200 basis points
annual cap and a lifetime  cap of 600 basis points over the initial  rate.  As a
consequence of using an initial fixed-rate and caps, the interest rates on these
loans  may not be as rate  sensitive  as is the  Company's  cost of  funds.  The
Company's  ARMs do not permit  negative  amortization  of principal  and are not
convertible  into a fixed  rate  loan.  The  Company's  ARMs may be  assumed  by
qualified borrowers upon payment of an assumption fee. The Company qualifies ARM
loan borrowers at the fully indexed rate. The Company's  delinquency  experience
on its ARM loans has  generally  been  similar to its  experience  on fixed rate
residential loans.

         Due to consumer  demand,  the Company also offers  fixed-rate  mortgage
loans  with terms up to 30 years,  most of which  conform  to  secondary  market
standards,  i.e.,  Federal National Mortgage  Association  ("FNMA"),  Government
National  Mortgage  Association   ("GNMA"),   and  Federal  Home  Loan  Mortgage
Corporation  ("FHLMC")  standards.  Interest  rates charged on these  fixed-rate
loans are  competitively  priced  according  to market  conditions.  The Company
historically  retained its fixed-rate loans for its loan portfolio,  however, in
June 1996, the Company began selling all fixed-rate loans with terms of 15 years
or greater to FNMA.
<PAGE>
         In underwriting one- to four-family  residential real estate loans, the
Company  evaluates both the borrower's  ability to make monthly payments and the
value of the property  securing the loan. Most  properties  securing real estate
loans made by the Company are appraised by independent  fee appraisers  approved
by the Board of Directors. The Company generally requires borrowers to obtain an
attorney's  title  opinion,  and fire and property  insurance  (including  flood
insurance, if necessary) in an amount not less than the amount of the loan. Real
estate loans originated by the Company  generally contain a "due on sale" clause
allowing  the  Company to declare the unpaid  principal  balance due and payable
upon the sale of the security property.

         Commercial and  Multi-Family  Real Estate Lending.  The Company is also
engaged in commercial and multi-family real estate lending in its primary market
area and  surrounding  areas  and has  purchased  whole  loan and  participation
interests in loans from other  financial  institutions.  The purchased loans and
loan participation  interests are generally secured by properties located in the
Midwest.  During  fiscal 1996,  the  Company,  in order to  supplement  its loan
portfolio and consistent  with  management's  objectives to expand the Company's
commercial and  multi-family  loan  portfolio,  purchased  $18.2 million of such
loans.  At September 30, 1996,  the Company had $85.1 million of commercial  and
multi-family  real estate loans,  which represented 34.2% of the Company's total
gross loan portfolio, compared to $73.4 million, or 38.9% of the Company's total
gross loan  portfolio in fiscal 1995.  At September 30, 1996,  $1.6 million,  or
1.9% of the  Company's  commercial  and  multi-family  real  estate  loans  were
non-performing. See " - Non-Performing Assets and Classified Assets."

         The Company's commercial and multi-family real estate loan portfolio is
secured   primarily   by   apartment   buildings,    nursing   homes,   assisted
living/retirement   facilities,  office  buildings  and,  to  a  lesser  extent,
warehouses.  Commercial and multi-family  real estate loans generally have terms
that do not exceed 25 years,  loan-to-value ratios of up to 75% of the appraised
value of the security property and are typically secured by personal  guarantees
of the  borrowers.  The Company has a variety of rate  adjustment  features  and
other terms in its  commercial  and  multi-family  real  estate loan  portfolio.
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans provide for a margin over a number
of  different  indices.  In  underwriting  these  loans,  the Company  currently
analyzes the financial condition of the borrower, the borrower's credit history,
and the  reliability  and  predictability  of the  cash  flow  generated  by the
property securing the loan.  Appraisals on properties  securing  commercial real
estate loans originated by the Company are performed by independent appraisers.

         At  September  30,  1996,   the  Company's   largest   commercial   and
multi-family   real  estate  loan  was  a  $4.1  million  loan  secured  by  two
multi-family  properties located in St. Cloud,  Minnesota.  The Company had only
three other commercial  and/or  multi-family  loans in excess of $2.0 million at
such date. All of these loans are currently  performing in accordance with their
terms.
<PAGE>
         Multi-family  and  commercial  real estate  loans  generally  present a
higher level of risk than loans secured by one- to four-family residences.  This
greater risk is due to several factors, including the concentration of principal
in a limited  number of loans and  borrowers,  the  effect of  general  economic
conditions  on income  producing  properties  and the  increased  difficulty  of
evaluating and monitoring  these types of loans.  Furthermore,  the repayment of
loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate is typically  dependent
upon the successful  operation of the related real estate  project.  If the cash
flow from the project is reduced  (for  example,  if leases are not  obtained or
renewed,  or a  bankruptcy  court  modifies a lease term,  or a major  tenant is
unable to fulfill its lease  obligations),  the borrower's  ability to repay the
loan may be impaired.

         Construction   Lending.   The  Company  makes   construction  loans  to
individuals for the  construction of their residences as well as to builders for
the   construction  of  one-  to  four-family   residences  and  commercial  and
multi-family real estate. At September 30, 1996, the Company's construction loan
portfolio  totalled  $7.8  million,  or 3.1% of the  Company's  total gross loan
portfolio.

         Construction  loans to individuals for their  residences are structured
to be converted to permanent loans at the end of the construction  phase,  which
typically  runs up to twelve  months.  These  construction  loans have rates and
terms which generally  match the one- to four-family  loan rates then offered by
the  Company,  except  that  during the  construction  phase the  borrower  pays
interest  only.  Generally,  the maximum  loan-to-value  ratio of owner occupied
single  family  construction  loans  is  80%  of  appraised  value.  Residential
construction  loans are generally  underwritten  pursuant to the same guidelines
used for  originating  permanent  residential  loans. At September 30, 1996, the
Company had $1.7 million of construction loans to borrowers intending to live in
the properties upon completion of construction.

         Construction  loans  to  builders  of  one- to  four-family  residences
require the payment of interest only for up to 24 months and have terms of up to
24 months.  These loans may  provide  for the payment of interest  and loan fees
from loan proceeds and carry adjustable rates of interest.  Loan fees charged in
connection  with the origination of such loans range from 1% to 2%. At September
30, 1996, the Company did not have any construction loans to builders of one- to
four-family residences.

         Construction  loans on commercial and multi-family real estate projects
may be secured by apartments,  agricultural facilities,  small office buildings,
medical  facilities,  assisted  living  facilities  or other  property,  and are
structured  to be converted to  permanent  loans at the end of the  construction
phase, which generally runs up to 18 months. These construction loans have rates
and terms which match any permanent  multi-family or commercial real estate loan
then  offered by the  Company,  except  that during the  construction  phase the
borrower pays interest only.  These loans  generally  provide for the payment of
interest and loan fees from loan  proceeds.  At September 30, 1996,  the Company
had  approximately  $6.1 million of loans for the construction of commercial and
multi-family  real estate.  This amount  consisted of two loans  totalling  $2.2
million for the  construction of apartment  complexes,  two loans totalling $1.2
million for the  construction  of  assisted  living  facilities,  and five loans
totalling $2.7 million for the construction of commercial office buildings.  All
of these loans were  performing in accordance  with their terms at September 30,
1996.
<PAGE>
         Construction loans are obtained  principally through continued business
from  builders  who  have  previously  borrowed  from  the  Company,  as well as
referrals from existing customers and walk-in customers. The application process
includes a submission to the Company of accurate plans, specifications and costs
of the  project  to be  constructed.  These  items  are also  used as a basis to
determine the appraised  value of the subject  property.  Loans are based on the
lesser  of  the  current  appraised  value  of  the  property  or  the  cost  of
construction (land plus building).

         Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating  construction costs
and the market for the project upon  completion,  it is relatively  difficult to
evaluate  accurately  the total loan funds  required to complete a project,  the
related  loan-to-value  ratios and the  likelihood  of  ultimate  success of the
project. Construction loans to borrowers other than owner-occupants also involve
many of the same risks  discussed above  regarding  multi-family  and commercial
real estate loans and tend to be more sensitive to general  economic  conditions
than many other  types of loans.  Also,  the  funding of loan fees and  interest
during the  construction  phase  makes the  monitoring  of the  progress  of the
project  particularly  important,  as customary early warning signals of project
difficulties may not be present.

         Agricultural  Lending.  The  Company  originates  loans to finance  the
purchase of farmland,  livestock, farm machinery and equipment, seed, fertilizer
and for other farm  related  products.  At September  30, 1996,  the Company had
agricultural  real estate loans  secured by farmland of $11.0 million or 4.5% of
the Company's gross loan portfolio. At the same date, $30.4 million, or 12.2% of
the  Company's  gross loan  portfolio,  consisted  of secured  loans  related to
agricultural operations.

         Agricultural real estate loans are primarily originated with adjustable
rates of interest.  Generally,  such loans  provide for a fixed rate of interest
for the first three years,  adjusting  annually  thereafter.  In addition,  such
loans  generally  provide  for a ten year term  based on a 20 year  amortization
schedule.  Adjustable-rate  agricultural  real estate loans provide for a margin
over  the  yields  on  the  corresponding  U.S.  Treasury  Security.  Fixed-rate
agricultural  real  estate  loans  generally  have  terms  up  to  three  years.
Agricultural real estate loans are generally limited to the lesser of 70% of the
value of the property or $1,100 per acre of  agricultural  real estate  securing
the  loan.  At  September  30,  1996,  $127,000,   or  1.1%,  of  the  Company's
agricultural real estate portfolio was non-performing.

         Agricultural  operating loans are originated at either an adjustable or
fixed rate of interest  for up to a one year term or, in the case of  livestock,
upon sale.  Most  agricultural  operating  loans have terms of one year or less.
Such loans generally provide for annual payments of principal and interest, or a
lump sum payment upon maturity if the original term is less than one year. Loans
secured by agricultural  machinery are generally  originated as  adjustable-rate
loans with terms of up to seven years. At September 30, 1996, $184,000,  or .6%,
of the Company's agricultural operating loans were non-performing.

         Agricultural lending affords the Company the opportunity to earn yields
higher  than  those  obtainable  on one-  to  four-family  residential  lending.
Nevertheless,  agricultural  lending involves a greater degree of risk than one-
to four-family  residential  mortgage loans because of the typically larger loan
amount. In addition, payments on loans are dependent on the successful operation
or management  of the farm property  securing the loan or for which an operating
loan is  utilized.  The success of the loan may also be affected by many factors
outside the control of the farm borrower.
<PAGE>
         Weather presents one of the greatest risks as hail, drought, floods, or
other conditions, can severely limit crop yields and thus impair loan repayments
and the value of the  underlying  collateral.  This risk can be  reduced  by the
farmer with multi-peril crop insurance which can guarantee set yields to provide
certainty  of  repayment.   Unless  the  circumstances  of  the  borrower  merit
otherwise,  the Bank  generally  does  not  require  its  borrowers  to  procure
multi-peril  crop or hail  insurance.  However,  recent  changes  in  government
support  programs  generally  require  that  farmers  procure  multi-peril  crop
insurance to be eligible to participate in such programs.

         Grain and  livestock  prices also  present a risk as prices may decline
prior to sale resulting in a failure to cover production costs.  These risks may
be reduced by the farmer with the use of futures contracts or options to provide
a "floor"  below  which  prices will not fall.  The Company  does not monitor or
require the use by borrowers of future contracts or options.

         Another risk is the  uncertainty  of  government  support  programs and
other regulations.  Support payments are made with the requirement that a farmer
leave idle certain acres of farm land from  production.  If the support programs
were  modified or  discontinued,  the farmer could produce some income from crop
growth on the idle  acreage,  albeit,  at an amount  presumably  lower  than the
support  payments.  Some  farmers  rely on the  income,  in part,  from  support
programs  to make  loan  payments  and if these  programs  are  discontinued  or
significantly changed, cash flow problems or defaults could result.

         Finally,   many  farms  are  dependent  on  a  limited  number  of  key
individuals   upon  whose  injury  or  death  may  result  in  an  inability  to
successfully operate the farm.

         Consumer  Lending.  The  Company  offers a variety of secured  consumer
loans,  including  automobile,  boat, home equity,  home improvement,  federally
guaranteed  student loans, and loans secured by savings  deposits.  In addition,
the Company  offers other  secured and  unsecured  consumer  loans.  The Company
currently  originates  substantially  all of its  consumer  loans in its primary
market area and surrounding areas. The Company originates consumer loans on both
a direct and indirect basis. At September 30, 1996, the Company's  consumer loan
portfolio totalled $20.4 million, or 8.2% of its total gross loan portfolio.  Of
the consumer loan portfolio at September 30, 1996, substantially all were short-
and intermediate-term, fixed-rate loans.

         The largest component of the Company's consumer loan portfolio consists
of home equity  loans and lines of credit.  Substantially  all of the  Company's
home  equity  loans and lines of  credit  are  secured  by second  mortgages  on
principal  residences.  The  Company  generally  has the first  mortgage on such
properties as well. The Company will lend such amounts which,  together with all
prior liens,  may be up to 100% of the appraised value of the property  securing
the loan.  Home equity lines of credit and loans have maximum  terms of up to 10
years and 5 years  respectively.  As of September 30, 1996, home equity lines of
credit  and loans  totalled  $7.8  million or 3.1% of the  Company's  gross loan
portfolio.
<PAGE>
         At September 30, 1996, the Company's  automobile loan portfolio totaled
$5.4 million or 26.2% of the Company's total consumer loan portfolio and 2.2% of
its gross loan portfolio. The Company currently originates automobile loans on a
direct basis only.  Direct loans are loans made when the Company  extends credit
directly to the borrower,  as opposed to indirect loans, which are made when the
Company  purchases loan contracts  from  automobile  dealers which have extended
credit to their  customers.  Automobile  loans typically are originated at fixed
interest  rates with terms up to 60 months  for new  vehicles  and 48 months for
used vehicles.  Loans secured by automobiles are generally  originated for up to
80% of the N.A.D.A. book value of the automobile securing the loan.

         The Company also offers floorplan loans to three automobile  dealers. A
floor plan loan is a loan or line of credit  provided to an auto  dealership  to
finance the  acquisition of the  dealership's  inventory for sale to the general
public.  The dealership repays the floorplan loan as vehicles financed under the
loan are sold to consumers.  At September 30, 1996,  the maximum amount of funds
committed by the Company  pursuant to its floor plan  arrangements was $400,000,
of which $372,000 was outstanding at such date.

         Consumer loan terms vary according to the type and value of collateral,
length of  contract  and  creditworthiness  of the  borrower.  The  underwriting
standards  employed by the Company for consumer loans include an application,  a
determination  of  the  applicant's  payment  history  on  other  debts  and  an
assessment of ability to meet existing  obligations and payments on the proposed
loan. Although creditworthiness of the applicant is a primary consideration, the
underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the security, if
any, in relation to the proposed loan amount.

         Consumer  loans may  entail  greater  credit  risk than do  residential
mortgage  loans,  particularly in the case of consumer loans which are unsecured
or are secured by rapidly  depreciable  assets,  such as  automobiles  or mobile
homes. In such cases, any repossessed  collateral for a defaulted  consumer loan
may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding  loan balance
as a result of the  greater  likelihood  of  damage,  loss or  depreciation.  In
addition,  consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower's  continuing
financial stability, and thus are more likely to be affected by adverse personal
circumstances.  Furthermore,  the application of various federal and state laws,
including  bankruptcy  and  insolvency  laws,  may limit the amount which can be
recovered  on  such  loans.  At  September  30,  1996,  $331,000  or 1.6% of the
Company's consumer loan portfolio was non-performing.

         Commercial  Business  Lending.  The Company also originates  commercial
business loans. The Company offers commercial business loans to service existing
customers, to consolidate its banking relationships with these customers, and to
further its asset/liability  management goals. Most of the Company's  commercial
business  loans have been  extended  to finance  local  businesses  and  include
short-term  loans to finance  machinery and equipment  purchases,  inventory and
accounts  receivable.  Commercial  loans also involve the extension of revolving
credit for a  combination  of  equipment  acquisitions  and  working  capital in
expanding  companies.  At September  30,  1996,  $15.5  million,  or 6.2% of the
Company's total gross loan portfolio was comprised of commercial business loans.

         The maximum term for loans extended on machinery and equipment is based
on the projected  useful life of such  machinery and equipment.  Generally,  the
maximum  term on  non-mortgage  lines of credit is one year.  The  loan-to-value
ratio on such loans may not exceed 80% of the value of the  collateral  securing
the loan.
<PAGE>
         The largest commercial  business loan outstanding at September 30, 1996
was a $3.0 million  participation  loan  secured by  marketable  securities  and
escrowed  operating  revenues  with a remaining  term to maturity of five years.
This loan is currently  performing in accordance with its terms. The Company had
no other  commercial  business  loans  outstanding  in excess of $1.0 million at
September 30, 1996.

         Unlike  residential  mortgage  loans,  which  generally are made on the
basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from his or her employment and
other income and which are secured by real property whose value tends to be more
easily ascertainable,  commercial business loans typically are made on the basis
of the borrower's ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the borrower's
business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial
business  loans may be  substantially  dependent  on the success of the business
itself  (which,  in turn,  is likely to be dependent  upon the general  economic
environment).  The  Company's  commercial  business  loans are usually,  but not
always,  secured  by  business  assets and  personal  guarantees.  However,  the
collateral  securing  the loans may  depreciate  over time,  may be difficult to
appraise  and may  fluctuate in value based on the success of the  business.  At
September  30, 1996,  $33,000 or .2% of the Company's  commercial  business loan
portfolio was non-performing.

         The Company's  commercial  business lending policy includes credit file
documentation  and analysis of the borrower's  character,  capacity to repay the
loan,  the  adequacy  of the  borrower's  capital and  collateral  as well as an
evaluation of conditions  affecting  the  borrower.  Analysis of the  borrower's
past, present and future cash flows is also an important aspect of the Company's
current credit analysis.  Nonetheless,  such loans, are believed to carry higher
credit risk than more traditional investments.

Originations, Purchases, Sales and Servicing of Loans and
Mortgage-Backed Securities

         Real estate loans are generally  originated  by the Company's  staff of
salaried  loan  officers.  Loan  applications  are  taken and  processed  in the
branches and the main office of the Company.

         While the Company originates both adjustable-rate and fixed-rate loans,
its ability to originate  loans is dependent upon the relative  customer  demand
for loans in its market.  Demand is affected by the interest  rate  environment.
During the fiscal years ended  September 30, 1996,  1995 and 1994, the Company's
dollar volume of  adjustable-rate  one- to four-family loans exceeded the dollar
volume of the same type of fixed-rate loans reflecting the Company's  efforts to
originate loans that are more sensitive to changes in interest rates.

         In fiscal 1996, the Company  originated  loans totalling $90.6 million,
compared  to  $64.0   million  and  $47.3  million  in  fiscal  1995  and  1994,
respectively.  Management attributes the increase in originations during 1996 to
the  Company's  efforts  to market  its loan  products  to all  segments  of the
communities  it serves,  with  particular  emphasis  placed on  expansion of the
agricultural loan portfolio.  Also, the Company's loan originations  continue to
increase as a result of the expanded  lending market  provided by the March 1994
acquisition of Brookings and the December 1995 acquisition of Iowa Savings.
<PAGE>
         During  fiscal  1996,  the  Company  purchased  loans  totalling  $24.9
million.  At September 30, 1996, the Company's  balance of purchased whole loans
and loan participations  totalled $76.4 million, or 30.7% of the Company's total
gross loan  portfolio.  These loans and  participation  interests are secured by
properties primarily located in the northeast,  midwest and northwest,  as shown
in the table on page 15 of this Form  10-KSB.  See  "Non-Performing  Assets  and
Classified Assets."

         The   Company,   from  time  to  time,   sells  whole  loans  and  loan
participations  generally without recourse. At September 30, 1996, there were no
loans outstanding sold with recourse. When loans are sold, with the exception of
student loans, the Company typically retains the  responsibility  for collecting
and remitting  loan  payments,  making certain that real estate tax payments are
made on behalf of borrowers,  and otherwise  servicing the loans.  The servicing
fee is  recognized  as income over the life of the loans.  The Company  services
mortgage  loans that it originated  and sold totalling $2.8 million at September
30, 1996,  of which $1.7 million were sold to FNMA (as defined  herein) and $1.1
million were sold to others.

         In periods of economic uncertainty,  the Company's ability to originate
large  dollar  volumes  of real  estate  loans may be  substantially  reduced or
restricted,  with a resultant  decrease in related loan origination  fees, other
fee income and operating  earnings.  In addition,  the Company's ability to sell
loans may  substantially  decrease as potential buyers  (principally  government
agencies) reduce their purchasing activities.
<PAGE>
         The following table shows the loan origination  (including  undisbursed
portions of loans in process),  purchase and repayment activities of the Company
for the periods indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Year Ended September 30,
                                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                                                1994            1995            1996
                                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                                                           (In Thousands)
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>             <C>
Originations by type:
 Adjustable rate:
  Real estate - one- to four-family...............................          $  6,674         $ 8,359         $10,554
              - commercial and multi-family.......................             2,486           5,044           2,869
              - agricultural real estate..........................               ---           1,399           2,244
  Non-real estate - consumer......................................               284             480             948
                  - commercial business...........................             6,901           2,814           2,629
                  - agricultural operating........................                70           9,553          12,052
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total adjustable-rate....................................            16,415          27,649          31,296
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
 Fixed rate:
  Real estate - one- to four-family...............................             4,766           6,372           6,213
              - commercial and multi-family.......................             2,140             601           3,065
              - agricultural real estate..........................               ---              78           1,561
  Non-real estate - consumer......................................             8,243          11,931          16,899
                  - commercial business...........................            15,388          12,167           8,812
                  - agricultural operating........................               321           5,229          22,781
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total fixed-rate.........................................            30,858          36,378          59,331
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total loans originated...................................            47,273          64,027          90,627
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
Purchases:
  Real estate - one- to four-family...............................               ---             ---             ---
              - commercial and multi-family.......................            21,695          19,212          18,252
              - agricultural real estate..........................               120             500             ---
  Non-real estate - commercial business...........................               ---           7,959           6,723
              - agricultural operating............................               825             373             ---
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
                                                                              22,640          28,044          24,975
  Loans from Brookings acquisition................................            52,580             ---             ---
  Loans from Iowa Savings acquisition.............................               ---             ---          16,734
  Loans from Security acquisition.................................               ---             ---          21,005
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total loans..............................................            75,220          28,044          62,714
  Total mortgage-backed securities ...............................            56,964             ---          23,406
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total purchased..........................................           132,184          28,044          86,120
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Year Ended September 30,
                                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                                                1994            1995            1996
                                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                                                           (In Thousands)
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>             <C>
Sales and Repayments:
  Real estate - one- to four-family...............................               138             ---             560
  Non-real estate - consumer......................................                28             129             504
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total loans..............................................               166             129           1,064
  Mortgage-backed securities......................................               ---          47,934             ---
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total sales..............................................               166          48,063           1,064
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
  Loan principal repayments.......................................            44,076          63,985          91,900
  Mortgage-backed securities repayments...........................             8,442           3,524           8,834
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
  Total principal repayments......................................            52,518          67,509         100,734
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Total reductions.........................................            52,684         115,572         101,798
Increase (decrease) in other items, net...........................           (1,467)             999           (673)
                                                                            --------         -------         -------
         Net increase (decrease)..................................          $125,306       $(22,502)        $ 74,276
                                                                            --------       ---------        --------

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The following table shows the Company's  purchased whole loans and loan
participations  by state and amount held in the loan  portfolio at September 30,
1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            One- to Four-Family Loans                 Commercial  and Multi-Family    
                           -------------------------------------    -------------------------------------------              
                                                                                                    Percent of
                                                      Percent of                                        total
                                          Number      total One-                     Number         Commercial      
                                          of           to Four                        of             and Multi-     
       Location             Balance       Loans        Family         Balance        Loans         Family Loans     
       --------             -------       -----        ------         -------        -----         ------------     
                                                                     (Dollars in Thousands)
    <S>                    <C>             <C>            <C>       <C>               <C>              <C>

    Arizona...........     $   241           8             .31%     $     ---          ---                ---%     
    California........         299          19             .38            ---          ---                ---     
    Colorado..........          59           7             .08            ---          ---                ---     
    Connecticut.......       1,436          58            1.83            ---          ---                ---     
    Florida...........          27           2            0.03            ---          ---                ---     
    Illinois..........         ---         ---             ---          2,373            4               2.79     
    Indiana...........         ---         ---             ---          2,620            2               3.08     
    Iowa..............         856          56            1.09         10,276           10              12.07     
    Minnesota.........         ---         ---             ---         11,343           17              13.32     
    Missouri..........       1,707          26            2.18          1,273            7               1.49     
    Nebraska..........         435          26            0.55          4,659            5               5.47     
    New York..........       2,689         121            3.43          1,971            2               2.31     
    North Dakota......         246          24            0.31          3,596           10               4.22     
    Ohio..............         136           4            0.17            ---          ---                ---     
    Oregon............         ---         ---             ---          1,225            1               1.44     
    South Dakota......         932          45            1.19          3,649           14               4.29     
    Texas.............       1,688          41            2.15            324            2                .38     
    Washington........         ---         ---             ---          1,952            1               2.29     
    Wisconsin.........         ---         ---             ---         20,209           25              23.73     
    Wyoming...........         223          12            0.28            ---          ---                ---     
                           -------         ---           -----        -------          ---              -----   
      Total...........     $10,974         449           13.98%       $65,470          100              76.88%     
                           =======         ===           =====        =======          ===              =====      

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     Total Purchased Loans               
                             -----------------------------------                                                                 
                                            Number      Percent  
                                              of        of Total 
                              Balance        Loans       Loans    
                             -----------------------------------
<S>                          <C>              <C>        <C>

    Arizona...........       $    241           8         0.10%   
    California........            299          19         0.12 
    Colorado..........             59           7         0.02 
    Connecticut.......          1,436          58         0.58 
    Florida...........             27           2         0.01 
    Illinois..........          2,373           4         0.95 
    Indiana...........          2,620           2         1.05 
    Iowa..............         11,132          66         4.48 
    Minnesota.........         11,343          17         4.56 
    Missouri..........          2,980          33         1.20 
    Nebraska..........          5,094          31         2.05 
    New York..........          4,660         123         1.87 
    North Dakota......          3,842          34         1.54 
    Ohio..............            136           4          .06 
    Oregon............          1,225           1         0.49 
    South Dakota......          4,581          59         1.84 
    Texas.............          2,012          43         0.81 
    Washington........          1,952           1          .79 
    Wisconsin.........         20,209          25         8.12 
    Wyoming...........            223          12         0.09 
                              -------         ---        -----                                                                 
      Total...........        $76,444         549        30.73% 
                              =======         ===        =====  
                           
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Non-Performing Assets and Classified Assets

         When a borrower fails to make a required payment on real estate secured
loans and  consumer  loans  within 16 days after the payment is due, the Company
generally institutes  collection procedures by mailing a delinquency notice. The
customer is contacted again, by notice or telephone, when the payment is 45 days
past due and again  before 75 days past due.  In most cases,  delinquencies  are
cured promptly;  however,  if a loan secured by real estate or other  collateral
has been  delinquent for more than 90 days,  satisfactory  payment  arrangements
must be adhered to or the Company will initiate foreclosure or repossession.

         Generally,  when a loan becomes  delinquent 90 days or more or when the
collection of principal or interest becomes doubtful, the Company will place the
loan on a  non-accrual  status and,  as a result,  previously  accrued  interest
income on the loan is taken out of  current  income.  The loan will  remain on a
non-accrual status as long as the loan is 90 days or more delinquent.

         The following  table sets forth the  Company's  loan  delinquencies  by
type,  before allowance for loan losses,  by amount and by percentage of type at
September 30, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Loans Delinquent For:
                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  30-59 Days                     60-89 Days               90 Days and Over
                                       -----------------------------   -----------------------------  ---------------------------
                                                             Percent                         Percent                     Percent
                                                               of                              of                           of
                                        Number    Amount    Category   Number     Amount    Category  Number    Amount   Category
                                        ------    ------    --------   ------     ------    --------  ------    ------   --------
                                                                        (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                     <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>      <C>         <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>
Real Estate:
  One- to four-family...............     83       $3,532       4.50%      14      $  602       .87%      9       $  481      .61%
  Commercial and multi-family.......      3        1,430       1.68       --         ---                 1        1,623     1.91
  Agricultural real estate..........      4          235       2.12        1          72       .65       1          127     1.15
Consumer............................     75          260       1.27       35         138       .68      65          374     1.83
Agricultural operating..............     11          257        .85        3          20       .07       1          105      .35
Commercial business.................      6          424       2.74        9         315      2.04       2           33      .21
                                        ---       ------       ----       --      ------      ----      --       ------     ----  
    Total...........................    182       $6,138       2.47%      62      $1,147       .46%     79       $2,743     1.10%
                                        ===       ======       ====       ==      ======       ===      ==       ======     ==== 
</TABLE>
         Delinquencies 90 days and over constituted 1.1% of total loans and .71%
of total assets.
<PAGE>
         The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of non-performing
assets in the Company's loan portfolio.  Loans are placed on non-accrual  status
when the loan  becomes  90 days or more  delinquent  or when the  collection  of
principal and/or interest become doubtful. For all years presented,  the Company
has had no troubled debt  restructuring  (which  involve  forgiving a portion of
interest or  principal on any loans or making  loans at a rate  materially  less
than that of  market  rates).  Foreclosed  assets  include  assets  acquired  in
settlement of loans.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        September 30,
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1992       1993        1994       1995         1996
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
                                                                   (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                              <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>
Non-accruing loans:
  One- to four-family......................      $   118    $    30     $   311    $   127       $  347
  Commercial and multi-family..............          ---        ---         302        199        1,623
  Agricultural real estate.................          ---      1,190         137         46          127
  Consumer.................................           59          4         105        206          331
  Agricultural operating...................          ---         21          78        100          184
  Commercial business......................           74         16          38         48           33
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
     Total.................................          251      1,261         971        726        2,645
  Less: Allowance for losses...............          ---        ---          30         15          ---
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
     Total.................................          251      1,261         941        711        2,645
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
 Foreclosed assets:
  One- to four-family......................          153         11         ---         48           75
  Commercial real estate...................           81        ---         ---        ---          ---
  Consumer.................................          ---        ---         ---         ---           8
  Commercial business......................          ---        ---         ---         ---           9
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
     Total.................................          234         11         ---         48           92
 Less:  Allowance for losses...............           90         11         ---        ---            5
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
     Total.................................          144        ---         ---         48           87
                                                 -------    -------     -------    -------       ------
Total non-performing assets................        $ 395    $ 1,261     $   941    $   759       $2,732
                                                   =====    =======     =======    =======       ======
Total as a percentage of total
 assets....................................          .23%       .78%        .34%       .29%         .70 %
                                                   =====    =======     =======    =======       ======
</TABLE>
         For the year ended  September  30, 1996,  gross  interest  income which
would have been recorded had the  non-accruing  loans been current in accordance
with their original terms amounted to approximately  $96,000,  of which none was
included in interest income.

         At September  30,  1996,  there were loans  totalling  $1.4 million not
included in the table above where known  information  about the possible  credit
problems of borrowers caused management to have concern as to the ability of the
borrower to comply with the present loan repayment terms.  This amount consisted
of five  commercial  real estate loans  totalling  $1.0  million,  three one- to
four-family  residential  mortgage loans  totalling  $135,000,  five  commercial
business loans totalling $230,000, and one consumer loan totalling $3,000.
<PAGE>
         Also not included in the above table were $177,000 of accruing loans 90
days or more  delinquent  which were acquired by the Company in connection  with
the Security acquisition.

         Classified Assets.  Federal  regulations provide for the classification
of loans and other assets such as debt and equity  securities  considered by the
OTS to be of lesser quality as "substandard,"  "doubtful" or "loss." An asset is
considered  "substandard"  if it is  inadequately  protected  by the current net
worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral  pledged,  if any.
"Substandard"  assets include those characterized by the "distinct  possibility"
that the savings  association  will sustain "some loss" if the  deficiencies are
not  corrected.  Assets  classified  as  "doubtful"  have all of the  weaknesses
inherent in those classified  "substandard," with the added  characteristic that
the weaknesses present make "collection or liquidation in full," on the basis of
currently  existing facts,  conditions,  and values,  "highly  questionable  and
improbable."  Assets  classified as "loss" are those considered  "uncollectible"
and of  such  minimal  value  that  their  continuance  as  assets  without  the
establishment  of a specific  loss reserve is not  warranted.  The loans held by
Security are subject to similar classification by its regulatory authorities.

         When assets are classified as either  substandard  or doubtful,  it may
establish  general  allowances  for loan losses in an amount  deemed  prudent by
management.  General  allowances  represent  loss  allowances  which  have  been
established to recognize the inherent risk associated  with lending  activities,
but which,  unlike  specific  allowances,  have not been allocated to particular
problem  assets.  When assets are classified as "loss," it is required either to
establish a specific  allowance  for losses equal to 100% of that portion of the
asset so classified or to charge-off such amount.  The Banks'  determinations as
to the  classification  of  their  assets  and the  amount  of  their  valuation
allowances are subject to review by their regulatory authorities,  who may order
the establishment of additional general or specific loss allowances.

         On the basis of  management's  review of its assets,  at September  30,
1996,  the  Company  had  classified  a total of $3.4  million  of its assets as
substandard, $185,000 as doubtful and none as loss.

         Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is established
through a provision for loan losses based on management's evaluation of the risk
inherent in its loan  portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of its loan
activity,  including  those  loans  which are being  specifically  monitored  by
management.  Such  evaluation,  which  includes a review of loans for which full
collectibility may not be reasonably assured, considers among other matters, the
estimated  fair  value  of  the  underlying  collateral,   economic  conditions,
historical  loan loss  experience and other factors that warrant  recognition in
providing for an adequate loan allowance.

         Real estate  properties  acquired  through  foreclosure are recorded at
lower of cost or fair value.  If fair value at the date of  foreclosure is lower
than the balance of the related loan, the difference  will be charged-off to the
allowance for loan losses at the time of transfer.  Valuations are  periodically
updated by management and if the value declines, a specific provision for losses
on such property is established by a charge to operations.
<PAGE>
         Although   management  believes  that  it  uses  the  best  information
available to determine the allowances, unforeseen market conditions could result
in adjustments and net earnings could be significantly affected if circumstances
differ   substantially   from  the   assumptions   used  in  making   the  final
determination.  Future additions to the Company's  allowances will be the result
of periodic loan,  property and collateral  reviews and thus cannot be predicted
in advance.  At September 30, 1996,  the Company had a total  allowance for loan
losses of $2.4 million, or .95% of total loans and 86.2% of total non-performing
loans.

         The following  table sets forth an analysis of the Company's  allowance
for loan losses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Year Ended September 30,
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1992         1993          1994         1995         1996
                                                     ----         ----          ----         ----         ----
                                                                         (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                               <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>    
Balance at beginning of period.............       $   657      $   600        $  825     $  1,442       $1,650
Brookings acquisition......................           ---          ---           518          ---          ---
Iowa Savings acquisition...................           ---          ---           ---          ---          132
Security acquisition.......................           ---          ---           ---          ---          563

Charge-offs:   
  One- to four-family......................           ---          ---           ---          ---          ---
  Commercial and multi family..............          (107)         ---           ---          (30)         (35)
  Consumer.................................           ---          ---            (6)         (12)         (54)
                                                  -------      -------        ------     --------       ------
    Total charge-offs......................          (107)         ---            (6)         (42)          89
Recoveries.................................           ---          ---           ---          ---          ---
                                                  -------      -------        ------     --------       ------
    Net charge-offs........................          (107)         ---            (6)         (42)         (89)
Additions charged to operations............            50          225           105          250          100
                                                  -------      -------        ------     --------       ------
Balance at end of period...................       $   600      $   825        $1,442     $  1,650       $2,356
                                                  =======      =======        ======     ========       ======
Ratio of net charge-offs during
 the period to average loans
 outstanding during the period.............           .15%         ---%           .01%        .03%         .04%
                                                  =======      =======        ======     ========       ======

Ratio of net charge-offs during
 the period to average non-
 performing assets.........................         16.09%         ---%           .54%       5.08%        5.30%
                                                  =======      =======        ======     ========       ======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The distribution of the Company's  allowance for losses on loans at the
dates indicated is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           September 30,
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1992                        1993                       1994                       1995 
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Percent                     Percent                    Percent                    Percent 
                                          of Loans                    of Loans                   of Loans                   of Loans
                                          in Each                     in Each                    in Each                    in Each 
                                         Category                    Category                   Category                   Category 
                                         to Total                    to Total                   to Total                   to Total 
                             Amount       Loans        Amount         Loans       Amount         Loans       Amount         Loans   
                             ------       -----        ------         -----       ------         -----       ------         -----   
                                                                                   (Dollars in Thousands)
One- to four-family.......  $  115        50.90%       $  104         41.80%      $  166         34.32%      $   172         30.36% 
Commercial and multi-
  family real estate......     102        26.70           178         28.80          449         37.29           551         38.92  
Agricultural real estate..      31         8.20           286          7.40           81          5.02            70          3.72  
Construction..............       1          .30            30          4.90           77          6.38           134          9.47  
Consumer..................      45         8.00            39          6.30          106          6.59           145          6.89  
Agricultural operating....      48         5.10           117          9.50          166          4.84           208          6.31  
Commercial business.......       8          .80            16          1.30          134          5.56           123          4.33  
Unallocated...............     250          ---            55           ---          263           ---           247           ---  
                            ------       ------        ------        ------       ------        ------       -------        ------
     Total................  $  600       100.00%       $  825        100.00%      $1,442        100.00%      $ 1,650        100.00% 
                            ======       ======        ======        ======       ======        ======       =======        ======
<CAPTION>
                                             September 30,
                                          ------------------
                                                1996  
                                          ------------------              
                                                     Percent   
                                                    of Loans   
                                                     in Each   
                                                    Category   
                                                     to Total   
                                          Amount      Loans  
                                          ------      -----  
<S>                                       <C>        <C>
One- to four-family.......                $  235      31.54%   
Commercial and multi-                                          
  family real estate......                   639       34.23   
Agricultural real estate..                    59        4.45   
Construction..............                   138        3.14   
Consumer..................                   270        8.21   
Agricultural operating....                   531       12.21   
Commercial business.......                   271        6.22   
Unallocated...............                   213         --- 
                                          ------      ------  
     Total................                $2,356       100.0%   
                                          ======       =====    
                                                               
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Investment Activities

         General.  The investment  policy of the Company  generally is to invest
funds among various  categories of  investments  and  maturities  based upon the
Company's need for liquidity,  to achieve the proper balance  between its desire
to minimize risk and maximize yield, to provide  collateral for borrowings,  and
to fulfill the  Company's  asset/liability  management  policies.  The Company's
investment and mortgage-backed  securities  portfolios are managed in accordance
with a written  investment  policy  adopted by the Board of  Directors  which is
implemented by members of the Bank's Investment Committee.

         As  of  September  30,  1996,  the  Company's  entire   investment  and
mortgage-backed  securities  portfolios,   totalling  $73.9  million  and  $35.6
million, respectively,  were classified as available for sale. At such date, the
Company's investment and mortgage-backed securities had amortized costs of $74.2
million  and  $35.3  million,  respectively.  The  Company  does  not  have  any
securities  classified as held to maturity or as trading securities at September
30, 1996.  For  additional  information  regarding the Company's  investment and
mortgage-backed  securities  portfolios,  see  Notes  1 and 3 of  the  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

         Investment  Securities.  It is the Company's general policy to purchase
investment  securities which are U.S.  Government  securities and federal agency
obligations,   state  and  local  government   obligations,   commercial  paper,
short-term corporate debt securities and overnight federal funds.

         The  following  table  sets  forth  the  book  value  of the  Company's
investment security portfolio at the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               September 30,
                                                                  --------------------------------------
                                                                   1994            1995           1996
                                                                  -------         -------       --------
                                                                         (Dollars in Thousand)
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>           <C>
Investment Securities:
 U.S. government securities.............................          $   342         $   372       $  6,178
 Federal agency obligations.............................           27,951          44,900         63,032
 Corporate bonds........................................            1,918           1,058            202
 Municipal bonds........................................              250             240          1,392
 Equity investments.....................................              236             695          1,433
 FHLMC preferred stock..................................              485           1,512          1,598
 FNMA common stock......................................               39              52             70
                                                                  -------         -------       --------
     Subtotal...........................................           31,221          48,829         73,905
FHLB stock..............................................            3,016           3,915          5,525
                                                                  -------         -------       --------
     Total investment securities and FHLB stock.........          $34,237         $52,744        $79,430
                                                                  =======         =======        =======
Other Interest-Earning Assets:
  Interest bearing deposits in other financial
  institutions and Federal Funds sold...................          $ 6,430         $ 4,162        $13,892
                                                                  =======         =======        =======
  
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The composition and maturities of the Company's  investment  securities
portfolio,   excluding  equity  securities,   FHLB  stock  and   mortgage-backed
securities, are indicated in the following table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                September 30, 1996
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   After 1      After 5
                                                    Year         Years
                                     1 Year or     Through      Through       After        Total Investment
                                        Less       5 Years     10 Years     10 Years         Securities
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Book        Book         Book         Book        Book        Market
                                        Value       Value        Value        Value       Value        Value
                                        -----       -----        -----        -----       -----        -----
                                                               (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                   <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>       <C>         <C>

Corporate bonds.................      $   202      $   ---      $  ---        $---      $   202     $   202
Municipal bonds.................          ---          385         727         280        1,392       1,392
U.S. government securities......        3,248        2,930         ---         ---        6,178       6,178
Federal agency obligations......       40,527       17,577       4,910          18       63,032      63,032
                                      -------      -------      ------        ----      -------     -------     
Total investment securities.....      $43,977      $20,892      $5,637        $298      $70,804     $70,804
                                      =======      =======      ======        ====      =======     =======

Weighted average yield..........        5.64%        6.07%       7.15%       8.50%        5.90%       5.90%
</TABLE>
         The Company's  investment  securities  portfolio at September 30, 1996,
contained no securities of any one issuer with an aggregate book value in excess
of 10% of the  Company's  shareholders'  equity,  excluding  those issued by the
United States Government, or its agencies.

         Mortgage-Backed  Securities.  The Company's mortgage-backed and related
securities   portfolio   consists   primarily   of   securities   issued   under
government-sponsored  agency  programs,  including  those of the GNMA,  FNMA and
FHLMC. The Company also holds Collateralize  Mortgage Obligations  ("CMOs"),  as
well as a limited amount of privately issued mortgage pass-through certificates.
The GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC certificates are modified pass-through  mortgage-backed
securities that represent undivided interests in underlying pools of fixed-rate,
or certain  types of  adjustable-rate,  predominantly  single-family  and,  to a
lesser   extent,    multi-family   residential   mortgages   issued   by   these
government-sponsored  entities. FNMA and FHLMC generally provide the certificate
holder a guarantee  of timely  payments of interest,  whether or not  collected.
GNMA's  guarantee to the holder is timely  payments of principal  and  interest,
backed by the full faith and  credit of the U.S.  Government.  Privately  issued
mortgage pass-through  certificates  generally provide no guarantee as to timely
payment of interest or principal, and reliance is placed on the creditworthiness
of the issuer, which the Company monitors on a regular basis.
<PAGE>
         CMOs are  special  types of  pass-through  debt in which the  stream of
principal and interest payments on the underlying  mortgages or  mortgage-backed
securities  is used to create  classes with  different  maturities  and, in some
cases,  amortization  schedules,  as well as a residual interest, with each such
class  possessing  different  risk  characteristics.  At September 30, 1996, the
Company  held  CMOs  totalling  $4.6  million,  all of  which  were  secured  by
underlying  collateral  issued  under   government-sponsored   agency  programs.
Premiums  associated  with  the  purchase  of these  CMOs  are not  significant,
therefore,  the risk of  significant  yield  adjustments  because of accelerated
prepayments is limited. Yield adjustments are encountered as interest rates rise
or decline,  which in turn slows or  increases  prepayment  rates and affect the
average lives of the CMOs.

         At September 30, 1996, the Company's  $35.6 million of  mortgage-backed
and related  securities,  representing  9.2% of the Company's  $388.0 million of
total  assets,  were  comprised  solely of  available  for sale  mortgage-backed
securities.   At  such  date,   $19.5   million   or  54.8%  of  the   Company's
mortgage-backed  securities  portfolio  had fixed  rates of  interest  and $16.1
million or 45.2% of such portfolio had adjustable rates of interest.

         Mortgage-backed  securities  generally  increase  the  quality  of  the
Company's  assets by virtue of the insurance or guarantees  that back them,  are
more  liquid than  individual  mortgage  loans and may be used to  collateralize
borrowings or other  obligations  of the Company.  At September 30, 1996,  $27.9
million or 78.4% of the  Company's  mortgage-backed  securities  were pledged to
secure various obligations of the Company.

         While  mortgage-backed  securities  carry  a  reduced  credit  risk  as
compared  to whole  loans,  such  securities  remain  subject to the risk that a
fluctuating  interest  rate  environment,  along with other  factors such as the
geographic  distribution  of  the  underlying  mortgage  loans,  may  alter  the
prepayment rate of such mortgage loans and so affect both the prepayment  speed,
and  value,   of  such   securities.   The  prepayment   risk   associated  with
mortgage-backed  securities  is  monitored  periodically,  and  prepayment  rate
assumptions  adjusted as  appropriate  to update the  Company's  mortgage-backed
securities  accounting  and  asset/liability  reports.   Classification  of  the
Company's mortgage-backed securities portfolio as available for sale is designed
to minimize that risk.

         The  following  table  sets  forth  the  book  value  of the  Company's
mortgage-backed securities at the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    September 30,
                                                                    ------------------------------------------
                                                                       1994              1995             1996
                                                                    -------           -------          -------
                                                                                   (In Thousands)
<S>                                                                 <C>               <C>              <C>
GNMA.....................................................           $ 7,815           $ 7,484          $ 6,392
CMO......................................................            53,193             5,210            4,637
FHLMC....................................................             5,214             3,967            4,740
FNMA.....................................................             4,132             3,426           18,711
Privately Issued Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates......             1,521             1,316            1,106
                                                                    -------           -------          -------
     Total...............................................           $71,875           $21,403          $35,586
                                                                    =======           =======          =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The  following  table  sets  forth the  contractual  maturities  of the
Company's  mortgage-backed  securities at September 30, 1996.  Not considered in
the  preparation  of the  table  below is the  effect of  prepayments,  periodic
principal repayments and the adjustable-rate nature of these instruments.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Due in
                                                  ------------------------------------------------
                                                               After 1         After 5                 September 30,
                                                                Year            Years                      1996
                                                  1 Year or    Through         Through      After        Balance
                                                    Less       5 Years        10 Years    10 Years      Outstanding
                                                    ----       -------        --------    --------      -----------
                                                                       (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>            <C>
GNMA.....................................          $ ---        $  ---         $  ---      $ 6,392        $ 6,392
CMO......................................            ---           ---          2,015        2,622          4,637
FHLMC....................................            126           497          1,009        3,108          4,740
FNMA.....................................            ---         1,498             12       17,201         18,711
Privately Issued Mortgage
  Pass-Through Certificates(1)...........            ---           ---            ---        1,106          1,106
                                                   -----        ------         ------      -------        -------
     Total...............................          $ 126        $1,995         $3,036      $30,429        $35,586
                                                   =====        ======         ======      =======        =======

Weighted average yield...................           8.00%         7.87%          7.91%        6.96%          7.06%

(1)  This security is rated AA by a nationally recognized rating agency.

</TABLE>
         At September 30, 1996, the contractual  maturity of 85.5% of all of the
Company's  mortgage-backed  securities  was in excess of ten  years.  The actual
maturity  of a  mortgage-backed  security  is  typically  less  than its  stated
maturity due to prepayments of the underlying  mortgages.  Prepayments  that are
different than anticipated will affect the yield to maturity. The yield is based
upon the interest income and the amortization of any premium or discount related
to  the  mortgage-backed   security.   In  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles,  premiums and discounts are amortized over the estimated
lives of the loans,  which decrease and increase interest income,  respectively.
The  prepayment  assumptions  used to  determine  the  amortization  period  for
premiums and discounts can significantly affect the yield of the mortgage-backed
security,  and these  assumptions  are reviewed  periodically  to reflect actual
prepayments.  Although  prepayments  of  underlying  mortgages  depend  on  many
factors, including the type of mortgages, the coupon rate, the age of mortgages,
the  geographical  location of the underlying  real estate  collateralizing  the
mortgages and general levels of market  interest rates,  the difference  between
the interest  rates on the  underlying  mortgages  and the  prevailing  mortgage
interest  rates  generally is the most  significant  determinant  of the rate of
prepayments.  During periods of falling  mortgage  interest rates, if the coupon
rate of the underlying  mortgages  exceeds the prevailing  market interest rates
offered for mortgage loans,  refinancing generally increases and accelerates the
prepayment  of the  underlying  mortgages and the related  security.  Under such
circumstances,  the Company may be subject to  reinvestment  risk because to the
extent that the Company's  mortgage-backed  securities amortize or prepay faster
than  anticipated,  the Company may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of such
repayments and prepayments at a comparable rate. 
<PAGE>
Sources of Funds

         General.  The  Company's  sources  of funds are  deposits,  borrowings,
amortization  and  repayment of loan  principal  (including  interest  earned on
mortgage-backed  securities),  interest  earned on or  maturation  of investment
securities and short-term investments, and funds provided from operations.

         Borrowings,  including FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago ("FRB")
advances, reverse repurchase agreements and retail repurchase agreements, may be
used at times to  compensate  for  seasonal  reductions  in  deposits or deposit
inflows at less than  projected  levels,  may be used on a longer-term  basis to
support expanded lending  activities,  and may also be used to match the funding
of a corresponding asset.

         Deposits.  The Company  offers a variety of deposit  accounts  having a
wide  range of  interest  rates and terms.  The  Company's  deposits  consist of
passbook  savings  accounts,  money  market  savings  accounts,  NOW and regular
checking  accounts,  and certificate  accounts  currently  ranging in terms from
fourteen days to 60 months.  The Company only solicits deposits from its primary
market area and does not use  brokers to obtain  deposits.  The  Company  relies
primarily on competitive  pricing policies,  advertising and customer service to
attract and retain these deposits.

         The flow of deposits is influenced  significantly  by general  economic
conditions,   changes  in  money  market  and  prevailing  interest  rates,  and
competition.

         The variety of deposit  accounts  offered by the Company has allowed it
to be competitive in obtaining funds and to respond with  flexibility to changes
in  consumer  demand.  The Company has become  more  susceptible  to  short-term
fluctuations  in deposit  flows,  as customers  have become more  interest  rate
conscious.  The  Company  endeavors  to manage the  pricing of its  deposits  in
keeping with its asset/liability management and profitability objectives.  Based
on its experience,  the Company believes that its passbook savings, money market
savings  accounts,  NOW and regular  checking  accounts  are  relatively  stable
sources of deposits. However, the ability of the Company to attract and maintain
certificates  of deposit and the rates paid on these  deposits has been and will
continue to be significantly affected by market conditions.
<PAGE>
         The following  table sets forth the savings flows at the Company during
the periods indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Year Ended September 30,
                                            --------------------------------------------
                                               1994             1995              1996
                                            ---------         ---------         --------
                                                        (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                        <C>                <C>              <C>                                          
Opening balance....................        $  122,812         $ 176,167        $ 171,793
Deposits acquired from:
  Brookings Federal................            56,591               ---              ---
  Iowa Savings.....................               ---               ---           15,642
  Security.........................               ---               ---           27,718
Deposits...........................           230,144           261,345          360,606
Withdrawals........................          (238,566)          (273,066)       (350,626)
Interest credited..................             5,186             7,347            8,273
Deposits sold......................               ---               ---              ---
                                            ---------         ---------         --------
 Ending balance....................        $  176,167         $ 171,793         $233,406
                                           ==========         =========         ========
Net increase (decrease)............        $   53,355         $  (4,374)        $ 61,613
                                           ==========         =========         ========
Percent increase (decrease)........             43.44%            (2.48)%          35.86%
                                           ==========         =========         ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The following table sets forth the dollar amount of savings deposits in
the  various  types of deposit  programs  offered by the Company for the periods
indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Year Ended September 30,
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1994                      1995                       1996
                                         ----------------------     ---------------------    ----------------------
                                                        Percent                   Percent                   Percent
                                           Amount      of Total       Amount     of Total       Amount     of Total
                                         --------        ------     --------       ------    ---------       ------
                                                                 (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                      <C>             <C>        <C>            <C>       <C>             <C>
Transactions and Savings Deposits:

Commercial Demand..................      $  1,910          1.08%    $  2,077         1.21%   $   5,453         2.34%
Passbook Accounts..................         9,257          5.25       12,112         7.05       18,278         7.83
NOW Accounts.......................        14,361          8.15       13,459         7.83       16,087         6.89
Money Market Accounts..............        16,248          9.23       14,836         8.64       14,994         6.42
                                         --------        ------     --------       ------    ---------       ------
Total Non-Certificate..............        41,776         23.71       42,484        24.73       54,812        23.48
                                         --------        ------     --------       ------    ---------       ------
Certificates:

Variable...........................         1,048           .59        1,498          .87        3,154         1.35
 0.00 - 3.99%......................        18,089         10.27        1,593          .93          342          .15
 4.00 -  5.99%.....................        97,216         55.19       67,944        39.55      123,835        53.06
 6.00 -  7.99%.....................        13,840          7.85       54,322        31.62       47,987        20.56
 8.00 -  9.99%.....................         3,904          2.22        3,709         2.16        3,276         1.40
10.00 - 11.99%.....................           294           .17          243          .14          ---          ---
                                         --------        ------     --------       ------    ---------       ------
Total Certificates.................       134,391         76.29      129,309        75.27      178,594        76.52
                                         --------        ------     --------       ------    ---------       ------
Total Deposits.....................      $176,167        100.00%    $171,793       100.00%    $233,406       100.00%
                                         ========        ======     ========       ======     ========       ======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The  following  table  shows  rate  and  maturity  information  for the
Company's certificates of deposit as of September 30, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    0.00-      4.00-       6.00-        8.00-               Percent
                                        Variable    3.99%      5.99%       7.99%        9.99%    Total      of Total
                                        --------    -----      -----       -----        -----    -----      --------
                                                                  (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                      <C>        <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>         <C>
Certificate accounts
maturing in
quarter ending:
December 31, 1996...............        $  415      $ 316    $ 22,967    $12,281      $    8    $35,987       20.2%
March 31, 1997..................           505          6      21,932      7,753         ---     30,196        16.9
June 30, 1997...................           361          5      34,302      8,669          16     43,353        24.3
September 30, 1997..............           358        ---      10,492      5,808         118     16,776         9.4
December 31, 1997...............           788          2       5,921      2,340         393      9,444         5.3
March 31, 1998..................           727          3       8,726      3,014         798     13,269         7.4
June 30, 1998...................           ---        ---      10,035      2,114         179     12,328         6.9
September 30, 1998..............           ---        ---       3,037        441         184      3,661         2.0
December 31, 1998...............           ---          7       1,229        603         353      2,192         1.2
March 31, 1999..................           ---        ---       2,119        689         892      3,700         2.1
June 30, 1999...................           ---        ---         807        907         299      2,013         1.1
September 30, 1999..............           ---        ---       1,133      2,086          34      3,253         1.8
 Thereafter.....................           ---          3       1,135      1,282           2      2,422         1.4
                                        ------      -----    --------    -------      ------   --------      ------ 
 Total..........................        $3,154      $ 342    $123,835    $47,987      $3,276   $178,594      100.00%
                                        ======      =====    ========    =======      ======   ========      ======
 Percent of total...............          1.77%       .19%      69.34%     26.87%       1.83%    100.00%
                                        ======      =====    ========    =======      ======   ========       

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
         The following table indicates the amount of the Company's  certificates
of deposit and other deposits by time  remaining  until maturity as of September
30, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Maturity
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  After       After
                                                  3 Months       3 to 6     6 to 12       After
                                                   or Less       Months      Months     12 months        Total
                                                   -------      -------    -------       -------      --------
                                                                         (In Thousands)
<S>                                                <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>     
Certificates of deposit less
 than $100,000.............................        $31,238      $28,471    $56,334       $50,088      $166,131
Certificates of deposit of
 $100,000 or more..........................          4,749        1,725      3,795         2,194        12,463
                                                   -------      -------    -------       -------      --------
Total certificates of deposit..............        $35,987      $30,196    $60,129       $52,282      $178,594 (1)
                                                   =======      =======    =======       =======      ========    
- --------------------

(1) Includes deposits from governmental and other public entities totalling $4.0
million.
</TABLE>

         Borrowings.  Although  deposits  are the  Company's  primary  source of
funds, the Company's policy has been to utilize  borrowings when they are a less
costly source of funds, can be invested at a positive  interest rate spread,  or
when the Company desires additional capacity to fund loan demand.

         The Company's  borrowings  historically have consisted of advances from
the FHLB of Des Moines upon the security of a blanket collateral  agreement of a
percentage  of  unencumbered  loans  and  the  pledge  of  specific   investment
securities.  Such  advances  can be made  pursuant to several  different  credit
programs,  each of which has its own interest rate and range of  maturities.  At
September 30, 1996,  the Company had $102.3 million of advances from the FHLB of
Des Moines and the ability to borrow up to an additional $22.1 million.

         From time to time, the Company has offered retail repurchase agreements
to its customers.  These agreements  typically range from 14 days to three years
in term,  and typically  have been offered in minimum  amounts of $100,000.  The
proceeds of these  transactions are used to meet cash flow needs of the Company.
At September  30,  1996,  the Company had  approximately  $2.8 million of retail
repurchase agreements outstanding.

         The  Company  has  also,  from  time  to  time,  entered  into  reverse
repurchase agreements through nationally  recognized  broker-dealer firms. These
agreements  are  accounted  for as  borrowings by the Company and are secured by
certain  of  the  Company's  investment  and  mortgage-backed   securities.  The
broker-dealer  takes  possession  of the  securities  during the period that the
reverse  repurchase  agreement is outstanding.  The terms of the agreements have
typically  ranged from 30 days to a maximum of six  months.  The Company has not
entered into any reverse repurchase agreements in the past four years.
<PAGE>
         The  following  table  sets forth the  maximum  month-end  balance  and
average  balance  of FHLB  advances,  retail  repurchase  agreements  and  other
borrowings (consisting of FRB advances) for the periods indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year Ended September 30,
                                                   ---------------------------------------
                                                     1994           1995          1996
                                                   -------        -------      -----------
                                                               (In Thousands)
<S>                                                <C>            <C>          <C>
Maximum Balance:

  FHLB advances............................        $60,308        $78,305      $110,491
  Retail repurchase agreements.............          2,398          1,312         2,790
  Other borrowings.........................            ---            ---         1,400(1)

Average Balance:

  FHLB advances............................        $22,579        $56,820        69,265
  Retail repurchase agreements.............          2,043          1,159         2,198
  Other borrowings.........................            ---            ---           ---

(1)  Acquired  on  September  30, 1996 in  connection  with the  acquisition  of
Security.
</TABLE>
         The following table sets forth certain  information as to the Company's
FHLB advances and other borrowings at the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             At September 30,
                                                  ----------------------------------
                                                    1994         1995          1996
                                                  -------      -------      --------
                                                         (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                               <C>          <C>          <C>

FHLB advances.............................        $60,308      $51,098      $102,288
Retail repurchase agreements..............            910        1,150         2,790
Other borrowings..........................            ---          ---         1,400
                                                  -------      -------      --------
     Total borrowings.....................        $61,218      $52,248      $106,478
                                                  =======      =======      ========
Weighted average interest
 rate of FHLB advances....................           5.10%        6.14%         5.81%
Weighted average interest
 rate of retail repurchase
 agreements...............................           4.70%        5.75%         5.52%
Weighted average interest rate of other
borrowings................................            ---          ---          5.40%

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Subsidiary Activities

         The only  subsidiaries  of the Company are First  Federal and Security.
First  Federal has one service  subsidiary,  First  Services  Financial  Limited
("First Services"). At September 30, 1996, the net book value of First Federal's
investment in First Services was approximately  $65,000.  Security does not have
any subsidiaries.

         First Federal organized First Services,  its sole service  corporation,
in 1983.  First Services is located in Storm Lake,  Iowa and offers mutual funds
and, in some locations, insurance products and annuities. In addition, Brookings
Service  Corporation  ("BSC"),  a  subsidiary  of First  Services,  offers  full
brokerage  services through PrimeVest  Financial  Services,  Inc., a third party
vendor. First Services,  together with its subsidiary BSC, recognized net income
of $52,000 during fiscal 1996.

Regulation

         General.  First Midwest  currently has two  wholly-owned  subsidiaries,
First  Federal,  a  federally-chartered  thrift  institution  and  Security,  an
Iowa-chartered   commercial   bank.   First  Federal  is  subject  to  extensive
regulation,  supervision and examination by the OTS, as its chartering authority
and primary federal regulator,  and by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(the "FDIC"),  which insures its deposits up to applicable limits. First Federal
is a member of the FHLB System and is subject to certain  limited  regulation by
the FRB. Such  regulation  and  supervision  governs the  activities in which an
institution  can engage and the manner in which such  activities  are conducted,
and is  intended  primarily  for  the  protection  of  the  insurance  fund  and
depositors.  Security  is  subject  to  extensive  regulation,  supervision  and
examination by the Iowa Superintendent of Banking (the "ISB") and the FRB, which
are its state and primary federal regulators,  respectively.  It is also subject
to regulation by the FDIC,  which insures its deposits up to applicable  limits.
As with First Federal, such regulation and supervision governs the activities in
which it can engage and the manner in which such activities are conducted and is
intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and depositors.

         First  Midwest is regulated as a bank holding  company by the FRB. Bank
holding  companies are subject to comprehensive  regulation by the FRB under the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the "BHCA") and the regulations of the FRB. As
a bank holding  company,  First  Midwest must file reports with the FRB and such
additional  information  as the FRB  may  require,  and is  subject  to  regular
inspections  by the FRB. The FRB also has extensive  enforcement  authority over
bank holding  companies,  including,  among other things,  the ability to assess
civil  money  penalties,  to issue  cease and  desist or  removal  orders and to
require  that  a  holding  company  divest  subsidiaries   (including  its  bank
subsidiaries).  In general,  enforcement actions may be initiated for violations
of law and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. First Midwest is subject
to the activity  limitations imposed under the BHCA and in general may engage in
only those  activities  that the FRB has  determined  to be  closely  related to
banking.

         Regulatory  authorities  have  been  granted  extensive  discretion  in
connection with their supervisory and enforcement  activities which are intended
to strengthen  the financial  condition of the banking  industry,  including the
imposition   of   restrictions   on  the  operation  of  an   institution,   the
classification of assets by the institution and the adequacy of an institution's
allowance for loan losses. Any change in such regulation and oversight,  whether
by the OTS, the FDIC,  the FRB or the Congress  could have a material  impact on
First Midwest, First Federal or Security and their respective operations.
<PAGE>
         Certain of these regulatory requirements and restrictions are discussed
below or elsewhere in this document.

         Federal  Regulation  of Financial  Institutions.  The OTS has extensive
authority  over  the  operations  of  savings  associations.  As  part  of  this
authority,  First Federal is required to file periodic  reports with the OTS and
is subject to periodic examination by the OTS and the FDIC. The last regular OTS
examination of First Federal was as of May 13, 1996. When these examinations are
conducted by the OTS, the  examiners  may require  First  Federal to provide for
higher  general or specific loan loss  reserves.  Security is subject to similar
regulation  and  oversight  by the ISB and the FRB and was last  examined  as of
April 15, 1996.

         Each federal banking regulator has extensive enforcement authority over
its regulated  institutions.  This enforcement  authority includes,  among other
things, the ability to assess civil money penalties,  to issue  cease-and-desist
or  removal  orders  and to  initiate  injunctive  actions.  In  general,  these
enforcement  actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and
unsafe or unsound  practices.  Other  actions or inactions may provide the basis
for enforcement action,  including misleading or untimely reports.  Except under
certain  circumstances,  public disclosure of final  enforcement  actions by the
regulator is required.

         In addition,  the investment,  lending and branching authority of First
Federal is prescribed by federal laws and it is prohibited  from engaging in any
activities not permitted by such laws.  Security is subject to such restrictions
under state law as administered by the ISB.  Federal  savings  associations  are
also generally authorized to branch nationwide whereas Iowa chartered banks such
as Security are limited to establishing  branches in the counties  contiguous to
the county  where their home office is located.  At September  30,  1996,  First
Federal and Security were in compliance with the noted restrictions.

         First    Federal's    general    permissible    lending    limit    for
loans-to-one-borrower  is equal to the greater of $500,000 or 15% of  unimpaired
capital  and  surplus  (except  for  loans  fully  secured  by  certain  readily
marketable  collateral,  in  which  case  this  limit  is  increased  to  25% of
unimpaired capital and surplus). Security is subject to similar restrictions. At
September 30, 1996,  First  Federal's and  Security's  lending limit under these
restrictions  was $5.0 million and  $540,000,  respectively.  First  Federal and
Security are in compliance with the loans-to-one-borrower limitation.

         The federal  banking  agencies  have  adopted  guidelines  establishing
safety and  soundness  standards on such matters such as loan  underwriting  and
documentation,  asset quality,  earnings standards,  internal controls and audit
systems,  interest  rate risk  exposure  and  compensation  and  other  employee
benefits. Any institution which fails to comply with these standards must submit
a compliance plan. A failure to submit a plan or to comply with an approved plan
will subject the institution to further enforcement action.
<PAGE>
         Insurance of Accounts and  Regulation  by the FDIC.  First Federal is a
member  of the  SAIF and  Security  is a  member  of the  BIF,  each of which is
administered  by the FDIC.  Deposits are insured up to applicable  limits by the
FDIC and such  insurance  is backed by the full  faith and  credit of the United
States Government.  As insurer,  the FDIC imposes deposit insurance premiums and
is  authorized  to  conduct   examinations  of  and  to  require   reporting  by
FDIC-insured  institutions.  It also may prohibit any  FDIC-insured  institution
from engaging in any activity the FDIC determines by regulation or order to pose
a  serious  risk to the SAIF or the  BIF.  The FDIC  also has the  authority  to
initiate  enforcement  actions against any FDIC insured institution after giving
its primary  federal  regulator  the  opportunity  to take such action,  and may
terminate  the deposit  insurance  if it  determines  that the  institution  has
engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or is in an unsafe or unsound condition.

         The FDIC's deposit insurance premiums are assessed through a risk-based
system under which all insured  depository  institutions  are placed into one of
nine  categories  and  assessed  insurance  premiums  based upon their  level of
capital  and  supervisory   evaluation.   Risk  classification  of  all  insured
institutions will be made by the FDIC for each semi-annual assessment period. At
September  30,  1996,  each of  First  Federal  and  Security  met  the  capital
requirements  of a "well  capitalized"  institution.  See  Note 14 of  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

         The FDIC is authorized to increase  assessment  rates,  on a semiannual
basis, if it determines that the reserve ratio of the SAIF will be less than the
designated  reserve  ratio of 1.25% of SAIF insured  deposits.  In setting these
increased  assessments,  the FDIC must seek to restore the reserve ratio to that
designated  reserve  level,  or such higher  reserve ratio as established by the
FDIC.  The FDIC may also impose  special  assessments  on SAIF  members to repay
amounts  borrowed from the United States Treasury or for any other reason deemed
necessary by the FDIC.

         As is the case  with the SAIF,  the FDIC is  authorized  to adjust  the
insurance  premium  rates for banks  that are  insured by the BIF of the FDIC in
order to maintain the reserve ratio of the BIF at 1.25% of BIF insured deposits.
As a result of the BIF reaching its statutory reserve ratio the FDIC revised the
premium schedule for BIF insured institutions to provide a range of .04% to .31%
of deposits.  The  revisions  became  effective in the third quarter of 1995. In
addition, the BIF rates were further revised, effective January 1996, to provide
a range of 0% to .27%. The SAIF rates,  however,  were not adjusted. At the time
the FDIC revised the BIF premium  schedule,  it noted that,  absent  legislative
action (as discussed  below),the  SAIF would not attain its  designated  reserve
ratio until the year 2002. As a result,  SAIF insured  members would continue to
be  generally  subject to higher  deposit  insurance  premiums  than BIF insured
institutions  until,  all things  being  equal,  the SAIF  attained its required
reserve ratio.
<PAGE>
         In order to eliminate this disparity and any  competitive  disadvantage
between  BIF and SAIF  member  institutions  with  respect to deposit  insurance
premiums,  legislation to  recapitalize  the SAIF was enacted in September 1996.
The legislation provides for a one-time assessment to be imposed on all deposits
assessed at the SAIF rates, as of March 31, 1995, in order to  recapitalize  the
SAIF. It also provides for the merger of the BIF and the SAIF on January 1, 1999
if no savings  associations  then exist.  The special  assessment  rate has been
established  at .657% of deposits by the FDIC and the  resulting  assessment  of
$1.3  million  for  First  Federal  was  paid in  November  1996.  This  special
assessment  significantly  increased  noninterest expense and adversely affected
First Federal's  results of operations for the year ended September 30, 1996. As
a result of the special  assessment,  First Federal's deposit insurance premiums
were   eliminated,   as  of  October  1,  1996,  based  upon  its  current  risk
classification  and the new assessment  schedule for SAIF insured  institutions.
Premiums  for both BIF and SAIF  insured  institutions  are subject to change in
future  periods  depending upon an  institution's  risk  classification  and the
reserve ratio of its deposit insurance fund.

         Prior  to the  enactment  of the  legislation,  a  portion  of the SAIF
assessment imposed on savings  associations was used to repay obligations issued
by a federally chartered corporation to provide financing ("FICO") for resolving
the thrift  crisis in the 1980s.  Although the FDIC has  proposed  that the SAIF
assessment be equalized with the BIF assessment  schedule,  effective October 1,
1996, SAIF-insured institutions will continue to be subject to a FICO assessment
as a result of this continuing  obligation.  Although the  legislation  also now
requires  assessments  to be made on  BIF-assessable  deposits for this purpose,
effective  January 1, 1997,  that  assessment will be limited to 20% of the rate
imposed on SAIF  assessable  deposits  until the earlier of December 31, 1999 or
when no  savings  association  continues  to exist,  thereby  imposing a greater
burden on SAIF member institutions such as First Federal.  Thereafter,  however,
assessments  on  BIF-member  institutions  will  be made on the  same  basis  as
SAIF-member  institutions.  The rates to be established by the FDIC to implement
this  requirement for all  FDIC-insured  institutions is uncertain at this time,
but are  anticipated to be about a 6.5 basis points  assessment on SAIF deposits
and 1.5 basis points on BIF deposits until BIF insured institutions  participate
fully in the assessment.

         Regulatory   Capital   Requirements.    Federally   insured   financial
institutions,  such as First  Federal and  Security,  are required to maintain a
minimum level of regulatory capital.  These capital requirements mandate that an
institution  maintain  at least  the  following  ratios:  (1) a core (or Tier 1)
capital to  adjusted  total  assets  ratio of 4% (which can be reduced to 3% for
highly rated  institutions);  (2) a Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets ratio
of 4% and (3) a risk based  capital to  risk-weighted  assets ratio of 8%. First
Federal  also  has  a  tangible  capital  ratio  requirement  of  1.5%.  Capital
requirements  in  excess  of  these  standards  may  be  imposed  on  individual
institutions  on a  case-by-case  basis.  See Note 14 of  Notes to  Consolidated
Financial Statements in the Annual Report.
<PAGE>
         An  FDIC-insured   institution's  primary  federal  regulator  is  also
authorized and, under certain  circumstances  required,  to take certain actions
against any institution that fails to meet its capital requirements. This action
to restrict  the  activities  of an  "undercapitalized  institution"  (generally
defined to be one with less than  either a 4% core  capital  ratio,  a 4% Tier 1
risked-based  capital  ratio  or an  8%  risk-based  capital  ratio).  Any  such
institution  must  submit a  capital  restoration  plan and  until  such plan is
approved by the OTS may not increase its assets,  acquire  another  institution,
establish a branch or engage in any new  activities,  and generally may not make
capital distributions. The primary federal regulator is authorized to impose the
additional  restrictions  that are applicable to significantly  undercapitalized
institutions.  As a condition to the approval of the capital  restoration  plan,
any company controlling an undercapitalized  institution must agree that it will
enter  into  a  limited  capital  maintenance  guarantee  with  respect  to  the
institution's achievement of its capital requirements.

         Any FDIC-insured institution that fails to comply with its capital plan
or is "significantly  undercapitalized" (i.e., Tier 1 risk-based or core capital
ratios of less than 3% or a  risk-based  capital  ratio of less than 6%) must be
made  subject  to one or more of  additional  specified  actions  and  operating
restrictions  which may cover all aspects of its operations and include a forced
merger  or  acquisition  of  the   institution.   An  institution  that  becomes
"critically  undercapitalized" (i.e., a tangible capital ratio of 2% or less) is
subject to further mandatory restrictions on its activities in addition to those
applicable to  significantly  undercapitalized  associations.  In addition,  the
institution's  primary federal regulator must appoint a receiver (or conservator
with the  concurrence  of the FDIC) for the  institution,  with certain  limited
exceptions,  within 90 days after it becomes  critically  undercapitalized.  Any
undercapitalized   institution  is  also  subject  to  the  general  enforcement
authority  of  its  primary  federal  regulator  and  the  FDIC,  including  the
appointment of a conservator or a receiver.

         An institution's primary federal regulator is also generally authorized
to  reclassify  an  institution  into a lower  capital  category  and impose the
restrictions applicable to such category if the institution is engaged in unsafe
or unsound practices or is in an unsafe or unsound condition.

         The  imposition  of any of these  measures on First Federal or Security
may have a substantial adverse effect on Company's operations and profitability.
First Midwest  shareholders do not have  preemptive  rights,  and therefore,  if
First  Midwest is directed by the OTS,  the FRB or the FDIC to issue  additional
shares of Common Stock, such issuance may result in the dilution in stockholders
percentage of ownership of First Midwest.

         Limitations   on  Dividends  and  Other  Capital   Distributions.   OTS
regulations impose various  restrictions on savings associations with respect to
their ability to make distributions of capital,  which include dividends,  stock
redemptions or repurchases,  cash-out mergers and other transactions  charged to
the capital account.  Generally,  savings  associations,  such as First Federal,
that before and after the proposed distribution meet their capital requirements,
may make capital  distributions during any calendar year equal to the greater of
100% of net  income  for the  year-to-date  plus 50% of the  amount by which the
lesser of the  association's  tangible,  core or risk-based  capital exceeds its
capital requirement for such capital component,  as measured at the beginning of
the  calendar  year,  or 75% of its net income for the most recent four  quarter
period.  However,  an  association  deemed  to be in need of  more  than  normal
supervision  by the OTS may have its dividend  authority  restricted by the OTS.
First Federal may pay dividends in accordance with this general authority.
<PAGE>
         Savings  associations  proposing to make any capital  distribution need
only  submit  written  notice  to the OTS 30 days  prior  to such  distribution.
Savings  associations  that do not,  or would  not meet  their  current  minimum
capital requirements  following a proposed capital  distribution,  however, must
obtain OTS, as well as FDIC, approval prior to making such distribution. The OTS
may object to the distribution  during that 30-day period notice based on safety
and soundness concerns. See "- Regulatory Capital Requirements."

         The OTS has proposed  regulations that would make certain  revisions to
the current  capital  distribution  restrictions.  Under the  proposal a savings
association may make a capital distribution without notice to the OTS (unless it
is a  subsidiary  of a  holding  company)  provided  that  it has a CAMEL 1 or 2
rating, is not of supervisory concern,  and would remain adequately  capitalized
(as  defined in the OTS prompt  corrective  action  regulations)  following  the
proposed  distribution.   Savings  associations  that  would  remain  adequately
capitalized  following the proposed distribution but do not meet the other noted
requirements  must  notify  the  OTS  30  days  prior  to  declaring  a  capital
distribution. The OTS stated it will generally regard as permissible that amount
of capital  distributions  that do not exceed  50% of the  institution's  excess
regulatory  capital plus net income to date during the calendar  year.  As under
the  current  rule,  the OTS may  object to a capital  distribution  if it would
constitute  an unsafe  or  unsound  practice.  No  assurance  may be given as to
whether or in what form the regulations may be adopted.

         Security  may  pay  dividends,  in cash or  property,  only  out of its
undivided  profits.  In  addition,  FRB  regulations  prohibit  the  payment  of
dividends  by a state  member bank if losses have at any time been  sustained by
such bank that equal or exceed its  undivided  profits then on hand,  unless (i)
the prior approval of the FRB has been obtained and (ii) at least  two-thirds of
the  shares  of each  class of stock  outstanding  have  approved  the  dividend
payment.  FRB  regulations  also prohibit the payment of any dividend by a state
member bank without the prior  approval of the FRB if the total of all dividends
declared by the bank in any  calendar  year exceeds the total of its net profits
for that year  combined  with its  retained  net  profits  of the  previous  two
calendar  years (minus any required  transfers to a surplus or to a fund for the
retirement of any preferred stock).

         Qualified Thrift Lender Test. All savings associations, including First
Federal,  are required to meet a qualified  thrift lender  ("QTL") test to avoid
certain  restrictions  on  their  operations.   This  test  requires  a  savings
association  to have  at  least  65% of its  portfolio  assets  (as  defined  by
regulation) in qualified thrift investments on a monthly average for nine out of
every 12 months  on a  rolling  basis or meet the  requirements  for a  domestic
building and loan association under the Internal Revenue Code. Under either test
the required assets primarily  consist of residential  housing related loans and
investments.  At September  30, 1996,  First Federal met the test and has always
met the test since its effectiveness.

         Any savings association that fails to meet the QTL test must convert to
a national bank charter, unless it requalifies as a QTL and thereafter remains a
QTL. If an  association  does not  requalify  and  converts  to a national  bank
charter,  it must remain  SAIF-insured  until the FDIC permits it to transfer to
the BIF.  If such an  association  has not yet  requalified  or  converted  to a
national  bank,  its  new  investments  and  activities  are  limited  to  those
<PAGE>
permissible  for both a  savings  association  and a  national  bank,  and it is
limited to national bank branching  rights in its home state.  In addition,  the
association is immediately  ineligible to receive any new FHLB borrowings and is
subject to national  bank limits for payment of dividends.  If such  association
has not requalified or converted to a national bank within three years after the
failure,  it must  divest  of all  investments  and  cease  all  activities  not
permissible  for a  national  bank.  In  addition,  it must repay  promptly  any
outstanding FHLB borrowings, which may result in prepayment penalties.

         Community  Reinvestment  Act.  Under  the  Community  Reinvestment  Act
("CRA"),  every  FDIC  insured  institution  has a  continuing  and  affirmative
obligation  consistent  with safe and sound  banking  practices to help meet the
credit  needs  of its  entire  community,  including  low  and  moderate  income
neighborhoods.  The CRA does not  establish  specific  lending  requirements  or
programs  for  financial   institutions  nor  does  it  limit  an  institution's
discretion  to develop the types of products and  services  that it believes are
best  suited  to its  particular  community,  consistent  with the CRA.  The CRA
requires  the OTS and the  FRB,  in  connection  with the  examination  of First
Federal  and  Security,  respectively,  to assess  the  institution's  record of
meeting the credit needs of its  community  and to take such record into account
in its evaluation of certain applications, such as a merger or the establishment
of a branch,  by the institution.  An  unsatisfactory  rating may be used as the
basis for the denial of such an application.

         The federal banking  agencies have recently revised the CRA regulations
and the methodology for  determining an  institution's  compliance with the CRA.
Due to the  heightened  attention  being given to the CRA in the past few years,
First  Federal  and  Security  may be required  to devote  additional  funds for
investment and lending in their local community.  First Federal was examined for
CRA  compliance  in April 1995 and  Security was examined in April 1996 and both
received a rating of "Satisfactory."

         Transactions  with  Affiliates.   Generally,  transactions  between  an
FDIC-insured  institution or its subsidiaries and its affiliates are required to
be on terms as favorable to the institution as transactions with non-affiliates.
In addition,  certain of these transactions,  such as loans to an affiliate, are
restricted to a percentage  of the  institution's  capital.  Affiliates of First
Federal and Security  include First Midwest and any other company which is under
common  control  with First  Federal and  Security.  Certain  transactions  with
directors,  officers  or  controlling  persons  are also  subject to conflict of
interest regulations.  These conflict of interest regulations and other statutes
also impose  restrictions on loans to such persons and their related  interests.
Among other things,  such loans must be made on terms  substantially the same as
for loans to unaffiliated individuals.  At September 30, 1996, First Federal and
Security were in compliance with the above restrictions.

Bank Holding Company Regulation

         General.  Bank holding  companies  such as First Midwest are subject to
comprehensive  regulation by the FRB under the BHCA and the  regulations  of the
FRB. As a bank holding  company,  First Midwest will be required to file reports
with the FRB and such additional information as the FRB may require, and will be
subject  to  regular  inspections  by  the  FRB.  The  FRB  also  has  extensive
enforcement  authority  over bank  holding  companies,  including,  among  other
things,  the ability to assess civil money penalties,  to issue cease and desist
or removal  orders and to require  that a holding  company  divest  subsidiaries
(including  its bank  subsidiaries).  In  general,  enforcement  actions  may be
initiated for violations of law and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices.
<PAGE>
         Under FRB  policy,  a bank  holding  company  must serve as a source of
strength for its subsidiary  banks.  Under this policy the FRB may require,  and
has required in the past, a holding company to contribute  additional capital to
an undercapitalized subsidiary bank.

         Under the BHCA, a bank holding company must obtain FRB approval before:
(i) acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of any voting shares
of another bank or bank holding company if, after such acquisition, it would own
or control  more than 5% of such shares  (unless it already owns or controls the
majority of such shares);  (ii) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets
of another bank or bank holding company;  or (iii) merging or consolidating with
another bank holding company.

         The BHCA  prohibits a bank holding  company,  with certain  exceptions,
from  acquiring  direct or indirect  ownership or control of more than 5% of the
voting  shares of any company  which is not a bank or bank holding  company,  or
from engaging  directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking,
managing or controlling banks, or providing  services for its subsidiaries.  The
principal  exceptions to these prohibitions  involve certain non-bank activities
which,  by  statute  or by FRB  regulation  or order,  have been  identified  as
activities closely related to the business of banking or managing or controlling
banks. The list of activities permitted by the FRB includes, among other things,
operating  a savings  institution  (such as First  Federal),  mortgage  company,
finance company,  credit card company or factoring  company;  performing certain
data processing  operations;  providing certain investment and financial advice;
underwriting   and  acting  as  an   insurance   agent  for  certain   types  of
credit-related  insurance;  leasing  property  on a  full-payout,  non-operating
basis;  real estate and personal  property  appraising;  and, subject to certain
limitations, providing securities brokerage services for customers. The scope of
permissible  activities  may be  expanded  from  time to time by the  FRB.  Such
activities may also be affected by federal legislation.

         Interstate Banking and Branching.  In 1994, the Riegle-Neal  Interstate
Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the "Riegle-Neal Act") was enacted
to ease restrictions on interstate  banking.  Effective  September 29, 1995, the
Riegle-Neal  Act  allows  the FRB to approve  an  application  of an  adequately
capitalized  and adequately  managed bank holding company to acquire control of,
or acquire all or substantially  all of the assets of, a bank located in a state
other than such  holding  company's  home state,  without  regard to whether the
transaction is prohibited by the laws of any state.  The FRB may not approve the
acquisition of a bank that has not been in existence for the minimum time period
(not exceeding five years) specified by the statutory law of the host state. The
Riegle-Neal  Act also  prohibits the FRB from  approving an  application  if the
applicant (and its depository institution  affiliates) controls or would control
more than 10% of the insured deposits in the United States or 30% or more of the
deposits  in the  target  bank's  home state or in any state in which the target
bank maintains a branch.  The  Riegle-Neal  Act does not affect the authority of
states to limit the percentage of total insured  deposits in the state which may
be held or  controlled  by a bank or bank  holding  company to the  extent  such
limitation  does not  discriminate  against  out-of-state  banks or bank holding
companies.  Individual  states may also waive the 30%  state-wide  concentration
limit contained in the Riegle-Neal Act.
<PAGE>
         Additionally,  beginning on June 1, 1997, the federal banking  agencies
will be authorized to approve interstate merger  transactions  without regard to
whether such transaction is prohibited by the law of any state,  unless the home
state of one of the banks  opts out of the  Riegle-Neal  Act by  adopting  a law
after the date of  enactment  of the  Riegle-Neal  Act and prior to June 1, 1997
which applies equally to all out-of-state  banks and expressly  prohibits merger
transactions  involving  out-of-state  banks.  A  state  may  also  permit  such
transactions before such time by enacting  authorizing  legislation.  Interstate
acquisitions of branches or the  establishment of a new branch will be permitted
only if the law of the  state  in which  the  branch  is  located  permits  such
acquisitions. Interstate mergers and branch acquisitions will also be subject to
the nationwide and statewide  insured deposit  concentration  amounts  described
above.  As of September 30, 1996, the State of Iowa had not yet  authorized,  or
elected to opt-out of, the interstate merger provisions.

         Dividends. The FRB has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash
dividends by bank holding companies,  which expresses the FRB's view that a bank
holding company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that its net income
for the past year is sufficient  to cover both the cash  dividends and a rate of
earning  retention that is consistent with the holding  company's capital needs,
asset quality and overall  financial  condition.  The FRB also indicated that it
would be inappropriate for a company  experiencing serious financial problems to
borrow funds to pay dividends.  Furthermore,  under the prompt corrective action
regulations adopted by the FRB, the FRB may prohibit a bank holding company from
paying any dividends if the holding  company's bank  subsidiary is classified as
"undercapitalized."

         Bank  holding  companies  are  required  to give the FRB prior  written
notice of any purchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the
gross  consideration for the purchase or redemption,  when combined with the net
consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the preceding 12
months,  is equal to 10% or more of their  consolidated  net worth.  The FRB may
disapprove  such a purchase or  redemption  if it  determines  that the proposal
would  constitute  an unsafe  or  unsound  practice  or would  violate  any law,
regulation,  FRB order, or any condition  imposed by, or written agreement with,
the FRB. This notification  requirement does not apply to any company that meets
the  well-capitalized  standard for commercial banks, has a safety and soundness
examination  rating  of at  least a "2"  and is not  subject  to any  unresolved
supervisory issues.

         Capital Requirements.  The FRB has established capital requirements for
bank holding  companies that  generally  parallel the capital  requirements  for
commercial  banks and  federal  thrift  institutions  such as First  Federal and
Security. First Midwest is in compliance with these requirements.

Federal Securities Law

         The  stock of First  Midwest  is  registered  with  the SEC  under  the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company is
subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and
other requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

         First  Midwest  stock held by  persons  who are  affiliates  (generally
officers, directors and principal stockholders) of the Company may not be resold
without   registration   or  unless  sold  in  accordance  with  certain  resale
restrictions.  If First  Midwest  meets  specified  current  public  information
requirements,  each  affiliate of First  Midwest,  First Federal and Security is
able to sell in the public  market,  without  registration,  a limited number of
shares in any three-month period.
<PAGE>
Federal Home Loan Bank System

         First Federal is a member of the FHLB of Des Moines, which is one of 12
regional FHLBs,  that  administers the home financing credit function of savings
associations.  Each FHLB  serves as a reserve  or central  bank for its  members
within its assigned  region.  It is funded  primarily from proceeds derived from
the sale of  consolidated  obligations  of the FHLB  System.  It makes  loans to
members (i.e.,  advances) in accordance with policies and procedures established
by the board of directors of the FHLB. These policies and procedures are subject
to the  regulation  and  oversight of the Federal  Housing  Finance  Board.  All
advances from the FHLB are required to be fully secured by sufficient collateral
as determined by the FHLB. In addition,  all long-term  advances are required to
provide funds for residential home financing.

         As a member,  First Federal is required to purchase and maintain  stock
in the FHLB of Des Moines. At September 30, 1996, First Federal had $5.5 million
in FHLB stock,  which was in compliance  with this  requirement.  In past years,
First  Federal has received  substantial  dividends  on its FHLB stock.  For the
fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996,  dividends paid by the FHLB of Des Moines
to First Federal totalled  $333,000,  which  constitutes a $63,000 increase over
the  amount of  dividends  received  in  fiscal  year  1995.  Over the past five
calendar  years such  dividends  have  averaged 8.0% and were 7.0% for the first
three quarters of the calendar year 1996.

         Under  federal  law the FHLBs are  required  to  provide  funds for the
resolution  of  troubled  savings  associations  and to  contribute  to low- and
moderately priced housing programs through direct loans or interest subsidies on
advances targeted for community investment and low- and moderate-income  housing
projects.  These  contributions  have  affected  adversely  the  level  of  FHLB
dividends  paid and could continue to do so in the future.  These  contributions
could also have an adverse  effect on the value of FHLB stock in the  future.  A
reduction in value of First  Federal's FHLB stock may result in a  corresponding
reduction in First Federal's capital. 

Federal and State Taxation

         Federal Taxation. Savings banks such as First Federal that meet certain
definitional  tests relating to the  composition of assets and other  conditions
prescribed by the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code"),  are
permitted  to  establish  reserves  for bad debts and to make  annual  additions
thereto which may, within specified  formula limits,  be taken as a deduction in
computing taxable income for federal income tax purposes.  The amount of the bad
debt  reserve  deduction  for  "non-qualifying  loans"  is  computed  under  the
experience  method. The amount of the bad debt reserve deduction for "qualifying
real property  loans"  (generally  loans secured by improved real estate) may be
computed under either the experience  method or the percentage of taxable income
method (based on an annual election).

         Under the  experience  method,  the bad debt  reserve  deduction  is an
amount  determined  under a formula based  generally upon the bad debts actually
sustained by the savings bank over a period of years.

         The  percentage of specially  computed  taxable  income that is used to
compute a savings  bank's bad debt reserve  deduction  under the  percentage  of
taxable  income  method  (the  "percentage  bad  debt  deduction")  is  8%.  The
percentage bad debt  deduction thus computed is reduced by the amount  permitted
as a  deduction  for  non-qualifying  loans  under the  experience  method.  The
availability  of the  percentage  of taxable  income method  permits  qualifying
savings banks to be taxed at a lower effective federal income tax rate than that
applicable to corporations  generally  (approximately 31.3% assuming the maximum
percentage bad debt deduction).
<PAGE>
         Under the percentage of taxable income method,  the percentage bad debt
deduction  cannot  exceed the amount  necessary  to increase  the balance in the
reserve for  "qualifying  real property  loans" to an amount equal to 6% of such
loans  outstanding  at the end of the  taxable  year or the  greater  of (i) the
amount  deductible  under the  experience  method or (ii) the amount  which when
added to the bad debt deduction for "non-qualifying  loans" equals the amount by
which 12% of the amount comprising  savings accounts at year-end exceeds the sum
of surplus, undivided profits and reserves at the beginning of the year.

         In  August   1996,   legislation   was   enacted   that   repeals   the
above-described  reserve  method of  accounting  (including  the  percentage  of
taxable income method) used by many thrift  institutions  to calculate their bad
debt reserve for federal  income tax  purposes.  Thrift  institutions  with $500
million or less in assets may, however,  continue to use the experience  method.
As a result,  First  Federal  must  recapture  that  portion of the reserve that
exceeds the amount that could have been taken  under the  experience  method for
post-1987 tax years.  At September 30, 1996,  First Federal's  post-1987  excess
reserves amounted to approximately $1.9 million. The recapture will occur over a
six-year  period,  the  commencement  of which will be  delayed  until the first
taxable year beginning after December 31, 1997,  provided the institution  meets
certain residential lending  requirements.  The legislation also requires thrift
institutions  to account  for bad debts for federal  income tax  purposes on the
same basis as commercial banks for tax years beginning after December 31, 1995.

         In addition to the regular income tax, corporations,  including savings
banks  such as First  Federal,  generally  are  subject  to a  minimum  tax.  An
alternative  minimum tax is imposed at a minimum tax rate of 20% on  alternative
minimum  taxable  income,  which is the sum of a  corporation's  regular taxable
income (with certain  adjustments) and tax preference  items, less any available
exemption.  The alternative  minimum tax is imposed to the extent it exceeds the
corporation's  regular  income tax and net  operating  losses can offset no more
than 90% of alternative  minimum  taxable  income.  For taxable years  beginning
after 1986 and before 1996, corporations,  including savings banks such as First
Federal,  are also subject to an environmental  tax equal to 0.12% of the excess
of alternative  minimum taxable income for the taxable year (determined  without
regard to net operating losses and the deduction for the environmental tax) over
$2.0 million.

         To the  extent  earnings  appropriated  to a  savings  bank's  bad debt
reserves for  "qualifying  real property  loans" and deducted for federal income
tax purposes  exceed the allowable  amount of such reserves  computed  under the
experience  method  and to the extent of the bank's  supplemental  reserves  for
losses  on  loans   ("Excess"),   such  Excess  may  not,  without  adverse  tax
consequences,   be  utilized  for  the  payment  of  cash   dividends  or  other
distributions   to  a  shareholder   (including   distributions  on  redemption,
dissolution or  liquidation) or for any other purpose (except to absorb bad debt
losses).  As of September  30,  1996,  First  Federal's  Excess for tax purposes
totalled approximately $8.1 million.

         First Midwest and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal income tax
returns on a fiscal year basis using the accrual method of  accounting.  Savings
banks, such as First Federal,  that file federal income tax returns as part of a
consolidated  group are required by applicable  Treasury  regulations  to reduce
their taxable income for purposes of computing the percentage bad debt deduction
for losses  attributable  to activities of the  non-savings  bank members of the
consolidated  group  that are  functionally  related  to the  activities  of the
savings bank member.
<PAGE>
         First Midwest and its consolidated  subsidiaries  have not been audited
by the IRS  within  the  past ten  years.  In the  opinion  of  management,  any
examination  of still  open  returns  (including  returns  of  subsidiaries  and
predecessors  of, or entities merged into,  First Midwest) would not result in a
deficiency which could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition
of First Midwest and its subsidiaries.

         Iowa  Taxation.  First  Federal and Security  file Iowa  franchise  tax
returns.  First Midwest and First Federal's subsidiary file Iowa corporation tax
returns on a fiscal year-end basis.

         Iowa imposes a franchise tax on the taxable  income of mutual and stock
savings banks and commercial banks. The tax rate is 5%, which may effectively be
increased,  in individual  cases,  by  application  of a minimum tax  provision.
Taxable  income under the franchise tax is generally  similar to taxable  income
under the federal  corporate  income tax, except that,  under the Iowa franchise
tax, no deduction is allowed for Iowa  franchise tax payments and taxable income
includes  interest  on  state  and  municipal  obligations.   Interest  on  U.S.
obligations  is  taxable  under the Iowa  franchise  tax and  under the  federal
corporate income tax.

         Taxable income under the Iowa corporate income tax is generally similar
to taxable income under the federal corporate income tax, except that, under the
Iowa tax, no deduction is allowed for Iowa income tax  payments;  interest  from
state and  municipal  obligations  is  included  in income;  interest  from U.S.
obligations  is excluded from income;  and 50% of federal  corporate  income tax
payments are excluded  from income.  The Iowa  corporate  income tax rates range
from  6% to 12%  and may be  effectively  increased,  in  individual  cases,  by
application  of a minimum tax  provision.  The taxable income for Iowa franchise
tax purposes is  apportioned  to Iowa  through the use of a  one-factor  formula
consisting of gross receipts only.

         South Dakota Taxation. First Federal files a South Dakota franchise tax
return  due to the  operations  of its  Brookings  division.  The  South  Dakota
franchise  tax is  imposed  only  on  depository  institutions.  First  Midwest,
Security and First Federal's subsidiaries are therefore not subject to the South
Dakota franchise tax.

         South  Dakota  imposes  a  franchise  tax on the  taxable  income  of a
depository institution at the rate of 6%. Taxable income under the franchise tax
is generally  similar to taxable income under the federal  corporate income tax,
except that,  under the South Dakota  franchise tax, no deduction is allowed for
state income and franchise  taxes,  bad debt  deductions  are  determined on the
basis of actual  charge-offs,  income  from  municipal  obligations  exempt from
federal  taxes are  included in the  franchise  taxable  income,  and there is a
deduction  allowed for federal  income taxes  accrued for the fiscal  year.  The
taxable  income for South Dakota  franchise tax purposes is apportioned to South
Dakota through the use of a three-factor formula consisting of tangible real and
personal property, payroll and gross receipts.

         Delaware  Taxation.  As a Delaware  holding  company,  First Midwest is
exempted  from Delaware  corporate  income tax but is required to file an annual
report  with and pay an annual fee to the State of  Delaware.  First  Midwest is
also subject to an annual franchise tax imposed by the State of Delaware.
<PAGE>
Competition

         The Company faces strong  competition,  both in originating real estate
and other loans and in attracting  deposits.  Competition  in  originating  real
estate loans comes  primarily  from  commercial  banks,  savings  banks,  credit
unions,  insurance companies,  and mortgage bankers making loans secured by real
estate located in the Company's market area.  Commercial banks and credit unions
provide vigorous  competition in consumer lending. The Company competes for real
estate and other  loans  principally  on the basis of the quality of services it
provides to borrowers, interest rates and loan fees it charges, and the types of
loans it originates.

         The Company  attracts  all of its deposits  through its retail  banking
offices,  primarily from the  communities in which those retail banking  offices
are located; therefore, competition for those deposits is principally from other
commercial banks,  savings banks,  credit unions and brokerage houses located in
the same  communities.  The Company  competes  for these  deposits by offering a
variety of deposit accounts at competitive rates, convenient business hours, and
convenient branch locations with interbranch  deposit and withdrawal  privileges
at each.

         The  Company  serves  Adair,  Buena  Vista,   Calhoun,   Guthrie,  Ida,
Pocahontas,  Polk and Sac counties in Iowa and Brookings County in South Dakota.
There are 29 commercial banks, two savings banks, other than First Federal,  and
one credit union which  compete for  deposits  and loans in the First  Federal's
primary market area in northwest Iowa and five commercial  banks and one savings
bank,  other than First  Federal,  which compete for deposits and loans in First
Federal's market area in South Dakota.  In addition,  there are eight commercial
banks in  Security's  primary  market area in west central  Iowa.  First Federal
recently entered the Des Moines, Iowa market area as a result of the acquisition
of Iowa Savings and competes  for  deposits  and loans with  numerous  financial
institutions located throughout the metropolitan area.

Employees

         At September 30, 1996, the Company and its  subsidiaries had a total of
106 employees, including 12 part-time employees. The Company's employees are not
represented  by  any  collective  bargaining  group.  Management  considers  its
employee relations to be good.

Executive Officers of the Company Who Are Not Directors

         The following information as to the business experience during the past
five years is supplied with respect to the executive officers of the Company who
do not serve on the Company's  Board of Directors.  There are no arrangements or
understandings between such persons named and any persons pursuant to which such
officers were selected.

         Fred A.  Stevens  - Mr.  Stevens,  age 49,  serves  as Vice  President,
Secretary  and Chief  Operating  Officer of First  Midwest  and  Executive  Vice
President,  Secretary,  Chief  Operating  Officer  and  Trust  Officer  of First
Federal.  Mr. Stevens is primarily  responsible for the daily operation of First
Midwest and First  Federal,  including  lending,  deposit and trust  operations,
branch  administration,  and human resources and compliance.  Mr. Stevens joined
First Federal in 1974 as a loan officer, was elected Vice President in 1982, and
<PAGE>
Senior Vice President in 1986. He was elected Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating  Officer in 1989,  Corporate  Secretary in 1990,  and Trust Officer in
1992.  In addition,  Mr.  Stevens  serves as a director and Vice  President  and
Secretary  of  First  Services   Financial   Limited  and  a  Brookings  Service
Corporation  director.  Mr.  Stevens  is a former  President  of the Storm  Lake
Chamber of Commerce and the Storm Lake Rotary  Club.  Mr.  Stevens  received his
Bachelor of Science degree from Westmar College, Le Mars, Iowa.

         Donald J. Winchell - Mr.  Winchell,  age 44, serves as Vice  President,
Treasurer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  First  Midwest  and  Senior  Vice
President,  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of First Federal,  responsible
for the  formulation  and  implementation  of policies and  objectives for First
Federal's finance,  accounting and audit functions. His duties include financial
planning,  interest rate risk  management,  accounting,  investments,  financial
policy  development  and  compliance,  budgeting,   asset/liability  management,
internal controls, and data processing systems and procedures. Mr. Winchell also
serves as the  Secretary  and Treasurer of Brookings  Service  Corporation.  Mr.
Winchell  joined First  Federal in 1989 as Vice  President  and Chief  Financial
Officer,  was appointed  Treasurer in 1990,  and Senior Vice  President in 1992.
Prior to joining First Federal, Mr. Winchell served as Senior Vice President and
Chief  Financial  Officer of Midwest  Federal  Savings and Loan  Association  of
Nebraska City,  Nebraska since 1981. Mr. Winchell received a Bachelor of Science
degree  and  a  Bachelor  of  Business   Administration   degree  from  Washburn
University, Topeka, Kansas. Mr. Winchell is a certified public accountant.

Item 2.   Description of Property

         The Company  conducts its business at its main office and branch office
in Storm Lake,  Iowa,  and nine other  locations  in its primary  market area in
Iowa. The Company also operates two offices in Brookings,  South Dakota, through
the Company's Brookings Federal Bank division of the Bank.

         The  Company  owns all of its  offices,  except for the  branch  office
located at Storm Lake Plaza,  Storm  Lake,  Iowa as to which the land is leased.
The total net book value of the  Company's  premises  and  equipment  (including
land, building and leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures and equipment)
at  September  30, 1996 was $3.7  million.  See Note 7 of Notes to  Consolidated
Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

         The Company  believes that its current  facilities are adequate to meet
the present and  foreseeable  needs of the Company and the Bank.  During  fiscal
1996, the Company completed a major remodeling of its main office building at an
approximate  total cost of $800,000,  which  includes the cost of  construction,
furniture and equipment.  In November  1996,  the Company  purchased an existing
building  located in West Des Moines,  Iowa which is currently being  remodeled.
Upon  completion of  remodeling,  anticipated  for early 1997, the facility will
open as an additional office of the Iowa Savings Bank Division of First Federal.

         The Bank  maintains an on-line data base with a service  bureau,  whose
primary business is providing such services to financial  institutions.  The net
book value of the data processing and computer equipment utilized by the Company
at September 30, 1996 was approximately $306,000.
<PAGE>
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

         The Company is involved as  plaintiff  or  defendant  in various  legal
actions arising in the normal course of its business. While the ultimate outcome
of these  proceedings  cannot be predicted with certainty,  it is the opinion of
management,   after  consultation  with  counsel  representing  Company  in  the
proceedings, that the resolution of these proceedings should not have a material
effect on Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         No matter was  submitted  to a vote of  security  holders,  through the
solicitation  of proxies or otherwise,  during the quarter  ended  September 30,
1996.

                                     PART II


Item 5.  Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

         Page 56 of the attached  1996 Annual Report to  Stockholders  is herein
incorporated by reference.

Item 6.  Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation

         Pages 19 through 28 of the attached 1996 Annual Report to  Stockholders
are herein incorporated by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements

         The following  information  appearing in the Company's Annual Report to
Stockholders for the year ended September 30, 1996, is incorporated by reference
in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB as Exhibit 13.

                                                                    Pages on
                Annual Report Section                             Annual Report
                ---------------------                             -------------

Report of Independent Auditors                                         29

Consolidated Balance Sheets
   as of September 30, 1996 and 1995                                   30

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years
   Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994                             31

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for
   Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994                       32-33

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years
   Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994                             34-35

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                             35-52

         With the  exception of the  aforementioned  information,  the Company's
Annual  Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended  September  30, 1996, is not
deemed filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.
<PAGE>
Item 8.  Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
         Financial Disclosure

         On May 17, 1996, the Company dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") as
their independent  accountants.  The reports of D&T on the financial  statements
for the two years ended  September  30, 1995 and 1994 did not contain an adverse
opinion or a  disclaimer  of opinion  and were not  qualified  or modified as to
uncertainty,  audit scope or accounting  principles.  The change of  independent
accountants was recommended by the Audit Committee and subsequently  approved by
the Board of Directors.

         In  connection  with its audits for years ended  September 30, 1994 and
1995,  and through May 17,  1996,  there were no  disagreements  with D&T on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing  scope  of  procedure,  which  disagreements,  if not  resolved  to the
satisfaction  of D&T, would have caused them to make reference  thereto in their
report on the  financial  statements  for such years.  During such same periods,
there  have  been no  reportable  events  (as  defined  in  Regulation  S-K Item
304(a)(1)(v)) with D&T.

         On May 17,  1996,  the  Company  engaged the firm of Crowe,  Chizek,  &
Company  LLP as  independent  certified  accountants  for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1996.


                                    PART III

Item 9.  Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons; 
         Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

Directors

         Information concerning directors, of the Company is incorporated herein
by reference from the Company's  definitive  Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual
Meeting of  Stockholders,  a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days
after the close of the fiscal year.

Compliance with Section 16(a)

         Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's  directors and
executive  officers,  and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the Company's equity  securities,  to file with the SEC reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity  securities  of
the Company. Officers,  directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required
by SEC  regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
they file.

         To the Company's  knowledge,  based solely on a review of the copies of
such reports furnished to the Company and written  representations that no other
reports were  required  during the fiscal year ended  September  30,  1996,  all
Section 16(a) filing  requirements  applicable  to its  officers,  directors and
greater than 10 percent beneficial owners were complied with.

Item 10. Executive Compensation

         Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by
reference  from the  Company's  definitive  Proxy  Statement for the 1997 Annual
Meeting of  Stockholders,  a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days
after the close of the fiscal year.
<PAGE>
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         Information  concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners
and management is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive
Proxy  Statement for the 1997 Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders,  a copy of which
will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.

Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

         Information   concerning  certain  relationships  and  transactions  is
incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive Proxy Statement
for the 1997 Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  a copy of which will be filed not
later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
<PAGE>
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a) Exhibits:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Reference to
                                                                                      Prior Filing
                                                                                       or Exhibit
     Regulation                                                                          Number
     S-B Exhibit                                                                        Attached
       Number                                  Document                                  Hereto
       ------                                  --------                                  ------
         <C>         <C>                                                                <C>         
         2           Plan of acquisition, reorganization
                      arrangement, liquidation or succession....................          (a)

         3           Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.......................          (b)

         4           Instruments defining the rights of
                      security holders, including indentures:
                        Common Stock Certificate................................          (b)

         9           Voting trust agreement.....................................         None

         10          Material contracts:
                      1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan......................         10.1
                      1993 Stock Option and Incentive Plan......................          (b)
                      Recognition and Retention Plan............................          (b)
                      Supplemental Employees' Investment
                       Plan.....................................................          (a)
                      Employment Agreements:
                        James S. Haahr..........................................          (b)
                        Fred A. Stevens.........................................          (b)
                        Donald J. Winchell......................................          (b)
                        Steven P. Myers.........................................          (a)
                     Executive Officer Compensation Program.....................          (c)
                     Executive Officer Incentive Stock Plan.....................          (c)
                      for Mergers and Acquisitions..............................

         11          Statement re: computation of per
                      share earnings............................................          (d)

         13          Annual Report to Security Holders..........................          13

         16          Letter on change in certifying
                      accountant................................................         None

         18          Letter on change in accounting
                      principles................................................         None

         21          Subsidiaries of Registrant.................................          21

         22          Published report regarding matters
                      submitted to vote of security holders.....................         None

         23          Consents of Experts and Counsel............................          23
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Reference to
                                                                                      Prior Filing
                                                                                       or Exhibit
     Regulation                                                                          Number
     S-B Exhibit                                                                        Attached
       Number                                  Document                                  Hereto
       ------                                  --------                                  ------
         <C>         <C>                                                                <C>         

         24          Power of Attorney..........................................    Not applicable

         27          Financial Data Schedule....................................          27

         28          Information from reports furnished to
                      state insurance regulatory authorities.                            None

         99          Annual Report of former Accountants........................          99


(a)    Filed as exhibits to the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
       fiscal  year-end  September  30,  1994.  All  of  such  previously  filed
       documents are hereby  incorporated herein by reference in accordance with
       Item 601 of Regulation S-B.
(b)    Filed as exhibits to the Company's S-1  registration  statement  filed on
       June  17,  1993,  (File  No.  33-64654)  pursuant  to  Section  5 of  the
       Securities Act of 1933. All of such previously filed documents are hereby
       incorporated   herein  by  reference  in  accordance  with  Item  601  of
       Regulation S-B.
(c)    Filed as exhibits to the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
       fiscal year ended September 30, 1995. All such previously filed documents
       are hereby  incorporated  herein by reference in accordance with Item 601
       of Regulation S-B.
(d)    See Note 1 of  Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements in the Annual 
       Report to Shareholders' attached hereto as Exhibit 13.

</TABLE>

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

         There have been two Current  Reports on Form 8-K filed within the three
month period ended September 30, 1996. A Current Report on Form 8-K was filed on
August 27,  1996,  containing a press  release  announcing  a cash  dividend.  A
Current  Report on Form 8-K was filed on September  5, 1996,  containing a press
release announcing the receipt of regulatory approval to acquire CWB.
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                               FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC.

Date:    December 27, 1996                      By: /s/ James S. Haahr
                                                     ------------------
                                                     James S. Haahr 
                                                     (Duly Authorized
                                                     Representative)

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  Report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


By:   /s/ James S. Haahr                         By:   /s/Jeanne Partlow
      ------------------                               -----------------
      James S. Haahr                                   Jeanne Partlow
      Chairman of the Board, President and             Director
      Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: December 27, 1996                         Date: December 27, 1996


By:   /s/E. Thurman Gaskill                      By:   /s/Rodney G. Muilenburg
      ---------------------                            ----------------------- 
      E. Thurman Gaskill                               Rodney G. Muilenburg  
      Director                                         Director

Date: December 27, 1996                         Date: December 27, 1996


By:   /s/J. Tyler Haahr                          By:   /s/E. Wayne Cooley
      -----------------                                ------------------
      J. Tyler Haahr                                   E. Wayne Cooley 
      Director                                         Director

Date: December 27, 1996                         Date: December 27, 1996


By:   /s/Donald J. Winchell
      ---------------------
      Donald J. Winchell 
      Vice  President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
      (Principal Financial Accounting
      Officer)

Date: December 27, 1996


<PAGE>
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS






 Exhibit
 Number

     10.1           1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

     11             Statement re:  computation of per share  earnings  (included
                    under Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated  Financial  Statements
                    in the Annual  Report to  Shareholders'  attached  hereto as
                    Exhibit 13)
                 

     13             Annual Report to Stockholders

     21             Subsidiaries of the Registrant

     23             Consents of Experts

     27             Financial Data Schedule

     99             Independent Audit Report of former Accountants



                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                          FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC.

                      1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan


         1. Plan  Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to promote the  long-term
interests  of the  Corporation  and its  stockholders  by  providing a means for
attracting  and  retaining  officers and  employees of the  Corporation  and its
Affiliates. The Plan is intended to be an incentive stock option plan within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code but not all  Options  granted  hereunder  are
required to be Incentive Stock Options.

         2. Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan:

            "Affiliate"  --  means  any  "parent   corporation"  or  "subsidiary
corporation"  of the Corporation as such terms are defined in Section 425(e) and
(f), respectively, of the Code.

            "Award" -- means the grant by the  Committee of an  Incentive  Stock
Option,  a Non-Qualified  Stock Option,  a Stock  Appreciation  Right, a Limited
Stock Appreciation Right, or of Restricted Stock, or any combination thereof, as
provided in the Plan.

            "Code" -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            "Committee" -- means the Committee referred to in Section 3 hereof.

            "Continuous  Service" -- shall mean the absence of any  interruption
or  termination  of service as an officer or employee of the  Corporation  or an
Affiliate,  except that when used with  respect to persons  granted an Incentive
Stock Option means the absence of any  interruption or termination of service as
an employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate.  Service shall not be considered
interrupted  in the case of sick  leave,  military  leave or any other  leave of
absence approved by the Corporation or in the case of transfers  between payroll
locations  of the  Corporation  or between  the  Corporation,  its  parent,  its
subsidiaries or its successor.

            "Corporation"  -- means First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation and any successor thereto.

            "Early  Retirement" -- means  retirement  from  employment  with the
Corporation prior to the Participant  having reached the age of 65; provided the
Participant has maintained Continuous Service for at least three years.

            "Employee"  --  means  any  person,  including  an  officer,  who is
employed by the Corporation or any Affiliate.

            "ERISA" -- means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended.

            "Exercise  Price" -- means (i) in the case of an  Option,  the price
per Share at which the Shares  subject  to such  Option  may be  purchased  upon
exercise  of such  Option  and (ii) in the case of a Right,  the price per Share
(other  than the Market  Value per Share on the date of  exercise  and the Offer
Price per Share as  defined  in  Section  10  hereof)  which,  upon  grant,  the
Committee  determines shall be utilized in calculating the aggregate value which
a  Participant  shall be  entitled  to receive  pursuant to Sections 9, 10 or 13
hereof upon exercise of such Right.
<PAGE>
            "Incentive  Stock  Option"  -- means an  option to  purchase  Shares
granted by the  Committee  pursuant to Section 6 hereof  which is subject to the
limitations  and  restrictions  of Section 8 hereof and is  intended  to qualify
under Section 422 of the Code.

            "Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right" -- means a stock  appreciation
right with respect to Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to Sections
6 and 10 hereof.

            "Market Value" -- means the average of the high and low quoted sales
price on the date in question (or, if there is no reported sale on such date, on
the last  preceding  date on which any reported sale occurred) of a Share on the
Composite  Tape for the New York Stock  Exchange-Listed  Stocks,  or, if on such
date the  Shares  are not quoted on the  Composite  Tape,  on the New York Stock
Exchange,  or if the  Shares  are not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on such
Exchange,  on the principal United States securities  exchange  registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on which the Shares are
listed or admitted  to trading,  or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to
trading on any such  exchange,  the mean  between the  closing  high bid and low
asked  quotations  with  respect  to a Share on such  date on the  Nasdaq  Stock
Market,  or any  similar  system  then in use,  or,  if no such  quotations  are
available,  the fair market value on such date of a Share as the Committee shall
determine.

            "Non-Qualified  Stock Option" -- means an option to purchase  Shares
granted  by the  Committee  pursuant  to Section 6 hereof,  which  option is not
intended to, or does not, qualify under Section 422(b) of the Code.

            "Normal  Retirement" -- means  retirement  from  employment with the
Corporation  after  the  Participant  has (i)  reached  the  age of 65 and  (ii)
maintained Continuous Service for at least three years.

            "Option" -- means an Incentive Stock Option,  a Non-Qualified  Stock
Option or a Reload Option.

            "Participant" -- means any officer or employee of the Corporation or
any Affiliate who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award.

            "Plan" -- means the 1995  Stock  Option  and  Incentive  Plan of the
Corporation.

            "Related"  -- means  (i) in the case of a  Right,  a Right  which is
granted in connection with, and to the extent exercisable,  in whole or in part,
in lieu of, an Option or  another  Right and (ii) in the case of an  Option,  an
Option with respect to which and to the extent a Right is exercisable,  in whole
or in part, in lieu thereof has been granted.

            "Reload  Option"  -- means an  Option  to  purchase  Shares  that is
granted pursuant to Section 7(h) hereof.

            "Restricted  Period"  -- means the  period of time  selected  by the
Committee for the purpose of determining  when  restrictions are in effect under
Section 11 hereof with respect to Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.

            "Restricted  Stock" -- means  Shares  which  have been  contingently
awarded to a Participant by the Committee  subject to the restrictions  referred
to in Section 11 hereof, so long as such restrictions are in effect.
<PAGE>
            "Right"  --  means a  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right or a Stock
Appreciation Right.

            "Shares" -- means the shares of common stock of the Corporation.

            "Stock  Appreciation Right" -- means a stock appreciation right with
respect to Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to Sections 6 and 9 hereof.

          3.  Administration.  The Plan  shall be  administered  by a  Committee
consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors of the  Corporation,
each of whom (i) shall be an outside director as defined under Section 162(m) of
the Code and the  regulations  thereunder  and (ii) would not by reason of their
service on such Committee  cause any Award to fail to be exempt under Rule 16(b)
of the Exchange Act or any similar or  successor  provision.  The members of the
Committee  shall be  appointed  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation.
Except as limited by the express  provisions of the Plan,  the  Committee  shall
have sole and complete  authority and discretion to (i) select  Participants and
grant  Awards;  (ii)  determine  the  number of Shares to be subject to types of
Awards generally,  as well as to individual Awards granted under the Plan; (iii)
determine the terms and conditions  upon which Awards shall be granted under the
Plan;  (iv) prescribe the form and terms of instruments  evidencing such grants;
and (v) establish from time to time  regulations for the  administration  of the
Plan,  interpret  the Plan,  and make all  determinations  deemed  necessary  or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.

         A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum,  and the acts of
a majority of the  members  present at any meeting at which a quorum is present,
or acts  approved in writing by a majority of the  Committee  without a meeting,
shall be acts of the Committee.

         4.   Participation.   The  Committee  may  select  from  time  to  time
Participants in the Plan from those officers and employees of the Corporation or
its  Affiliates  who, in the opinion of the  Committee,  have the  capacity  for
contributing to the successful performance of the Corporation or its Affiliates.

          5. Shares  Subject to Plan.  Subject to adjustment by the operation of
Section 12 hereof, the maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may
be made under the Plan is 178,802  shares.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no
individual  shall be granted  awards in any  calendar  year with respect to more
than 25% of the total  shares  subject to the Plan.  The Shares with  respect to
which  Awards may be made under the Plan may be either  authorized  and unissued
shares or  previously  issued  shares  reacquired  and held as treasury  shares.
Shares which are subject to Related Rights and Related  Options shall be counted
only once in  determining  whether the maximum  number of Shares with respect to
which Awards may be granted under the Plan has been exceeded. An Award shall not
be  considered  to have been made  under the Plan with  respect to any Option or
Right which  terminates or with respect to Restricted  Stock which is forfeited,
and new  Awards  may be  granted  under the Plan with  respect  to the number of
Shares as to which such termination or forfeiture has occurred.

          6. General Terms and  Conditions of Options and Rights.  The Committee
shall have full and  complete  authority  and  discretion,  except as  expressly
limited by the Plan, to grant Options and/or Rights and to provide the terms and
conditions  (which  need  not  be  identical  among  Participants)  thereof.  In
particular,  the Committee  shall  prescribe the following terms and conditions:
(i) the Exercise Price of any Option or Right,  which shall not be less than the
Market  Value per Share at the date of grant of such  Option or Right,  (ii) the
<PAGE>
number of Shares  subject to, and the  expiration  date of, any Option or Right,
which  expiration date shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant,  (iii)
the manner,  time and rate  (cumulative or otherwise) of exercise of such Option
or Right,  and (iv) the  restrictions,  if any, to be placed upon such Option or
Right or upon Shares which may be issued upon  exercise of such Option or Right.
The Committee may, as a condition of granting any Option or Right,  require that
a  Participant  agree not to  thereafter  exercise one or more Options or Rights
previously granted to such Participant.

          7.      Exercise of Options or Rights.

                  (a) An  Option  or  Right  granted  under  the  Plan  shall be
exercisable  during the lifetime of the Participant to whom such Option or Right
was granted only by such Participant,  and except as provided in paragraphs (c),
(d), (e) (f) and (h) of this Section 7, no such Option or Right may be exercised
unless at the time  such  Participant  exercises  such  Option  or  Right,  such
Participant  has maintained  Continuous  Service since the date of grant of such
Option or Right.  Cash settlements of Rights may be made only in accordance with
any applicable  restrictions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e) under the Exchange Act or
any similar or successor provision.

                  (b) To  exercise  an  Option  or Right  under  the  Plan,  the
Participant  to whom such Option or Right was granted shall give written  notice
to the  Corporation  in form  satisfactory  to the  Committee  (and,  if partial
exercises  have been  permitted by the  Committee,  by specifying  the number of
Shares with respect to which such Participant  elects to exercise such Option or
Right)  together  with full  payment of the  Exercise  Price,  if any and to the
extent required.  The date of exercise shall be the date on which such notice is
received by the Corporation.  Payment, if any is required,  shall be made either
(i) in cash (including  check, bank draft or money order) or (ii) in the case of
an Option  with  respect to which  Reload  Options  are  authorized  pursuant to
Section  7(h) hereof (or, in the case of any other  Option,  if permitted by the
Committee), by delivering (A) Shares already owned by the Participant and having
a fair market value equal to the  applicable  exercise  price,  such fair market
value to be  determined  in such  appropriate  manner as may be  provided by the
Committee  or as may be  required  in  order to  comply  with or to  conform  to
requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, or (B) a combination of cash
and such Shares.

                  (c) If a  Participant  to whom an Option or Right was  granted
shall  cease to maintain  Continuous  Service  for any reason  (including  Early
Retirement,  but excluding Normal Retirement,  disability (within the meaning of
Section  22(e)-3  of the  Code),  death and  termination  of  employment  by the
Corporation or any Affiliate for cause),  such  Participant may, but only within
the period of three months  immediately  succeeding such cessation of Continuous
Service  and in no event  after  the  expiration  date of such  Option or Right,
exercise such Option or Right to the extent that such  Participant  was entitled
to  exercise  such  Option  or Right at the  date of such  cessation,  provided,
however, that such right of exercise after cessation of Continuous Service shall
not be available to a Participant if the Committee  otherwise  determines and so
provides in the  applicable  instrument or  instruments  evidencing the grant of
such Option or Right.  If the  Continuous  Service of a  Participant  to whom an
Option or Right was granted by the  Corporation  is  terminated  for cause,  all
rights under any Option or Right of such  Participant  shall expire  immediately
upon the giving to the Participant of notice of such termination.
<PAGE>
                  (d) If a  Participant  to whom an Option or Right was  granted
shall  cease to  maintain  Continuous  Service  due to Normal  Retirement,  such
Participant may, but only within the period of one year  immediately  succeeding
such cessation of Continuous  Service and in no event after the expiration  date
of such Option or Right,  exercise  such Option or Right to the extent that such
Participant  was  entitled to exercise  such Option or Right at the date of such
cessation,  provided,  however,  that such right of exercise after  cessation of
Continuous  Service  shall not be available to a  Participant  if the  Committee
otherwise determines and so provides in the applicable instrument or instruments
evidencing the grant of such Option or Right.

                  (e) In the event of the  disability of a Participant  while in
the  Continuous  Service of the  Corporation or an Affiliate or within the three
month period  referred to in paragraph  (c) of this Section 7, such  Participant
may,  but only  within  the  period  of one  year  immediately  succeeding  such
cessation of  Continuous  Service and in no event after the  expiration  date of
such  Option or Right,  exercise  such  Option or Right to the extent  that such
Participant  was  entitled to exercise  such Option or Right at the date of such
cessation,  provided,  however,  that such right of exercise after  cessation of
Continuous  Service  shall not be available to a  Participant  if the  Committee
otherwise determines and so provides in the applicable instrument or instruments
evidencing the grant of such Option or Right.

                  (f) In the  event of the death of a  Participant  while in the
Continuous  Service of the Corporation or an Affiliate or within the three month
period  referred  to in  paragraph  (c) or the one year  periods  referred to in
paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section 7, the person to whom any Option or Right
held by the  Participant  at the time of his death is transferred by will or the
laws of  descent  and  distribution  or in the  case of an Award  other  than an
Incentive Stock Option,  pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations  order, as
defined in the Code or Title I of ERISA or the rules thereunder may, but only to
the extent  such  Participant  was  entitled  to  exercise  such Option or Right
immediately prior to his death, exercise such Option or Right at any time within
a period of two years succeeding the date of death of such  Participant,  but in
no event  later than ten years  from the date of grant of such  Option or Right.
Following the death of any  Participant  to whom an Option was granted under the
Plan,  irrespective  of whether any Related Right shall have been granted to the
Participant  or whether  the person  entitled  to exercise  such  Related  Right
desires to do so, the Committee  may, as an  alternative  means of settlement of
such Option,  elect to pay to the person to whom such Option is  transferred  by
will or by the laws of  descent  and  distribution  or in the case of an  Option
other than an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations
order, as defined in the Code or Title I of ERISA or the rules  thereunder,  the
amount by which the  Market  Value  per  Share on the date of  exercise  of such
Option shall exceed the Exercise Price of such Option,  multiplied by the number
of shares  with  respect to which such Option is  properly  exercised.  Any such
settlement  of an Option shall be  considered an exercise of such Option for all
purposes of the Plan.

         (g)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of  subparagraphs  (c) through (f)
above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,  establish different terms and
conditions  pertaining to the effect of termination  to the extent  permitted by
applicable federal and state law.
<PAGE>
         (h) Concurrently with the grant of any Option (an "Underlying Option"),
the  Committee  may  authorize  Reload  Options  permitting  the  grantee of the
Underlying  Option to purchase for cash,  Shares or a  combination  thereof,  an
aggregate  number of Shares not greater than the sum of (i) the number of Mature
Shares (as defined  hereinbelow)  used in exercises of the Underlying Option and
(ii) to the extent authorized by the Committee, the number of Mature Shares used
to  satisfy  any  tax  withholding  requirement  incident  to  exercises  of the
Underlying  Option.  The  grant  of each  Reload  Option  so  authorized  by the
Committee shall become  effective upon the exercise (a "Stock  Exercise") of all
or part of the Underlying  Option through the use of Shares held by the optionee
for at least 12  months  prior to such  exercise  ("Mature  Shares"),  provided,
however,  that no Reload Option shall first become  effective after the optionee
has ceased to maintain Continuous Service. Reload Options may be authorized with
respect  to  Options  that  are  themselves  granted  as  Reload  Options  if so
authorized by the Committee.  Upon each Stock Exercise of an Underlying  Option,
the Exercise Price of the resulting Reload Option,  the number of Shares covered
thereby,  and, in the discretion of the Committee and subject to the limitations
and restrictions of Section 8 hereof,  the determination  that the Reload Option
is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option,  shall be evidenced through
an agreement or other  instrument  evidencing  the Reload  Option.  The Exercise
Price of a Reload  Option  shall be the  Market  Value per Share on the date the
grant of the Reload Option  becomes  effective.  Each Reload Option shall become
fully  exercisable  six months from its effective  date. The term of each Reload
Option shall be equal to the remaining term of the Underlying Option.

          8. Incentive Stock Options.  Any provision of the Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding,  (i) no  Incentive  Stock Option shall be granted more than ten
years  from the  date  the Plan is  adopted  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation  and no Incentive  Stock Option shall be  exercisable  more than ten
years from the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (ii) the Exercise
Price of any Incentive  Stock Option shall not be less than the Market Value per
Share on the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (iii) any Incentive
Stock Option shall not be transferable by the Participant to whom such Incentive
Stock  Option  is  granted  other  than  by  will or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution and shall be exercisable during such Participant's lifetime only by
such  Participant,  (iv) no  Incentive  Stock  Option  shall be  granted  to any
individual who, at the time such Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  owns stock
possessing  more than 10% of the total  combined  voting power of all classes of
stock of the  Corporation  or any  Affiliate  unless the Exercise  Price of such
Incentive  Stock  Option is at least 110% of the  Market  Value per Share at the
date of grant  and such  Incentive  Stock  Option is not  exercisable  after the
expiration of five years from the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,
and (v) the  aggregate  Market Value  (determined  as of the time any  Incentive
Stock  Option is granted) of the Shares with  respect to which  Incentive  Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant in any calendar year
shall not exceed  $100,000.  To the extent that the Option,  or portion thereof,
does not qualify as an Incentive  Stock  Option for any reason,  such Option (or
portion thereof) shall become a Non-Qualified Stock Option under the Plan.

          9. Stock  Appreciation  Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right shall, upon
its exercise,  entitle the Participant to whom such Stock Appreciation Right was
granted to  receive a number of Shares or cash or  combination  thereof,  as the
Committee in its discretion shall determine, the aggregate value of which (i.e.,
the sum of the  amount of cash  and/or  Market  Value of such  Shares on date of
exercise)  shall  equal (as nearly as  possible,  it being  understood  that the
Corporation  shall not  issue any  fractional  shares)  the  amount by which the
Market  Value per Share on the date of such  exercise  shall exceed the Exercise
<PAGE>
Price of such Stock Appreciation Right,  multiplied by the number of Shares with
respect of which such Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall have been  exercised.  A
Stock  Appreciation  Right  may be  Related  to an  Option  or  may  be  granted
independently  of any  Option as the  Committee  shall from time to time in each
case determine.  At the time of grant of an Option the Committee shall determine
whether and to what extent a Related Stock  Appreciation  Right shall be granted
with respect thereto; provided, however, and notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan,  that if the  Related  Option is an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  the
Related  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  satisfy  all  the  restrictions  and
limitations of Section 8 hereof as if such Related Stock Appreciation Right were
an Incentive  Stock Option and as if other rights which are Related to Incentive
Stock Options were  Incentive  Stock Options.  In the case of a Related  Option,
such Related  Option shall cease to be  exercisable  to the extent of the Shares
with respect to which the Related Stock Appreciation  Right was exercised.  Upon
the exercise or termination of a Related Option,  any Related Stock Appreciation
Right  shall  terminate  to the extent of the Shares  with  respect to which the
Related Option was exercised or terminated.

         10.  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  At the  time of grant of an
Option or Stock Appreciation Right to any Participant,  the Committee shall have
full and complete  authority and discretion also to grant to such  Participant a
Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right  which is  related  to such  Option or Stock
Appreciation Right;  provided,  however, and notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan,  that if the  Related  Option is an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  the
Related Limited Stock  Appreciation Right shall satisfy all the restrictions and
limitations  of Section 8 hereof as if such Related  Limited Stock  Appreciation
Right  were an  Incentive  Stock  Option  and as if all other  Rights  which are
Related to Incentive Stock Options were Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding
any other  provision of the Plan, a Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right shall be
exercisable only during the period beginning on the first day following the date
of expiration of any "Offer" (as such term is hereinafter defined) and ending on
the forty-fifth day following such date.

         A Limited Stock  Appreciation  Right shall, upon its exercise,  entitle
the  Participant  to whom such Limited Stock  Appreciation  Right was granted to
receive  an amount of cash  equal to the  amount by which the  "Offer  Price per
Share" (as such term is hereinafter  defined) or the Market Value on the date of
such exercise, as shall have been provided by the Committee in its discretion at
the time of  grant,  shall  exceed  the  Exercise  Price of such  Limited  Stock
Appreciation  Right,  multiplied  by the number of Shares with  respect to which
such  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall have been  exercised.  Upon the
exercise  of a Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right,  any Related  Option  and/or
Related Stock  Appreciation Right shall cease to be exercisable to the extent of
the Shares  with  respect to which such  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right was
exercised. Upon the exercise or termination of a Related Option or Related Stock
Appreciation Right, any Related Limited Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate
to the extent of the Shares with respect to which such Related Option or Related
Stock Appreciation Right was exercised or terminated.

         For the purposes of this  Section 10, the term  "Offer"  shall mean any
tender  offer  or  exchange  offer  for  Shares  other  than  one  made  by  the
Corporation,  provided that the  corporation,  person or other entity making the
offer acquires  pursuant to such Offer either (i) 25% of the Shares  outstanding
immediately  prior to the  commencement of such Offer or (ii) a number of shares
which,  together with all other shares  acquired in any tender offer or exchange
offer (other than one made by the  Corporation)  which expired within sixty days
of the  expiration  date of the  offer in  question,  equals  25% of the  Shares
<PAGE>
outstanding  immediately prior to the commencement of the offer in question. The
term "Offer  Price per Share" as used in this  Section 10 shall mean the highest
price per Share paid in any Offer  which  Offer is in effect any time during the
period  beginning on the sixtieth day prior to the date on which a Limited Stock
Appreciation  Right is  exercised  and ending on the date on which such  Limited
Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Any securities or property which are part
or all of the  consideration  paid for  Shares in the  Offer  shall be valued in
determining the Offer Price per Share at the higher of (i) the valuation  placed
on such securities or property by the corporation, person or other entity making
such Offer or (ii) the  valuation  placed on such  securities or property by the
Committee.

         11. Terms and Conditions of Restricted  Stock. The Committee shall have
full and complete  authority,  subject to the  limitations of the Plan, to grant
awards of  Restricted  Stock  and,  in  addition  to the  terms  and  conditions
contained  in  paragraphs  (a) through (f) of this  Section 11, to provide  such
other terms and conditions  (which need not be identical among  Participants) in
respect  of such  Awards,  and  the  vesting  thereof,  as the  Committee  shall
determine  and provide in the  agreement  referred to in  paragraph  (d) of this
Section 11.

                  (a) At the time of an award of Restricted Stock, the Committee
shall establish for each Participant a Restricted  Period during which or at the
expiration  of which,  as the  Committee  shall  determine  and  provide  in the
agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 11, the shares awarded as
Restricted  Stock shall vest, and subject to any such other terms and conditions
as the  Committee  shall  provide  shares of  Restricted  Stock may not be sold,
assigned,  transferred,  pledged or  otherwise  encumbered  by the  Participant,
except as hereinafter  provided,  during the Restricted Period.  Except for such
restrictions,  and subject to paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 11 and
Section 12 hereof,  the  Participant  as owner of such shares shall have all the
rights of a  stockholder  including  but not limited to the right to receive all
dividends  paid on such shares and the right to vote such shares.  The Committee
shall have the authority, in its discretion, to accelerate the time at which any
or all of the restrictions  shall lapse with respect to any shares of Restricted
Stock prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect thereto,  or
to remove any or all of such  restrictions,  whenever it may determine that such
action is  appropriate  by reason of changes in applicable  tax or other laws or
other  changes  in  circumstances  occurring  after  the  commencement  of  such
Restricted Period.

                  (b) Except as provided in Section 14 hereof,  if a Participant
ceases to maintain  Continuous Service for any reason other than death, total or
partial  disability or Normal or Early  Retirement,  unless the Committee  shall
otherwise determine and provide in the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of
this Section 11, all shares of Restricted  Stock awarded to such Participant and
which at the time of such  termination of Continuous  Service are subject to the
restrictions  imposed  by  paragraph  (a) of this  Section  11 shall  upon  such
termination of Continuous  Service be forfeited and returned to the Corporation.
Unless the  Committee  shall  otherwise  determine  and provide in the agreement
referred to in  paragraph  (d) of this  Section 11, if a  Participant  ceases to
maintain  Continuous  Service by reason of death, total or partial disability or
Normal or Early  Retirement,  such  portion of such shares of  Restricted  Stock
awarded to such Participant  which at the time of such termination of Continuous
Service are subject to the restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of this Section
11 as shall be equal to the portion of the  Restricted  Period  with  respect to
such  shares  which  shall  have  elapsed  at the  time of such  termination  of
Continuous Service, shall be free of restrictions and shall not be forfeited.
<PAGE>
                  (c) Each  certificate in respect of shares of Restricted Stock
awarded under the Plan shall be registered  in the name of the  Participant  and
deposited by the  Participant,  together  with a stock power  endorsed in blank,
with the Corporation and shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

                  "The  transferability  of this  certificate  and the shares of
         stock  represented  hereby  are  subject  to the terms  and  conditions
         (including forfeiture) contained in the 1995 Stock Option and Incentive
         Plan of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc. and an Agreement  entered into
         between the registered owner and First Midwest  Financial,  Inc. Copies
         of such Plan and  Agreement are on file in the offices of the Secretary
         of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.,  Fifth at Erie,  Storm Lake,  Iowa
         50588."

                  (d) At the time of an award of shares of Restricted Stock, the
Participant  shall  enter  into an  Agreement  with  the  Corporation  in a form
specified by the  Committee,  agreeing to the terms and  conditions of the award
and such other matters as the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine.

                  (e) At the time of an award of shares of Restricted Stock, the
Committee may, in its discretion,  determine that the payment to the Participant
of dividends declared or paid on such shares, or a specified portion thereof, by
the Corporation  shall be deferred until the earlier to occur of (i) the lapsing
of the  restrictions  imposed under paragraph (a) of this Section 11 or (ii) the
forfeiture  of such shares under  paragraph (b) of this Section 11, and shall be
held by the Corporation  for the account of the Participant  until such time. In
the event of such deferral,  there shall be credited at the end of each year (or
portion  thereof)  interest on the amount of the account at the beginning of the
year at a rate per annum as the  Committee,  in its  discretion,  may determine.
Payment  of  deferred  dividends,  together  with  interest  accrued  thereon as
aforesaid,  shall be made upon the earlier to occur of the events  specified  in
(i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence.

                  (f) At the expiration of the restrictions imposed by paragraph
(a) of this Section 11, the  Corporation  shall redeliver to the Participant (or
where the relevant  provision of paragraph (b) of this Section 11 applies in the
case of a deceased  Participant,  to his legal  representative,  beneficiary  or
heir) the certificate(s) and stock power deposited with it pursuant to paragraph
(c) of this Section 11 and the Shares represented by such  certificate(s)  shall
be free of the restrictions referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 11.

         12.  Adjustments  Upon Changes in  Capitalization.  In the event of any
change in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by
reason of any  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock split,  stock dividend,
combination or exchange of shares,  merger,  consolidation  or any change in the
corporate  structure or Shares of the Corporation,  the maximum aggregate number
and class of shares as to which  Awards  may be  granted  under the Plan and the
number and class of shares with respect to which Awards have been granted  under
the Plan shall be appropriately  adjusted by the Committee,  whose determination
shall be  conclusive.  Any shares of stock or other  securities  received,  as a
result of any of the  foregoing,  by a  Participant  with respect to  Restricted
Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions and the  certificate(s) or other
instruments  representing  or  evidencing  such  shares or  securities  shall be
legended and deposited with the  Corporation  in the manner  provided in Section
11(c) hereof.
<PAGE>
         13.  Effect of Merger on Options or Rights.  In the case of any merger,
consolidation   or  combination  of  the  Corporation   (other  than  a  merger,
consolidation  or  combination  in  which  the  Corporation  is  the  continuing
corporation and which does not result in the outstanding  Shares being converted
into or exchanged  for  different  securities,  cash or other  property,  or any
combination  thereof),  any  Participant  to whom an  Option  or Right  has been
granted shall have, in addition to the rights of exercise  pursuant to Section 7
hereof,  the right  (subject to the  provisions  of the Plan and any  limitation
applicable to such Option or Right), thereafter and during the term of each such
Option or Right,  to receive upon exercise of any such Option or Right an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value on the date of such exercise of the
securities, cash or other property, or combination thereof, receivable upon such
merger,  consolidation  or  combination  in respect of a Share over the Exercise
Price of such Right or Option,  multiplied  by the number of Shares with respect
to which such  Option or Right  shall have been  exercised.  Such  amount may be
payable  fully  in cash,  fully in one or more of the kind or kinds of  property
payable in such  merger,  consolidation  or  combination,  or partly in cash and
partly in one or more of such kind or kinds of property,  all in the  discretion
of the Committee.

         14.  Effect of Change in Control.  Each of the events  specified in the
following clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 14 shall be deemed a "change
of  control":  (i) any third  person,  including a "group" as defined in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, shall become the beneficial owner of shares of the
Corporation  with  respect to which 25% or more of the total number of votes for
the election of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be cast, (ii) as a
result  of,  or in  connection  with,  any cash  tender  offer,  merger or other
business  combination,  sale of assets or contested election,  or combination of
the foregoing,  the persons who were directors of the Corporation shall cease to
constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or (iii) the
stockholders of the Corporation shall approve an agreement  providing either for
a  transaction  in  which  the  Corporation  will  cease  to be  an  independent
publicly-owned  corporation  or  for a  sale  or  other  disposition  of  all or
substantially  all the  assets of the  Corporation.  Upon a change  in  control,
unless the Committee shall have otherwise  provided in the agreement referred to
in paragraph  (d) of Section 11 hereof,  any  Restricted  Period with respect to
Restricted Stock awarded to such Participant  shall lapse and all Shares awarded
as Restricted  Stock shall become fully vested in the  Participant  to whom such
Shares were awarded.  If a tender offer or exchange offer for Shares (other than
such an offer by the  Corporation)  is commenced,  or if the event  specified in
clause  (iii) above  shall  occur,  unless the  Committee  shall have  otherwise
provided  in  the  instrument  evidencing  the  grant  of  an  Option  or  Stock
Appreciation  Right, all Options and Stock  Appreciation  Rights granted and not
fully  exercisable  shall become  exercisable in full upon the happening of such
event;  provided,  however, that no Option or Stock Appreciation Right which has
previously been exercised or otherwise terminated shall become exercisable.

         15. Assignments and Transfers.  No Award nor any right or interest of a
Participant under the Plan in any instrument evidencing any Award under the Plan
may be assigned,  encumbered or transferred except, in the event of the death of
a Participant,  by will or the laws of descent and distribution,  or in the case
of Awards other than Incentive  Stock Options  pursuant to a qualified  domestic
relations  order,  as  defined  in the Code or  Title I of  ERISA  or the  rules
thereunder.
<PAGE>
         16. Employee Rights Under the Plan. No officer or employee shall have a
right to be selected  as a  Participant  nor,  having  been so  selected,  to be
selected again as a Participant  and no officer,  employee or other person shall
have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or under any other
incentive or similar plan of the Corporation or any Affiliate.  Neither the Plan
nor any action  taken  thereunder  shall be construed as giving any employee any
right to be retained in the employ of the Corporation or any Affiliate.

         17. Delivery and Registration of Stock. The Corporation's obligation to
deliver Shares with respect to an Award shall, if the Committee so requests,  be
conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment  intention
of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered,  in such form as the
Committee  shall  determine  to be  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with the
provisions of the Securities  Act of 1933 or any other  federal,  state or local
securities legislation.  It may be provided that any representation  requirement
shall  become  inoperative  upon a  registration  of the Shares or other  action
eliminating  the necessity of such  representation  under such Securities Act or
other securities  legislation.  The Corporation shall not be required to deliver
any Shares  under the Plan prior to (i) the  admission of such shares to listing
on any  stock  exchange  on  which  Shares  may  then be  listed,  and  (ii) the
completion of such registration or other  qualification of such Shares under any
state or federal law, rule or regulation, as the committee shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.

         This Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
Any  provision of the Plan which is  inconsistent  with said Rule shall,  to the
extent of such  inconsistency,  be inoperative and shall not affect the validity
of the remaining provisions of the Plan.

         18. Withholding Tax. Upon the termination of the Restricted Period with
respect to any shares of Restricted  Stock (or at any such earlier time, if any,
that an election is made by the Participant  under Section 83(b) of the Code, or
any successor  provision thereto, to include the value of such shares in taxable
income),  the  Corporation  shall have the right to require the  Participant  or
other  person  receiving  such shares to pay the  Corporation  the amount of any
taxes which the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such shares,
or, in lieu thereof,  to retain or sell without notice,  a sufficient  number of
shares held by it to cover the amount  required to be withheld.  The Corporation
shall have the right to deduct from all dividends paid with respect to shares of
Restricted  Stock the amount of any taxes which the  Corporation  is required to
withhold with respect to such dividend payments.

         The Corporation shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid in
cash with respect to the  exercise of a Right under the Plan any taxes  required
by law to be withheld with respect to such cash payments. Where a Participant or
other person is entitled to receive Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option
or Right pursuant to the Plan, the  Corporation  shall have the right to require
the  Participant or such other person to pay the  Corporation  the amount of any
taxes which the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such Shares,
or, in lieu thereof,  to retain, or sell without notice, a number of such shares
sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

         19. Amendment or Termination. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, but
no  amendment  shall  be  made  without  approval  of  the  stockholders  of the
Corporation  which shall (i) change the number of shares  with  respect to which
Awards may be made  under the Plan as set forth in  Section 5 hereof  (except as
provided  in  Section 12 hereof) or (ii)  change the  Participants  eligible  to
participate in the Plan; provided, further that no such amendment, suspension or
termination of the Plan shall be permitted  except in accordance with Rule 16(b)
of the Exchange Act or any similar or successor provision.

         20.  Effective Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become  effective
upon its adoption by the Board of Directors of the  Corporation,  subject to the
approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the  Corporation.  It shall continue
in effect for a term of ten years  unless  sooner  terminated  under  Section 19
hereof.

First Midwest Financial, Inc.
1996 Annual Report


Corporate Profile

First Midwest  Financial,  Inc. is the holding company for First Federal Savings
Bank of the Midwest and Security State Bank.  First Federal Savings Bank has its
main bank office in Storm Lake,  Iowa and its 6 branch  offices in a four-county
area of Northwest Iowa. It also includes the 2 offices of the Brookings  Federal
Bank Division in Brookings,  South Dakota, and the Iowa Savings Bank Division in
Des Moines,  Iowa. Security State Bank, with offices in Stuart, Casey and Menlo,
Iowa, operates as a commercial bank chartered by the State of Iowa.

The Company's primary business is marketing  financial deposit and loan products
to meet the needs of its retail bank customers.

LaSalle  St.  Securities,  Inc.,  operating  through  First  Services  Financial
Limited,  a subsidiary of First Federal,  offers discount  brokerage service and
non-insured investment products.

PrimeVest Investment Center, operating through Brookings Service Corporation,  a
subsidiary of First Services,  offers full service brokerage and a wide range of
non-insured investment products.

<PAGE>
[sidebar]
CONTENTS

Financial
Highlights

Chairman's 
Letter

First Federal
Savings Bank of
the Midwest

Brookings
Division

Iowa Savings
Bank Division

Security State
Bank

Locations

Financials

Directors

Executive 
Officers

Additional
Officers and
Management

Corporate
Information

Stock Market
Information
<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At September 30                                      1992             1993              1994             1995             1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   (Dollars in Thousands except Per Share Data)
<S>                                                <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>    
Total Assets .............................         $171,030         $160,827          $274,115         $264,213         $388,008

Total Loans ..............................           74,561           80,224           155,497          178,552          243,534

Total Deposits ...........................          147,289          122,813           176,167          171,793          233,406

Stockholders' equity .....................           14,970           33,438            34,683           38,013           43,210

Book value per common share ..............              N/A         $  16.82          $  18.69         $  21.19         $  22.21

Total equity to assets ...................             8.75%           20.79%            12.65%           14.39%           11.14%

<CAPTION>
<S>                                                <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>    
For the Fiscal Year                                  1992             1993              1994             1995             1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   (Dollars in Thousands except Per Share Data)

Net interest income ......................         $  4,609         $  5,077          $  7,870         $  9,405         $ 10,359

Net income ...............................            1,020            1,352             2,729            3,544            2,414 (2)

Net income per share .....................              N/A         $   0.66(1)       $   1.37         $   1.99         $   1.34( 2)
Net yield on interest-earning assets......             2.63%             3.21%            3.94%             3.63%            3.47%

Return on average assets .................              .57%             .84%             1.29%            1.31%             .76%(2)

Return on average equity .................             7.08%            7.10%             7.89%            9.86%            6.18%(2)


(1) Net income per share is based on the  assumption  that the weighted  average
shares outstanding at September 30, 1993, were outstanding the entire year.

(2) Reflects the one-time  industry-wide  special assessment to recapitalize the
Savings Association Insurance Fund.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
CHAIRMAN'S LETTER

TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS

I am pleased to report  that fiscal  year 1996 was  another  excellent  year for
First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.!  Net  income at  September  30,  1996 was $3.2
million,  or $1.78 per share,  before the one-time  special  assessment from the
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC)  to  recapitalize  the  Savings
Association  Insurance  Fund  (SAIF),  an issue I will  discuss  further in this
letter.

Fiscal 1996 was highlighted by growth and increased opportunity as First Midwest
completed the acquisitions of Iowa Savings Bank in Des Moines, Iowa and Security
State Bank in Stuart, Iowa.

The  acquisition  of Iowa Savings Bank,  which was a subsidiary of Iowa Bancorp,
Inc.,  was  completed  on December 29, 1995.  At the time of  acquisition,  Iowa
Savings  Bank had assets of  approximately  $25  million.  Iowa Savings Bank now
operates  as a  Division  of  First  Federal  Savings  Bank of the  Midwest.  We
considered establishing a presence in Des Moines, the largest market in Iowa, as
an effective  strategy for the growth of our retail banking  operation.  Gaining
entry to that  market  through  the  acquisition  of a solid  company  with good
equity, strong management, and a loyal customer base from which to build, helped
to establish  that  presence  much  quicker.  We look forward to opening an Iowa
Savings Bank office in West Des Moines early next year, following remodeling and
redecorating.

On September 30, 1996,  First Midwest  Financial  Inc.  acquired  Security State
Bank, the subsidiary of Central West  Bancorporation.  In conjunction  with this
acquisition, First Midwest, which was originally formed as a unitary savings and
loan holding company,  was converted to a bank holding  company.  Security State
Bank's assets at the time of acquisition were  approximately  $33 million.  As a
separate  subsidiary of First Midwest,  Security State Bank continues to operate
as a commercial  bank  chartered  by the State of Iowa,  with offices in Stuart,
Casey and Menlo,  Iowa.  Claude F. Havick continues to serve as President of the
bank. The acquisition of Security State Bank by First Midwest  facilitates  more
flexibility for growth in agricultural and commercial loans.

It was announced on October 18, 1996,  that the First Midwest Board of Directors
has authorized the Company to repurchase up to 150,000 shares of its outstanding
common stock.  The Company  intends to repurchase  the shares from time to time,
depending upon market conditions, over a twelve month period.

On  October  28,  1996,  the  First  Midwest  Board of  Directors  accepted  the
resignation  of Steven P.  Myers,  Vice  Chairman  of the Board and Senior  Vice
President for First Midwest  Financial,  Inc. and First Federal  Savings Bank of
the Midwest. The Company benefitted from his past service.

On November 25, 1996, First Midwest Financial, Inc. announced an increase in the
corporation's  quarterly cash dividend from 11 cents per share to 13.5 cents per
share. In addition, the First Midwest Board declared a 50% stock dividend, which
will pay First Midwest  stockholders  one share for every two shares held on the
record date.  Both the quarterly  cash  dividend and the stock  dividend will be
payable on or about  January 2, 1997 to  stockholders  of record on December 16,
1996. We are pleased to pay this increased cash dividend and a stock dividend to
our stockholders.
<PAGE>
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

Net income for fiscal 1996,  after the impact of a one-time  special  assessment
paid to the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC) to recapitalize  the
Savings  Association  Insurance  Fund  (SAIF),  was $2.4  million.  The $795,000
charge, net of tax, resulted from federal legislation passed and signed into law
on September 30, 1996, requiring all SAIF insured institutions to pay a one-time
fee of  $0.657  for each $100 of  insured  deposits  held on March  31,  1995 to
restore  the  SAIF  to  its  statutory  reserve  level.   Without  this  special
assessment,  the  Company's  net income for fiscal 1996 would have  totaled $3.2
million, or $1.78 per share.




[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH OF CORPORATE PRESIDENT]




Beginning January 1, 1997, First Federal's annual deposit insurance premium will
be reduced from $.23 per $100 of insured  deposits to $0.064 per $100.  Based on
insured  deposits at September 30, 1996,  First Federal will see its annual SAIF
expense  reduced from $478,000 to $133,000,  result-ing in after-tax  savings of
$216,000.

Earnings  were  enhanced  during  fiscal 1996 by a 10%  increase in net interest
income. This was due to a significant  increase in the Company's loan portfolio,
which  resulted from the  acquisition  of Iowa Savings  Bank,  and the increased
origination of consumer and agriculture-related  loans. Net interest income will
continue to be enhanced in future  periods by the  acquisition of Security State
Bank, which was completed at the end of the fiscal year.

Deposit  balances  totaled  $233.4  million at the close of fiscal  1996,  a 36%
increase over the previous year.  Lending activity  continued to increase during
fiscal 1996, with originations of $90.6 million. At September 30, 1996, the loan
portfolio  balance  totaled  $243.5  million,  which  reflects  a $65.0  million
increase  from the  previous  year.  Total assets at the end of fiscal 1996 were
$388.0 million, compared to $264.2 million a year ago.

Stockholders'  equity at the close of fiscal 1996 totaled $43.2  million,  a 14%
increase over the previous year, with 1,945,735  shares issued and  outstanding.
This increase  indicates the Company's  strong earnings  performance  during the
fiscal  year,  in spite of the  one-time  special  assessment,  and reflects the
issuance of additional  shares in conjunction  with the  acquisition of Security
State Bank.

At September 30, 1996, First Federal and Security State Bank both  significantly
exceeded their regulatory capital requirements.

LOOKING AHEAD

First Midwest Financial,  Inc. continues to look for additional opportunities to
acquire savings banks, commercial banks, and other related-service  companies in
our geographic areas.  Each opportunity will be carefully  evaluated and we will
actively  pursue  any  that we  believe  have the  potential  to  contribute  to
increasing value for our stockholders.
<PAGE>
With the rapidly  expanding  uses and  availability  of  electronic  technology,
customers'  needs and  expectations  for the delivery of financial  services are
also expanding.  We will be responsive to any areas of change that are deemed to
be beneficial  to the needs of customers and the interests of our  stockholders.
At the same time,  we are committed to  maintaining  a  competitive  position in
offering  traditional  bank products and delivering  them with the high level of
quality service our customers have come to expect.

We are confident  that our commitment to achieving  profitable  long term growth
will  benefit you through a continued  increase  in  stockholder  value,  and we
appreciate your support.

Sincerely,



/s/James S. Haahr
- -----------------
JAMES S. HAAHR
Chairman Of The Board, President & CEO
December 12, 1996
<PAGE>
[SIDEBAR]
A strong emphasis on consumer loan services,  including home equity loans, makes
this particular product an important part of First Federal's total loan program.

In addition,  since consumer loans are used for such a wide range of needs by so
many  different  customer  segments,  they are a valuable  link to cross selling
other bank products and services.





FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OF THE MIDWEST

Creating  a  more  customer-friendly  retail  bank  environment  and  increasing
internal  operating  efficiencies  have been important  on-going  objectives for
First Federal.  Significant  improvements are being seen in each of these areas,
due primarily to a series of capital  improvements  made over the last couple of
years.  A major  enhancement  to the bank's data  processing  system,  which was
installed  during  fiscal year 1995,  continues to provide more  productive  and
efficient  methods of  operation  as  management  and staff become more adept at
various ways to use this technology. The remodeling and redecorating of the main
bank office in Storm Lake,  most of which was completed at the end of last year,
and the redecorating of branch offices which was completed this year, have added
comfort and  convenience  for retail bank  customers  and to staff's  efforts to
serve them more efficiently.

First Federal's  Agricultural  Loan Department  continues to compete for quality
loans.  Financing  and  servicing  are  available for both start up and existing
operations  of any size.  This  includes  everything  from short term  operating
loans,  to intermediate  term loans for machinery and livestock,  to longer term
loans for agricultural real estate. Other types of commercial loan services,  in
addition to those for agricultural, are also available at First Federal.

A strong emphasis on consumer loan services,  including home equity loans, makes
this particular product an important part of First Federal's total loan program.
In addition,  since consumer loans are used for such a wide range of needs by so
many  different  customer  segments,  they are a valuable  link to cross selling
other bank products and services.

First  Federal  continues  to offer all  areas of home  lending,  including  new
construction,  purchase,  refinancing, and home improvements, as well as special
assistance loans through the Affordable  Housing Program.  All loan servicing is
done  locally.  This  includes  handling  payments  and  responding  to customer
questions on their loan and escrow accounts.

                                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH BANK BUILDING}
First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest
Main Bank Office:  Fifth at Erie, Storm Lake, Iowa.

                  
<PAGE>



Richard A. Wehde - Vice President -  Commercial/Agricultural  Loans, visits with
Willard  Schmidt  and his sons Ryan and Rick  Schmidt  at their  farm near Alta,
Iowa. The Schmidts farm 700 acres of corn and soybean  rotation,  and Ryan feeds
up to 350 head of cattle per year. First Federal is pleased to provide financing
for their grain and livestock farming operation.











                               [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH}





















First Federal is pleased to assist                    [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH HOUSE]
Scott and Amy Bailey with a 
mortgage loan for the purchase of 
their home in Storm Lake.








                               





<PAGE>
[SIDEBAR]
 

STORM LAKE, IOWA

Average Land Value for high quality farm land in Northwest Iowa: $2,406 per acre
(9/96)

Building Permits  Residential $3,538,864
Commercial $5,416,027
(YTD 1996 thru 10/31)

Taxable Retail Sales       $107,228,366 (1995)

Unemployment Rate for Buena Vista County:  1.9% (9/96)


Deposit customers can satisfy their needs at First Federal with a wide choice of
FDIC-insured  accounts.  These include the traditional  passbook savings account
and the Savings  Starter  Account for young savers;  the First Federal  Passcard
Account for statement  savings;  the Daily Access  Account,  a money market type
account  with limited  access by check;  the Savings  Plus  Account,  offering a
higher yield for higher balances; and a full range of certificates of deposit.

First  Federal's Trust and Retirement  Department has  experienced  personnel to
help meet  customers'  needs in specialized  areas.  Trust services focus on the
professional  administration and management of assets, which includes serving as
executor for estates, and handling agency and conservatorship  accounts.  In the
area of retirement plans, First Federal trustees  tax-deferred IRA, KEO, and SEP
plans  with a full  range  of  investment  choices.  The  Trust  and  Retirement
Department staff is always attentive to any legislative  actions that may impact
this area of service,  including  several  enhancements in the area of qualified
plans, scheduled to become effective January 1, 1997.


FIRST SERVICES FINANCIAL LIMITED

LaSalle St.  Securities,  Inc.,  operating   through  First  Services  Financial
Limited,  a subsidiary of First Federal,  offers discount brokerage services and
non-insured   investment  products.   This  provides  bank  customers  with  the
opportunity to expand their use of financial services in addition to traditional
bank products.  (These  products are not  FDIC-insured,  nor guaranteed by First
Federal or any affiliates.)

<PAGE>




FIRST FEDERAL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAMES S. HAAHR                 Chairman of the Board, President & CEO for
                               First Midwest Financial, Inc., and First Federal
                               Savings Bank of the Midwest

E. WAYNE COOLEY                Executive Secretary, Iowa Girls' High School
                               Athletic  Union, Des Moines, Iowa

E. THURMAN GASKILL             Owner, Grain Farming Operation, Corwith, Iowa


J. TYLER HAAHR                 Partner in the law firm of Lewis and Roca L.L.P.,
                               Phoenix, Arizona

RODNEY G. MUILENBURG           Dairy Specialist, Sioux City Division Purina 
                               Mills, Inc.,  Storm Lake, Iowa


                                                           [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH ]

Fall 1996 enrollment at Buena Vista University's Storm
Lake campus totals 1,188 students, the highest in the
history of the main campus. Another 1,319 students are
enrolled at BVU Centers throughout Iowa. The recently
completed  Information Technology  Center houses Ballou 
Library,  Stewart Siebens Computer Center,  and distance 
education classrooms.  Technology links BVU faculty and 
students across campus, at BVU Centers, and beyond 
             campus walls to points around the globe.





<PAGE>

Jay Butterfield, Owner - Silk Screen Ink, Storm Lake.  Silk Screen Ink
specializes in custom embroidery and screen printing on wearables
and many other promotional  items.  First Federal is proud to provide commercial
checking and lending services to Silk Screen Ink.


                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]






















                   Matt Korrel enjoys his jet ski           [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
                   on beautiful Storm Lake.  First 
                   Federal provides consumer
                   loans for most any need.







<PAGE>

[sidebar]

Brookings  Federal  continues their  commitment to  agri-cultural  lending,  the
results  of  which  are  evidenced  by  signifi-cant  growth  in  their  base of
agricultural  customers over the last 2 years. This growth can be attri-buted to
the bank's active  marketing  efforts to new loan prospects,  their  competitive
posture  in  structuring  loans for  various  types of ag  financing,  and their
consistency in providing quality customer service.


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
James C. Winterboer
President
Brookings Federal Bank



BROOKINGS DIVISION

First Federal is proud of its Brookings  Division and their  contribution to the
Company's earnings since they were acquired in the Spring of 1994.

Brookings  Federal  continues  their  commitment to  agricultural  lending,  the
results  of  which  are  evidenced  by  significant  growth  in  their  base  of
agricultural  customers over the last 2 years.  This growth can be attributed to
the bank's active  marketing  efforts to new loan prospects,  their  competitive
posture  in  structuring  loans for  various  types of ag  financing,  and their
consistency  in  providing  quality  customer  service.  Brookings  Federal also
continues to seek quality commercial loans for any size business, in addition to
those for agricultural and ag-related businesses.

Consumer  loans is a very  active  segment of  lending  for  Brookings  Federal.
Recognizing  that  relationship  building  is the  key  toward  more  profitable
customer households,  the Brookings Division actively cross sells other consumer
banking services to their consumer loan customers.

Brookings  Federal  is an active  home  mortgage  lender in their  market  area,
including  construction  loans  and  permanent  financing,  as well  as  special
assistance loans for first-time and low-income home buyers. Loan officers at the
Brookings  Division  have  the  experience  to help  make  the  process  of home
financing a manageable one, even for first time buyers.

Deposit  customers  at  Brookings  Federal  have  access to a  complete  line of
FDIC-insured  accounts  including  Statement  Savings,  "Money Market"  Savings,
Savings  Plus,  and  certificates  of deposit  for a variety of rates and terms.
Brookings  Federal  offers 3 versions of the  Timeless  Checking  Account,  each
designed  with  features and  benefits to meet the needs of  different  types of
customers.


Brookings Federal Bank, a Division of             [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest, 600 
Main Avenue, Brookings, South Dakota.

<PAGE>


James Hemmer (center) and his sons Brad,  Jeff,  Steve and Mike visit with Steve
Almos -
Agricultural  Loan Officer,  as his grandson  Brandon looks on. Their 4,000 acre
family  farming  operation is located 25 miles south of  Brookings  and includes
10,000 feeder pigs, 450 stock cows and 1,500 feeder cattle.  This is one of many
area farming operations financed by Brookings Federal.









                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]




                                             [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]


With financing from Brookings Federal,             
Don Diebert and Jeff Jacobson - Owners -
Counterparts,  Inc. in Brookings, were
able to start a new manufacturing
company that produces metal parts for
information display systems.







<PAGE>


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]  South Dakota State University
                      in Brookings, South Dakota. 
                      1996 Fall enrollment on and off
                      campus is 8,350.




[sidebar]


BROOKINGS,
SOUTH DAKOTA

Average Land Value for high productivity  nonirrigated  cropland in East Central
South Dakota: $698 per acre (3/96)

Building Permits           Residential $4,203,340    Commercial $3,450,650
(YTD 1996 thru 9/30)

Taxable Retail Sales       $199,523,372 (1995)

Unemployment Rate 1.2% (6/96)


BROOKINGS SERVICE CORPORATION




As an enhancement to traditional banking service,  PrimeVest  Investment Center,
operating through Brookings Service  Corporation (a subsidiary of First Services
Financial  Limited),  offers  full  brokerage  services  with  a wide  range  of
alternative  investment  products.  (These  products  are not  FDIC-insured  nor
guaranteed by First Federal or any affiliates.)


BROOKINGS FEDERAL ADVISORY BOARD


JAMES C. WINTERBOER            President, Brookings Federal

O. DALE LARSON                 Chairman of the Advisory Board
                               Owner, Larson Manufacturing

FRED J. RITTERSHAUS            Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board
                               Consulting Engineer and Partner
                               Banner and Associates, Inc.

VIRGIL G. ELLERBRUCH           Assistant Dean of Engineering
                               South Dakota State University

EARL R. RUE                    Consulting Manager, Running's

Mary Jensen - Customer Service Representative at Larson    [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Manufacturing -participates in Preferred Banking Benefits,
Brookings Federal's special package of banking services for
employees of Larson Manufacturing. The company manu-
factures and distributes a line of energy-saving storm doors.

<PAGE>


With the help of a consumer loan from Brookings Federal, Steve and Kami Jensen -
Brookings - are enjoying their new pickup and camper.







                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]










                                        [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]


Brookings Federal has provided
financing, from construction to
permanent, for two blocks of new
homes next to the Volga Golf Course.





<PAGE>


                                             [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Iowa Savings Bank - currently located at 
3624 Sixth Avenue - Des Moines, Iowa



[sidebar]


DES MOINES, IOWA

Average Land Value         for high quality farm land in Central Iowa:
$2,603 per acre (9/96)

Building Permits           Residential $185,800,000
Commercial $79,400,000
(YTD 1996 thru 8/96)

Taxable Retail Sales       $3,682,983,881 (1995)

Unemployment Rate          for Polk County:  2.6% (9/96)

[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Jeanne Partlow
President
Iowa Savings Bank


IOWA SAVINGS BANK DIVISION



Iowa Savings Bank, Des Moines,  Iowa,  was acquired by First Midwest  Financial,
Inc.,  on December  29, 1995,  and now  operates as a Division of First  Federal
Savings Bank of the Midwest.  Jeanne Partlow,  who was President and CEO of Iowa
Savings Bank prior to the acquisition,  now serves as President of this Division
and also as a director of First Midwest Financial, Inc.

Iowa Savings Bank was one of the best capitalized financial  institutions in the
State of Iowa.  They succeeded by carving out a market niche and doing well what
savings banks have  traditionally  done: making loans for  single-family  homes.
Over time,  they  established a very loyal base of  customers.  As a Division of
First  Federal,  Iowa Savings Bank gained the  resources to expand their product
line which now includes checking  accounts,  consumer loans, and some additional
types of savings  accounts and mortgage  loans  programs.  The bank is currently
evaluating  other financial  products and services to determine which would best
serve the needs of customers, and help to grow their customer base.

Plans are being finalized to open an Iowa Savings Bank office in West Des Moines
at the corner of 35th Street and Westown Parkway,  a location  formerly occupied
by Norwest Bank.  Occupancy is anticipated early next year, following remodeling
and  redecorating.  This new  location  will be a real  asset to the  Division's
efforts to increase  their customer base and to market new products and services
not previously offered by Iowa Savings Bank.
<PAGE>



IOWA SAVINGS BANK ADVISORY BOARD


JEANNE PARTLOW                 President, Iowa Savings Bank, Des Moines, Iowa

ROBERT J. KIRKE                Property Manager, Amerus Properties, Inc.

SCOTT STOUFFER                 Architect, StoufferSmith Architects PC


                                               [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]



          Future location - Iowa Savings Bank-
3438 Westown Parkway - West Des Moines, Iowa


<PAGE>

Savings  plans and  consumer  loans at Iowa  Savings  Bank assist  customers  in
achieving their goals. Leona Ross, Pella, Iowa, enjoys her new car.







                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]













                     [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]                   [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Iowa Savings Bank is pleased                  Howard and Ardella
to have provided financing                    Goetz, Des Moines, Iowa,
for the Urbandale, Iowa, home                 have been long-time
of Joseph and Kathleen                        savings customers at
Fitzgerald and their family.                  Iowa Savings Bank.

<PAGE>
                                           [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
   Security State Bank - Main Office at
615 South Division Street in Stuart, Iowa.





[sidebar]



STUART, IOWA

Average Land Value for high quality farm land in West Central  Iowa:  $2,385 per
acre (9/96)

Building Permits           not available

Taxable Retail Sales       $5,219,938 (1995)

Unemployment Rate for Guthrie County:  2.8% (8/96)



[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Claude F. Havick
President
Security State Bank




SECURITY STATE BANK

Security State Bank, Stuart, Iowa was acquired by First Midwest Financial,  Inc.
on  September  30,  1996,  and now  operates as a separate  subsidiary  of First
Midwest.  The Stuart office is a new 4200 sq. ft. building  located in a growing
commercial  area.  Branch  offices in Casey and Menlo were  established  over 40
years ago.

As a  commercial  bank,  chartered by the State of Iowa,  Security  State Bank's
predominant area of service is agriculture or ag-related  business.  Commercial,
consumer and real estate  business have been increasing as a percentage of total
business. Continued growth in these areas is anticipated as the bank is focusing
on increasing market share in their primary trade area.

Security  State Bank serves most of its  agricultural  borrowers  with  variable
rate,  revolving lines of credit. This loan product has been well received,  due
to the added convenience it offers for seasonal  borrowing,  which is typical in
farming or ag-related businesses.

Security  State Bank  offers a full line of  commercial  bank  deposit  products
including  service  charge free  checking  accounts,  savings  accounts,  "money
market" savings accounts,  and certificates of deposit. The bank's commitment to
friendly,  personal  service  is often  cited as a primary  source  of  customer
satisfaction and as an important key to attracting new customers.
<PAGE>

DIRECTORS OF
SECURITY STATE BANK



JAMES S. HAAHR                 Chairman of the Board, President & CEO for      
                               First Midwest Financial, Inc., and First Federal
                               Savings Bank of the Midwest

JEFFREY N. BUMP                Partner, Bump and Bump Law Offices
                               Stuart and Panora, Iowa

E. WAYNE COOLEY                Executive Secretary, Iowa Girls' High School 
                               Athletic Union, Des Moines, Iowa

E. THURMAN GASKILL             Owner, Grain Farming Operation, Corwith, Iowa

J. TYLER HAAHR                 Partner in the law firm of Lewis and Roca L.L.P.,
                               Phoenix, Arizona

CLAUDE F. HAVICK               President, Security State Bank, Stuart, Iowa

RODNEY G. MUILENBURG           Dairy Specialist, Sioux City Division Purina 
                               Mills, Inc.,  Storm Lake, Iowa
                              

<PAGE>

Brothers  Charles  Shafer and William  Shafer - Owners - Agri Drain  Corp.  near
Adair,  Iowa. Agri Drain's  business  includes the  manufacturing  of drain tile
inlet screens.  The company  operates out of a new 40,500  square-foot  building
with 50 full time  employees and sells their  product in all 50 states,  Canada,
Mexico and Australia. Security State Bank provides both short term and long term
financing as part of the banking services available to commercial customers.



                              [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]



                   [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]                     [GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
Michaelle Peterson of Casey,              Security State Bank is pleased to
Iowa, enjoys her new car,                 provide ag financing to father and 
 purchased with a consumer loan           son,  Gary and Vance  Cunningham, 
through Security State Bank.              for their 1,600 acre grain farming
                                          operation near Menlo, Iowa.



<PAGE>


FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OF THE MIDWEST


Office Locations

STORM LAKE

MAIN BANK OFFICE
Fifth at Erie, P.O. Box 1307
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
712-732-4117
800-792-6815

STORM LAKE PLAZA
1415 North Lake Avenue
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
712-732-6655

LAKE VIEW
Fifth at Main
Lake View, Iowa 51450
712-657-2721


LAURENS
104 North Third Street
Laurens, Iowa 50554
712-845-2588

MANSON
Eleventh at Main
Manson, Iowa  50563
712-469-3319

ODEBOLT
219 South Main Street
Odebolt, Iowa 51458
712-668-4881

SAC CITY
518 Audubon Street
Sac City, Iowa 50583
712-662-7195


BROOKINGS FEDERAL DIVISION
600 Main Avenue
Brookings, South Dakota 57006
605-692-2314
800-842-7452

EASTBROOK BRANCH
425 22nd Avenue South
Brookings, South Dakota 57006
605-692-2314
<PAGE>

IOWA SAVINGS BANK DIVISION
3624 Sixth Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50313
515-288-4865




SECURITY STATE BANK


Office Locations




STUART

MAIN OFFICE
615 South Division, P.O. Box A
Stuart, Iowa 50250
515-523-2203  800-523-8003                 [GRAPHIC OFFICE LOCATIONS MAP]

CASEY
101 East Logan, P.O. Box 97
Casey, Iowa 50048
515-746-3366  800-746-3367

MENLO
501 Sherman, P.O. Box 36
Menlo, Iowa 50164
515-524-4521





<PAGE>
First Midwest Financial, Inc., and Subsidiaries


Financial Contents


SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
   INFORMATION                                          

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS                    

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS                          

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995                       

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
   FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
   1996, 1995 AND 1994                                  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
   IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
   1996, 1995 AND 1994                                  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
   FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
   1996, 1995 AND 1994                                  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
   STATEMENTS                                           



Special Note
Certain statements in this report that relate to First Midwest Financial, Inc.'s
plans,  objectives  or future  performance  may be deemed to be  forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Such statements are based on Management's  current  expectations.  Actual
strategies  and  results  in future  periods  may differ  materially  from those
currently  expected  because  of  various  risks and  uncertainties.  Additional
discussion  of factors  affecting  First  Midwest's  business  and  prospects is
contained in the Company's  periodic  filings with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Selected Consolidated Financial Information


September 30,                                                       1996         1995         1994         1993          1992
- -------------                                                       ----         ----         ----         ----          ----
(In Thousands)
<S>                                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
Selected Financial Condition Data:
Total assets .................................................   $ 388,008    $ 264,213    $ 274,115    $ 160,827     $ 171,030
Loans receivable, net ........................................     243,534      178,552      155,497       80,224        74,561
Securities available for sale ................................     109,492       70,232       37,180           20            20
Securities held to maturity ..................................        --           --         65,917       56,085        87,401
Excess of cost over net assets acquired, net .................       5,091        1,690        1,815         --            --
Deposits .....................................................     233,406      171,793      176,167      122,813       147,289
Total borrowings .............................................     106,478       52,248       61,218        3,115         7,554
Shareholders' equity .........................................      43,210       38,013       34,683       33,438        14,970
<CAPTION>

Year Ended September 30,                                            1996         1995         1994         1993          1992
- ------------------------                                            ----         ----         ----         ----          ----
<S>                                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Selected Operations Data:
Total interest income ........................................   $  24,337    $  21,054    $  15,153    $  11,586     $  13,791
Total interest expense .......................................      13,978       11,649        7,283        6,509         9,182
                                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------
   Net interest income .......................................      10,359        9,405        7,870        5,077         4,609
   Provision for loan losses .................................         100          250          105          225            50
                                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------
Net interest income after provision for loan losses ..........      10,259        9,155        7,765        4,852         4,559
Total noninterest income .....................................       1,419        2,286        1,078        1,555         1,047
Total noninterest expense ....................................       7,568        5,576        4,938        3,725         3,995
                                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------
   Income before income taxes, extraordinary
      items and cumulative effect of changes in
      accounting principles ..................................       4,110        5,865        3,905        2,682         1,611
Income tax expense ...........................................       1,696        2,321        1,433        1,045           591

Extraordinary items-- net of taxes ...........................        --           --           --           (285)         --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles ........        --           --            257         --            --
                                                                 ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------
Net income ...................................................   $   2,414    $   3,544    $   2,729    $   1,352     $   1,020
                                                                 =========    =========    =========    =========     =========
Earnings per share (fully diluted):
   Income before extraordinary items and
      cumulative effect of changes in accounting
      principles .............................................   $    1.34    $    1.99    $    1.24    $    0.80          --
   Net income ................................................   $    1.34    $    1.99    $    1.37    $    0.66          --
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended September 30,                                            1996         1995         1994         1993          1992
- ------------------------                                            ----         ----         ----         ----          ----
<S>                                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
   Return on assets (ratio of net income
      to average total assets)(1) ............................        0.76%        1.31%        1.29%        0.84%         0.57%
   Return on stockholders' equity (ratio of net
   income to average equity)(1) ..............................        6.18         9.86         7.89         7.10          7.08
   Interest rate spread information:
      Average during year ....................................        2.88         3.13         3.25         2.69          2.25
      End of year ............................................        2.84         2.85         2.96         2.88          2.55
   Net yield on average interest-earning assets ..............        3.47         3.63         3.94         3.21          2.63
   Ratio of operating expense to average total assets ........        2.40         2.06         2.30         2.31          2.22

QUALITY RATIOS:
   Non-performing assets to total assets at end of year ......         .70          .29          .34          .78           .23
   Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans .........       89.04       227.21       148.51        65.42        239.04
CAPITAL RATIOS:
   Shareholders' equity to total assets at end of period             11.14        14.39        12.65        20.79          8.75
   Average shareholders' equity to average assets ............       12.45        13.28        20.52        11.83          8.00

   Ratio of average interest-earning assets to
             average interest-bearing liabilities ............      112.58%      111.35%      119.04%      112.69%       107.18%

OTHER DATA:
   Book value per common share outstanding ...................   $   22.21    $   21.19    $   18.69    $   16.82          --
   Dividends declared per share ..............................        0.44         0.30         --           --            --
   Dividend payout ratio .....................................       30.90%       14.53%        --           --            --
   Number of full-service offices ............................          11            9            9            7            10

(1) Return on assets  and  return on equity  for  fiscal  year 1994 is 1.17% and
7.54%,  respectively,  excluding the cumulative effects of changes in accounting
principles.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Management's Discussion and Analysis

General 
First Midwest  Financial,  Inc. (the "Company" or "First  Midwest") is a
bank holding  company whose primary assets are First Federal Savings Bank of the
Midwest ("First Federal") and Security State Bank ("Security").  The Company was
incorporated  in 1993 as a  unitary  non-diversified  savings  and loan  holding
company and, on September  20, 1993,  acquired all of the capital stock of First
Federal in connection with First Federal's  conversion from mutual to stock form
of ownership.  On September 30, 1996, the Company became a bank holding  company
in conjunction  with the acquisition of Security.  All references to the Company
prior to September  20, 1993,  except where  otherwise  indicated,  are to First
Federal and its subsidiary on a consolidated basis.

     The Company focuses on establishing and maintaining long-term relationships
with customers,  and is committed to serving the financial services needs of the
communities in its market area.  The Company's  primary market area includes the
counties of Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Ida, Guthrie,  Pocahontas, Polk and Sac
located in Iowa, and Brookings County located in east central South Dakota.  The
Company  attracts  retail  deposits  from the  general  public  and  uses  those
deposits,  together  with  other  borrowed  funds,  to  originate  and  purchase
residential  and  com-mercial  mortgage  loans,  and to  provide  financing  for
consumer, agricultural and other commercial business purposes.

     The Company's  basic mission is to maintain and enhance core earnings while
serving its primary  market area. As such,  the Board of Directors has adopted a
business  strategy  designed to (i) maintain the Company's  tangible  capital in
excess of  regulatory  requirements,  (ii) maintain the quality of the Company's
assets,  (iii)  control  operating  expenses,  (iv)  maintain  and, as possible,
increase  the  Company's  interest  rate  spread and (v)  manage  the  Company's
exposure to changes in interest rates.

Acquisitions Completed
     On September 30, 1996,  First Midwest  completed the acquisition of Central
West Bancorporation ("Central West"), and its wholly-owned subsidiary,  Security
State Bank located in Stuart,  Iowa. Upon  acquisition,  Central West was merged
into First Midwest, and Security became a wholly-owned stand-alone subsidiary of
First Midwest.  Security operates offices in Stuart,  Menlo and Casey,  Iowa. At
the date of acquisition,  Central West had assets of  approximately  $33 million
and equity of $2.6 million.  Central West  shareholders  received cash of $18.04
and 2.3528  shares of the common  stock of First  Midwest for each  Central West
share held,  totaling an aggregate  consideration of approximately $5.2 million.
The  acquisition  was  accounted  for  as  a  purchase,   and  the  accompanying
consolidated financial statements reflect the combined results since the date of
acquisition,  the effect of which was not material.  The excess of cost over the
estimated fair value of the assets  acquired and liabilities  assumed,  totaling
approximately  $2.8 million,  is being amortized over a fifteen year period (see
Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

     On December 29, 1995,  First  Midwest  completed  the  acquisition  of Iowa
Bancorp, Inc. ("Iowa Bancorp"),  and its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Iowa Savings
<PAGE>
     The following table sets forth the weighted average effective interest rate
on interest-earning  assets and interest-bearing  liabilities at the end of each
of the years presented.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

At September 30,                                                         1996    1995    1994
- ----------------                                                         ----    ----    ----
<S>                                                                      <C>     <C>     <C>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE YIELD ON:
   Loans receivable ...............................................      8.74%   8.58%   7.99%
   Mortgage-backed securities .....................................      7.06    7.97    6.85
   Securities .....................................................      5.99    6.79    7.66
   Other interest-earning assets ..................................      5.04    5.44    4.66
   Combined weighted average yield on interest-earning assets .....      7.87    8.13    7.46

WEIGHTED AVERAGE RATE PAID ON:
   Demand, NOW deposits and Money Market ..........................      2.35    2.55    2.30
   Savings deposits ...............................................      3.22    3.00    2.28
   Time deposits ..................................................      5.78    5.80    4.87
   FHLB advances ..................................................      5.81    6.14    5.10
   Other borrowed money ...........................................      5.48    5.75    4.70
Combined weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities      5.03    5.28    4.50

Spread ............................................................      2.84%   2.85%   2.96%

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Bank, a federal savings bank, ("Iowa Savings") located in Des Moines, Iowa. Upon
acquisition,  Iowa  Bancorp was merged  into the  Company  and Iowa  Savings was
merged into First Federal.  The Iowa Savings office operates as the Iowa Savings
Bank  Division of First  Federal  Savings  Bank of the  Midwest.  At the date of
acquisition,  Iowa Bancorp had assets of approximately $25 million and equity of
$7.2 million.  The Company purchased all of Iowa Bancorp's 379,980  out-standing
shares and  36,537  shares  subject  to option for a cash  payment of $20.39 per
share,  less the  exercise  price of shares  subject to option,  for a total net
purchase price of $8.0 million. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase,
and the accompanying   consolidated  financial  statements  reflect the combined
results  since the date of  acquisition.  The excess of cost over the  estimated
fair  value  of  the  assets   acquired  and   liabilities   assumed,   totaling
approximately $760,000, is being amortized over a fifteen year period (see Notes
1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

     On March 28, 1994, the Company acquired Community  Financial Systems,  Inc.
("Community") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Brookings Federal Bank, a federal
savings bank,  ("Brookings  Federal") located in Brookings,  South Dakota.  Upon
acquisition,  Community was merged into First Midwest and Brookings  Federal was
merged into First Federal.  The Company paid a cash price of $31.38 per share to
acquire all of the 333,513 shares of Community's outstanding common stock, for a
total purchase price of approximately $10.5 million. At the date of acquisition,
Brookings  Federal  had assets of  approximately  $69  million  and  deposits of
approximately  $57 million.  The two offices of Brookings Federal operate as the
Brookings  Federal Bank Division of First  Federal  Savings Bank of the Midwest.
The  acquisition  was  accounted  for  as  a  purchase  and,  accordingly,   the
accompanying  consolidated  financial statements reflect the combined operating
results  since the date of  acquisition.  The excess of cost over the  estimated
fair  value  of  the  assets   acquired  and   liabilities   assumed,   totaling
approximately  $1.8 million,  is being amortized over a fifteen year period (see
Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
<PAGE>
Rate/Volume Analysis
     The  following  table  presents  the dollar  amount of changes in  interest
income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning  assets and
interest-bearing  liabilities.  It distinguishes between the increase related to
higher  outstanding  balances  and  that due to the  levels  and  volatility  of
interest   rates.   For   each   category   of   interest-earning   assets   and
interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to
(i) changes in volume (i.e.,  changes in volume multiplied by old rate) and (ii)
changes in rate (i.e.,  changes in rate multiplied by old volume).  For purposes
of this table,  changes  attributable  to both rate and volume,  which cannot be
segregated,  have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and
the change due to rate.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended September 30,                                          1996 vs. 1995                            1995 vs. 1994
- ------------------------                                          -------------                            -------------
                                                    Increase        Increase      Total        Increase      Increase       Total
                                                   (Decrease)      (Decrease)    Increase     (Decrease)     (Decrease)    Increase
                                                  Due to Volume    Due to Rate  (Decrease)   Due to Volume   Due to Rate  (Decrease)
                                                  -------------    -----------  ----------   -------------   -----------  ----------
                                                                                                              (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>  
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS:
   Loans receivable ............................     $ 4,170       $   629       $ 4,799       $ 4,180       $  (156)      $ 4,024
   Mortgage-backed securities ..................      (1,251)         (133)       (1,384)          609           130           739
   Securities ..................................         500          (695)         (195)           26         1,007         1,033
   FHLB stock ..................................          66            (3)           63           106            (1)          105
                                                     -------       -------       -------       -------       -------       -------
Total interest-earning assets ..................     $ 3,485       $  (202)      $ 3,283       $ 4,921       $   980       $ 5,901
                                                     -------       -------       -------       -------       -------       -------
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES:
   Demand and NOW deposits .....................     $   (41)      $   (34)      $   (75)      $     6       $    (7)      $    (1)
   Savings deposits ............................         121             4           125            64             5            69
   Time deposits ...............................         953           518         1,471         1,414           660         2,074
   FHLB advances ...............................         732            11           743         1,580           723         2,303
   Other borrowed money ........................          60             6            66           (60)          (19)          (79)
                                                     -------       -------       -------       -------       -------       -------
Total interest-bearing liabilities .............     $ 1,825       $   505       $ 2,330       $ 3,004       $ 1,362       $ 4,366
                                                     -------       -------       -------       -------       -------       -------
Net effect on net interest income ..............     $ 1,660       $  (707)      $   953       $ 1,917       $  (382)      $ 1,535
                                                     =======       =======       =======       =======       =======       =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Financial Condition
     The following discussion of the Company's  consolidated financial condition
should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  Selected  Consolidated   Financial
Information and Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included
elsewhere herein.

     The Company's  total assets at September 30, 1996 were $388.0  million,  an
increase of $123.8 million, or 46.9%, from $264.2 million at September 30, 1995.
The  increase in assets is due to  completed  acquisitions  during the period of
Iowa Bancorp and Central West,  which had assets at the dates of  acquisition of
approximately $25 million and $33 million,  respectively. The increase in assets
also  resulted  from  the  purchase  of  mortgage-backed  securities  and  other
investment securities,  and from the increased origination and purchase of loans
during the period.
 
     The  Company's  portfolio  of  securities  available  for  sale,  excluding
mortgage-backed securities,  increased $25.1 million, or 51.4%, to $73.9 million
at September 30, 1996 from $48.8 million at September 30, 1995.  The increase in
securities  available for sale, primarily short-term treasury and federal agency
securities,  is due to securities acquired in acquisitions  completed during the
fiscal year and as the result of  securities  purchased in amounts that exceeded
maturities during the period.
<PAGE>
Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields
     The  following  table  presents for the periods  indicated the total dollar
amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant
yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities,
expressed  both in dollars and rates.  No tax equivalent  adjustments  have been
made. All average balances are quarterly  average balances.  Non-accruing  loans
have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended September 30,                           1996                           1995                          1994
- ------------------------                           ----                           ----                          ----
                                      Average    Interest              Average   Interest           Average    Interest
                                    Outstanding  Earned/    Yield/   Outstanding  Earned/  Yield/  Outstanding Earned/    Yield/
                                      Balance     Paid       Rate      Balance    Paid     Rate     Balance     Paid       Rate
                                      --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----
                                                                                                          (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                   <C>        <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>         <C>
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS:
   Loans receivable(1)                $207,983   $18,567     8.93%   $161,243   $13,768     8.54%   $112,317   $ 9,744     8.68%
   Mortgage-backed securities           34,213     2,521     7.37      51,157     3,905     7.63      42,914     3,166     7.38
   Securities                           51,494     2,916     5.66      42,674     3,111     7.29      42,130     2,078     4.93
   FHLB stock                            4,644       333     7.17       3,720       270     7.26       2,262       165     7.29
                                      --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----
Total interest-earning assets         $298,334   $24,337     8.16%   $258,794   $21,054     8.14%   $199,623   $15,153     7.59%
                                      ========   =======     ====    ========   =======     ====    ========   =======     ==== 
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES:
   Demand and NOW deposits            $ 29,377   $   661     2.25%   $ 31,139   $   736     2.36%   $ 30,861   $   737     2.39%
   Savings deposits                     14,906       402     2.70      10,431       277     2.66       7,933       208     2.62
   Time deposits                       149,247     8,703     5.83     132,856     7,232     5.44     104,283     5,158     4.95
   FHLB advances                        69,265     4,087     5.90      56,820     3,344     5.88      22,579     1,041     4.61
   Other borrowed money                  2,198       126     5.73       1,159        60     5.18       2,043       139     6.80
                                      --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----    --------   -------     ----
Total interest-bearing liabilities    $264,993   $13,979     5.28%   $232,405   $11,649     5.01%   $167,699   $ 7,283     4.34%
                                      ========   =======     ====    ========   =======     ====    ========   =======     ==== 

Average interest-earning assets       $ 33,341                       $ 26,389                       $ 31,924
                                      ========                       ========                       ========
Net interest income                             $ 10,358                        $  9,405                       $ 7,870
                                                ========                        ========                       =======
Net interest rate spread                                     2.88%                          3.13%                          3.25%
                                                             ====                           ====                           ==== 
Net yield on average interest-
   earning assets                                            3.47%                          3.63%                          3.94%
                                                             ====                           ====                           ==== 
Average interest-earning assets to
   average interest-bearing 
   liabilities                          112.58%                        111.35%                        119.04%
                                        ======                         ======                         ====== 
(1) Calculated net of deferred loan fees, loan  discounts,  loans in process and
loss reserves.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     The balance in mortgage-backed  securities  available for sale increased by
$14.2  million,  or 66.3%,  from $21.4  million at September  30, 1995, to $35.6
million at  September  30,  1996.  The  increase  resulted  from the purchase of
adjustable-rate  mortgage-backed  securities that were funded by adjustable-rate
borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.

     The Company's net portfolio of loans receivable increased by $65.0 million,
or 36.4%,  to $243.5  million  at  September  30,  1996 from  $178.5  million at
September 30, 1995. The increase in net loans receivable is due, in part, to the
acquisitions   of  Iowa  Bancorp  and  Central  West  which,  at  the  dates  of
acquisition,   had  loans  of   approximately   $16  million  and  $20  million,
respectively.   The  increase  also  resulted  from  increased   origination  of
residential  and  commercial  real estate loans,  consumer  loans and ag-related
loans.  In addition,  the loan  portfolio  increased as a result of purchases of
multi-family residential and commercial real estate loans.
<PAGE>
     The balance of customer deposits increased by $61.6 million, or 35.9%, from
$171.8  million at September  30, 1995 to $233.4  million at September 30, 1996.
The increase in deposits  resulted partly from the  acquisitions of Iowa Bancorp
and  Central  West  which,  at  the  dates  of  acquisition,   had  deposits  of
approximately $15 million and $28 million,  respectively.  In addition, customer
deposits increased as a result of management's  continued efforts to monitor and
enhance deposit product design and marketing programs.

     The  Company's  borrowings  from the  Federal  Home Loan Bank of Des Moines
increased by $51.2  million,  from $51.1 million at September 30, 1995 to $102.3
million at September 30, 1996. The increased  borrowings  were used primarily in
the purchase of securities,  including mortgage-backed  securities,  and to fund
growth of the Company's loan portfolio.
 
Results of Operations
     The following  discussion of the Company's  results of operations should be
read in conjunction  with the Selected  Consolidated  Financial  Information and
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and the related  notes  included  elsewhere
herein.

     The  Company's   results  of  operations  are  primarily  dependent  on net
interest  income,  noninterest  income  and  the  Company's  ability  to  manage
operating  expenses.  Net interest income is the difference between the interest
earned  on   interest-earning   assets  and  the   interest   expense   paid  on
interest-bearing  liabilities.  Net interest  income is affected by  regulatory,
economic and competitive  factors that influence interest rates, loan demand and
deposit flows.  The Company,  like other financial  institutions,  is subject to
interest  rate risk to the extent  that its  interest-earning  assets  mature or
reprice at different times, or on a different basis,  than its  interest-bearing
liabilities.

     The  Company's  noninterest  income  consists  primarily of fees charged on
transaction  accounts and for the  origination  of loans,  both of which help to
offset the costs associated with  establishing and maintaining these deposit and
loan accounts. In addition, noninterest income is derived from the activities of
First Federal's wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Services Financial Limited, and
Brookings Service  Corporation,  which engage in the sale of various non-insured
investment  products.  Historically,  the Company  has not  derived  significant
income as a result of gains on the sale of securities and other assets. However,
during the year ended  September 30, 1995, a $1.1 million gain was recorded as a
result of the sale of mortgage-backed securities.
 
     On September 30, 1996,  federal  legislation  was signed into law requiring
that all thrift  institutions  pay a one-time  assessment to restore the Savings
Association  Insurance  Fund (SAIF) to its  statutory  reserve level of at least
1.25% of insured depositor accounts. The assessment is 0.657% of First Federal's
insured  deposits as of March 31, 1995,  including those held by Iowa Savings at
that date.  As a result of the  special  assessment,  the Company  recognized  a
pre-tax charge of $1.27 million,  or $795,000 net of related income taxes, as of
the September 30, 1996 effective date of the legislation.  Beginning  January 1,
1997, the  legislation  provides that First Federal's  annual deposit  insurance
premium (including  required payments on the Financing  Corporation  obligation)
will be reduced from 0.23% to an estimated 0.064% of insured deposits.
<PAGE>
Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended 
September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995
 
General 
     Net income for the year ended  September 30, 1996 decreased  $1.13 million,
or 31.9%,  to $2.41  million,  from  $3.54  million  for the same  period  ended
September  30, 1995.  The decrease in net income  reflects the one-time  special
assessment  to  recapitalize  the SAIF,  which totaled  $795,000,  net of income
taxes.  In addition,  the decrease in net income resulted from the previous year
recognition  of gains on the sale of  securities  resulting  primarily  from the
restructure  of  the  Company's  mortgage-backed   securities  portfolio,  which
increased fiscal year 1995 income by $720,000, net of income taxes.

Net Interest Income
     The  Company's  net interest  income for the year ended  September 30, 1996
increased by $954,000, or 10.1%, to $10.36 million compared to $9.40 million for
the same period ended  September 30, 1995.  The increase in net interest  income
reflects an overall increase in average net  interest-earning  assets during the
period  resulting  from the  acquisition of Iowa Bancorp during the first fiscal
quarter,  and internal  increases in the portfolio of loans and securities.  The
net yield on average  interest-earning  assets  declined to 3.47% for the period
ended  September 30, 1996 from 3.63% for the same period in 1995.  The reduction
in net yield is due  primarily  to the  increased  cost of retail time  deposits
resulting from aggressive competition for such deposits during the period.

   During the fiscal  years  ended  September  30,  1996 and 1995,  the  Company
increased its  origination  and purchase of  multi-family  and  commercial  real
estate  loans and, in  addition,  increased  its  origination  of  consumer  and
agricultural  business loans. The Company  anticipates  activity in this type of
lending to continue in future  years,  subject to market  demand.  Net  interest
income is  expected  to trend  upward as a result of this  lending  activity  as
interest rate yields are generally  higher on this type of loan product compared
to yields provided by conventional  single-family residential real estate loans.
This lending  activity is  considered to carry a higher level of risk due to the
nature of the collateral and the size of individual  loans. As such, the Company
anticipates continued increases in its allowance for loan losses.
<PAGE>
Interest Income
     Interest  income for the year ended  September  30,  1996  increased  $3.28
million,  or 15.6%, to $24.34 million from $21.05 million for the same period in
1995.  The increase was primarily  due to a $4.80  million  increase in interest
earned on the loan portfolio, to $18.57 million for the year ended September 30,
1996, from $13.77 million in 1995. The increase in loan interest income resulted
from higher average loan portfolio  balances due to internal  growth of the loan
portfolio  and the  acquisition  of Iowa Bancorp and, to a lesser  extent,  to a
higher average yield on the loan portfolio  during the period.  Interest  income
from  mortgage-backed  securities  declined  $1.38  million  for the year  ended
September  30, 1996 to $2.52 million from $3.90 million in 1995 due primarily to
the reduction in the average portfolio balance during the period.

Interest Expense 
     Interest expense  increased $2.33 million,  or 20.0%, to $13.98 million for
the period ended  September 30, 1996 from $11.65  million for the same period in
1995.  The  increase in  interest  expense was due to an increase in the average
outstanding  balance of time  deposits and FHLB  advances  during the year ended
September  30,  1996,  compared to the same period in 1995.  The increase in the
average  balance of time deposits  resulted from internal  growth of the deposit
portfolio and the acquisition of Iowa Bancorp.  The average  outstanding balance
of FHLB advances increased due to borrowing activity  throughout the period used
primarily to fund growth of the loan  portfolio and the purchase of  securities.
To a lesser extent,  the increase in interest  expense  reflects higher interest
rates paid on  interest-bearing  liabilities during the year ended September 30,
1996, compared to the previous year.

Provision for Loan Losses
     The  provision  for loan losses for the year ended  September  30, 1996 was
$100,000  compared to $250,000  for the same period in 1995.  The  comparatively
higher  provision  for loan  losses  during  the  previous  year  resulted  from
management's  election to increase the balance in the  allowance for loan losses
in conjunction with growth of the loan portfolio during that period.  Management
believes,  based on review of historic loan losses, current economic conditions,
and other factors,  that the current level of provision for loan losses, and the
resulting level of the allowance for loan losses,  reflects an adequate  reserve
against potential losses from the loan portfolio.   In addition,  because of the
Company's extremely low loan loss experience during its history, management also
considers the loan  loss experience of similar  portfolios in comparable lending
markets.  Accordingly, the calculation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan
losses is not based solely on the level of non-performing assets.

   Management  will  continue to monitor the  allowance for loan losses and make
future  additions  to the  allowance  through the  provision  for loan losses as
economic  conditions and loan portfolio  quality  dictate.  Although the Company
maintains  its  allowance  for loan losses at a level which it  con-siders to be
adequate to provide for losses,  there can be no  assurance  that future  losses
will not exceed estimated amounts or that additional  provisions for loan losses
will not be required in future periods. In addition, the determination as to the
amount of its  allowance  for loan losses is subject to review by the  Company's
regulators,  as part of their  examination  process,  which  may  result  in the
establishment  of an  additional  allowance  based  upon their  judgment  of the
information available to them at the time of their examination.
<PAGE>
Noninterest  Income 
     Noninterest  income  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  1996  decreased
$867,000,  or 37.9%,  to $1.42 million from $2.29 million for the same period in
1995. Noninterest income for the previous fiscal year included gains on the sale
of securities of $1.07 million, compared to $79,000 for year ended September 30,
1996.  Noninterest  income  from  loan fees and  service  charges  increased  by
$118,000  for fiscal  1996  compared  to the same  period in 1995 as a result of
increased  lending  activity  and  increased  activity on  transaction  accounts
subject to service charges.

Noninterest Expense
     Noninterest  expense increased by $1.99 million, or 35.7%, to $7.57 million
for the year ended  September  30, 1996  compared to $5.58  million for the same
period in 1995. The increase  primarily reflects the one-time special assessment
of $1.27  million,  pre-tax,  for the  recapitalization  of SAIF.  In  addition,
noninterest  expense  increased  as a result of  additional  operating  expenses
associated  with the  acquisition  of Iowa Bancorp  during the first  quarter of
fiscal 1996. 
<PAGE>
     Income Tax Expense Income tax expense  decreased by $624,000,  or 26.9%, to
$1.70  million for the year ended  September 30, 1996 from $2.32 million for the
same period in 1995.  The decrease in income tax expense  reflects the reduction
in the level of taxable income for the period ended  September 30, 1996 compared
to the same period in 1995.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Years Ended
September 30, 1995 and September 30, 1994

General
     Net income for the year ended  September 30, 1995  increased  $815,000,  or
29.9%,  to $3.5 million,  from $2.7 million for the same period ended  September
30, 1994. The increase in net income  reflects  higher net interest  income as a
result of a full year of operations after the acquisition of Brookings  Federal.
In  addition,  net  income  was  enhanced  by a gain on the  sale of  securities
resulting  from the  restructure of the Company's  portfolio of  mortgage-backed
securities.  Net income for the year ended  September  30,  1995 was  negatively
impacted  compared  to the  previous  year by an  increase  of  $145,000  in the
provision  for loan  losses,  and by an overall  increase  of  $638,000 in other
expenses,  primarily  as a result of the full year  operation  of the  Brookings
Federal  division.  Operating  results  for the year ended  September  30,  1994
include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle resulting from
the  implementation  of SFAS 109 (Accounting for Income Taxes),  which increased
net income by $257,000.

Net Interest Income
     The  Company's  net interest  income for the year ended  September 30, 1995
increased by $1.5 million,  or 19.5%,  to $9.4 million  compared to $7.9 million
for the same period  ended  September  30,  1994.  The  increase in net interest
income reflects an overall  increase in average  interest-earning  assets during
the period  resulting  primarily from the full-year effect of the acquisition of
Brookings Federal. The net yield on average  interest-earning assets declined to
3.63% for the period  ended  September  30,  1995 from 3.94% for the same period
ended in 1994.  The  reduction  in net yield was due to an overall  reduction in
average net interest-earning  assets and to a reduction in the net interest rate
spread.
 
Interest Income
     Interest  income for the year  ended  September  30,  1995  increased  $5.9
million,  or 38.9%,  to $21.1  million from $15.2 million for the same period in
1994.  The increase  was  attributable  to a $4.0  million  increase in interest
earned on the loan  portfolio to $13.8 million for the year ended  September 30,
1995 from $9.7 million the previous year.  This increase in loan interest income
resulted  from  a  significantly  higher  average  portfolio  balance  of  loans
receivable during the period due to internal growth of the loan portfolio and to
the full-year effect of the acquisition of Brookings Federal. Interest income on
mortgage-backed  securities  was  enhanced by $739,000  compared to the previous
year primarily as a result of the increase in the average portfolio balance.  In
addition,  interest  income from the Company's  portfolio of securities  held to
maturity and  securities  available  for sale  increased by $1.0 million for the
year ended  September 30, 1995 compared to 1994 due to higher yields received on
the portfolio.
<PAGE>
Interest Expense
     Interest expense increased $4.4 million, or 60.0%, to $11.7 million for the
period ended  September  30, 1995 from $7.3 million for the same period in 1994.
The increase in interest expense was due primarily to a significant  increase in
the average  outstanding  balance of time deposits and FHLB advances  during the
year ended September 30, 1995, compared to the same period in 1994. The increase
in the average  balance of time deposits  resulted from the full-year  effect of
the  Brookings  Federal  acquisition.  The average  outstanding  balance of FHLB
advances increased due to borrowing activity  throughout the period used to fund
growth of the loan  portfolio.  To a lesser  extent,  the  increase  in interest
expense  reflects  higher  interest rates paid on  interest-bearing  liabilities
during the year ended September 30, 1995, compared to the previous year.

Provision for Loan Losses
     The  provision  for loan losses for the year ended  September  30, 1995 was
$250,000 compared to $105,000 for the same period in 1994. The $145,000 increase
in the  provision,  and a resulting  increase in the  allowance for loan losses,
reflects the increase in the level of agricultural  related,  multi-family,  and
commercial real estate lending activity.  These types of lending  activities are
considered to carry a higher degree of risk than single-family residential loans
due to the nature of the  collateral  securing  such  loans,  and the  generally
larger average size of individual loans. The ratio of  non-performing  assets to
total assets declined to .29% at September 30, 1995, compared to .35% at the end
of 1994.

Noninterest Income
     Noninterest  income for the year ended  September 30, 1995  increased  $1.2
million,  or 112.1%,  to $2.3  million  from $1.1 million for the same period in
1994. The increase in noninterest  income during the period ended  September 30,
1995  was  primarily  due to a $1.1  million  gain  on the  sale  of  securities
resulting  from the  restructure of the Company's  portfolio of  mortgage-backed
securities.  In addition,  during the year ended September 30, 1995, noninterest
income from loan fees and service charges  increased by $114,000 compared to the
same period in 1994.
<PAGE>
Noninterest Expense 
     Noninterest  expense  increased by $638,000,  or 12.9%, to $5.6 million for
the year ended  September  30, 1995 compared to $4.9 million for the same period
in 1994.  The increase  primarily  reflects the  full-year  effect of additional
operating  expenses  associated  with the acquisition of Brookings  Federal.  In
addition, noninterest expense includes an increase of $54,000 in federal deposit
insurance  premiums  due to the higher  average  outstanding  balance of insured
deposit accounts during the period.
 
Income Tax Expense 
     Income tax expense increased by $887,000, or 61.9%, to $2.3 million for the
year ended September 30, 1995 from $1.4 million for the same period in 1994. The
increase in income tax expense reflects increased income before income taxes for
the period ended September 30, 1995 compared to the same period in 1994.

Effect of Accounting  
     Change For the year ended  September 30, 1994,  net income was increased by
$257,000  due to the  cumulative  effect  of a change  in  accounting  principle
resulting from the  implementation  of SFAS 109  (Accounting  for Income Taxes).
There was no such effect on net income during the year ended 1995.

Asset/Liability Management
     The Company  currently  focuses  lending  efforts  toward  originating  and
purchasing  competitively  priced  adjustable-rate  loan products and fixed-rate
loan products  with  relatively  short terms to maturity,  generally 15 years or
less.  This  strategy  allows the Company to maintain a portfolio of loans which
will be  relatively  sensitive  to changes in the level of interest  rates while
providing a reasonable spread to the cost of liabilities used to fund the loans.

     The Company's  primary objective for its investment portfolio is to provide
the liquidity  necessary to meet loan funding  needs.  This portfolio is used in
the ongoing  management of changes to the Company's  asset/liability  mix, while
contributing  to  profitability  through  earnings flow.  The investment  policy
generally  calls for funds to be invested  among various  categories of security
types and  maturities  based upon the Company's  need for  liquidity,  desire to
achieve a proper balance between  minimizing risk while  maximizing  yield,  the
need  to  provide  collateral  for  borrowings,  and to  fulfill  the  Company's
asset/liability management goals.

   During the quarter ended June 30, 1995, all securities  previously designated
as held to maturity,  including mortgage-backed securities, were reclassified to
the available  for sale  category.  The  reclassification  was  performed  after
consideration  by  management  of  a  pending  regulatory  policy  clarification
regarding  the   measurement   of  interest   sensitivity   of   adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed  securities.  It  was  management's  opinion  that  the  pending
regulatory policy clarification provided sufficient potential risk to the market
value of this type of security  to warrant  reclassification  of the  securities
held by the Company to the  available-for-sale  designation.  In accordance with
the  requirements   of  SFAS  115  (see  Note  1 to the  Consolidated  Financial
Statements), all other securities previously designated as held to maturity were
also reclassified to available for sale. During the quarter ended June 30, 1995,
the reclassified adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities were sold.

   The Company's  cost of funds responds to changes in interest rates due to the
relatively short-term nature of its deposit portfolio. Consequently, the results
of operations are  influenced by the levels of short-term  interest  rates.  The
Company  offers a range of  maturities  on its deposit  products at  competitive
rates and monitors the maturities on an ongoing basis.
<PAGE>
   The Company emphasizes and promotes its savings, money market, demand and NOW
accounts  and,  subject  to market  conditions,  certificates  of  deposit  with
maturities of six months through five years, principally from its primary market
area. The savings and NOW accounts tend to be less  susceptible to rapid changes
in interest rates.
 
     In managing its asset/liability  mix, the Company,  at times,  depending on
the relationship  between long- and short-term interest rates, market conditions
and consumer  preference,  may place somewhat greater emphasis on maximizing its
net interest margin than on strictly  matching the interest rate  sensitivity of
its assets and  liabilities.  Management  believes that the increased net income
which may result from an acceptable mismatch in the actual maturity or repricing
of its asset and liability portfolios can, during periods of declining or stable
interest rates,  provide sufficient returns to justify the increased exposure to
sudden and  unexpected  increases in interest rates which may result from such a
mismatch.  The Company  has  established  limits,  which may change from time to
time, on the level of acceptable  interest rate risk. There can be no assurance,
however,  that in the event of an adverse change in interest rates the Company's
efforts to limit interest rate risk will be successful.
<PAGE>
Net Portfolio Value
     The Office of Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS")  provides a Net Portfolio  Value
("NPV")  approach  to the  quantification  of  interest  rate  risk  for  thrift
institutions  such as First  Federal.  This approach  calculates  the difference
between  the present  value of  expected  cash flows from assets and the present
value of  expected  cash  flows  from  liabilities,  as well as cash  flows from
off-balance   sheet   contracts.   Management  of  First  Federal's  assets  and
liabilities is performed within the context of the marketplace,  but also within
limits   established  by the Board of  Directors  on the amount of change in NPV
which is acceptable given certain interest rate changes.

     The OTS issued a regulation  which uses a net market value  methodology  to
measure  the  interest  rate risk  exposure  of thrift  institutions.  Under OTS
regulations,  an institution's "normal" level of interest rate risk in the event
of an assumed  200 basis  point  change in  interest  rates is a decrease in the
institution's NPV in an amount not to exceed two percent of the present value of
its assets.  Thrift  institutions  with greater than "normal" interest rate risk
exposure must take a deduction from their total capital  available to meet their
risk-based capital requirement.  The amount of that deduction is one-half of the
difference  between (a) the institution's  actual  calculated  exposure to a 200
basis point interest rate increase or decrease (whichever results in the greater
pro forma decrease in NPV) and (b) its "normal" level of exposure which is 2.00%
of the present value of its assets.  The  regulation,  however,  will not become
effective until the OTS evaluates the process by which thrift  institutions  may
appeal an interest rate risk deduction determination. It is uncertain as to when
this  evaluation  may be   completed.  Had such  regulation  been in  effect  at
September  30,  1996,  First  Federal's  interest  rate  risk  would  have  been
considered   normal  and  no  additional  risk-based  capital  would  have  been
required.

     Presented  below,  as of  September  30,  1996,  is an  analysis  of  First
Federal's  interest rate risk as measured by changes in NPV for an instantaneous
and sustained  parallel shift in the yield curve, in 100 basis point increments,
up and down 400 basis points, in accordance with OTS regulations. As illustrated
in the table,  First Federal's NPV is more sensitive to rising rate changes than
declining rates. This occurs primarily because,  as rates rise, the market value
of  fixed-rate  loans  declines  due to  both  the  rate  increase  and  slowing
prepayments. When rates decline, First Federal does not experience a significant
rise in market  value for these loans  because  borrowers  prepay at  relatively
higher rates.  The value of First  Federal's  deposits and borrowings  change in
approximately the same proportion in rising and falling rate scenarios.
 
     Management  reviews  the OTS  measurements  and related  peer  reports on a
quarterly basis. In addition  to monitoring selected measures of NPV, management
also  monitors  effects on net  interest  income  resulting  from  increases  or
decreases  in  interest  rates.  This  measure is used in  conjunction  with NPV
measures to identify excessive interest rate risk.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At September 30, 1996

    Change in Interest Rate       Board Limit
        (Basis Points)              % Change        $ Change            % Change
        --------------              --------        --------            --------
                                              (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                   <C>           <C>                    <C>
 +400 bp ...............              (60)%         $(13,549)              (36)%
 +300 bp ...............              (50)            (9,977)              (26)
 +200 bp ...............              (40)            (6,499)              (17)
 +100 bp ...............              (25)            (3,153)               (8)
    0 bp ...............               --                 --                --
- - 100 bp ...............              (10)             2,447                 6
- - 200 bp ...............              (15)             4,131                11
- - 300 bp ...............              (20)             5,885                16
- - 400 bp ...............              (25)             8,068                21
</TABLE>
Interest Sensitivity GAP Analysis
     Management  of interest  sensitivity of Security State Bank is accomplished
by matching  the  maturities  of  interest-earning  assets and  interest-bearing
liabilities.  The following table illustrates the asset/(liability) funding gaps
for selected maturity periods as of September 30, 1996 for Security State Bank.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At September 30, 1996

                                                  Repricable or Maturing Within

                                          0 - 6       6 - 12        Total       Over
                                         Months       Months       1 Year       1 Year      Total
                                         ------       ------       ------       ------      -----
                                                                                        (In Thousands)
<S>                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
ASSETS
Interest-earning deposits in
   other financial institutions .....   $    100    $      0     $    100     $      0    $    100
Federal funds sold ..................          0           0            0            0           0
Securities ..........................      2,516       2,250        4,766        5,150       9,916
Loans ...............................      9,437       2,570       12,007        8,968      20,975
                                        --------    --------     --------     --------    --------
   Total interest-earning assets ....   $ 12,053    $  4,820     $ 16,873     $ 14,118    $ 30,991
                                        ========    ========     ========     ========    ========
LIABILITIES
Interest-bearing deposits ...........   $  8,761    $ 12,265     $ 21,026     $  3,910    $ 24,936
Borrowed funds ......................      1,400           0        1,400            0       1,400
                                        --------    --------     --------     --------    --------
   Total interest-bearing liabilities   $ 10,161    $ 12,265     $ 22,426     $  3,910    $ 26,336
                                        ========    ========     ========     ========    ========

Asset/(Liability) funding GAP .......   $  1,892    $ (7,445)    $ (5,553)    $ 10,208    $  4,655
                                        ========    ========     ========     ========    ========

GAP ratio (assets/liabilities) ......        119%         39%          75%         361%        118%
                                        ========    ========     ========     ========    ========
</TABLE>

     Certain  shortcomings  are inherent in the method of analysis  presented in
the foregoing tables.  For example,  although certain assets and liabilities may
have similar  maturities  or periods to  repricing,  they may react in different
degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain
types of assets and  liabilities  may  fluctuate in advance of changes in market
interest  rates,  while  interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in
market rates.  Additionally,  certain  assets such as  adjustable-rate  mortgage
loans,  have features which  restrict  changes in interest rates on a short-term
basis  and over the life of the  asset.  Further,  in the  event of a change  in
interest  rates,  prepayments and early  withdrawal  levels would likely deviate
from those  assumed in  calculating  the  tables.  Finally,  the ability of some
borrowers to service  their debt may  decrease in the event of an interest  rate
increase.  First  Federal  considers  all of these  factors  in  monitoring  its
exposure to interest rate risk.
<PAGE>
Asset Quality 
     It is  management's  belief,  based  on  information  available,  that  the
Company's historical level of asset quality has been satisfactory and that asset
quality will continue to remain  strong.  At September 30, 1996,  non-performing
assets,  consisting of  non-accruing  loans,  real estate owned and  repossessed
consumer property,  totaled  $2,733,000,  or 0.70% of total assets,  compared to
$759,000, or 0.29% of total assets, for the fiscal year ended 1995. The increase
in non-performing  assets was due primarily to the addition of a $1,623,000 real
estate  participation loan secured by a 104 unit multi-family  apartment complex
located in Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Liquidity and Sources of Funds
     The Company's primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings,  principal
and  interest  payments on loans and  mortgage-backed  securities,  and maturing
invest-ment securities. While scheduled loan repayments and maturing investments
are  relatively  predictable,  deposit  flows  and  early  loan  repayments  are
influenced  by the level of interest  rates,  general  economic  conditions  and
competition.

     Federal  regulations  require First Federal to maintain  minimum  levels of
liquid assets. Currently, First Federal is required to maintain liquid assets of
at least 5% of the average daily balance of net  withdrawable  savings  deposits
and  borrowings  payable  on demand  in one year or less  during  the  preceding
calendar  month, of which  short-term  liquid assets must comprise not less than
1%.  Liquid  assets  for  purposes  of this ratio  include  cash,  certain  time
deposits,  U.S.  Government,  governmental  agency and corporate  securities and
obligations  generally  having  remaining  terms to  maturity  of less than five
years, unless otherwise pledged.  First Federal has historically  maintained its
liquidity  ratio at levels  well in excess of those  required.  First  Federal's
regulatory  liquidity  ratios were 5.4%,  12.2% and 8.0% at September  30, 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.

     Liquidity  management  is  both  a  daily  and  long-term  function  of the
Company's  management  strategy.  The Company  adjusts its investments in liquid
assets based upon  management's  assessment  of (i) expected  loan demand in the
Company's  market  area,  (ii) the  projected  availability  of  purchased  loan
products,   (iii)   expected   deposit   flows,   (iv)   yields   available   on
<PAGE>
interest-bearing  deposits,  and  (v)  the  objectives  of  its  asset/liability
management  program.  Excess liquidity is generally invested in interest-earning
overnight deposits and other short-term  government agency  obligations.  If the
Company  requires funds beyond its ability to generate them  internally,  it has
additional borrowing capacity  with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and
has collateral eligible for use with reverse repurchase agreements.

     The primary  investing  activities of the Company are the  origination  and
purchase  of loans and the  purchase  of  securities.  During  the  years  ended
September  30,  1996,  1995 and  1994,  the  Company  originated  loans of $95.8
million,  $65.3  million and $50.3  million,  respectively.  Purchases  of loans
totaled $24.9  million,  $19.2 million and $22.1 million  during the years ended
September  30,  1996,  1995 and  1994,  respectively.  During  the  years  ended
September  30,  1996,  1995 and  1994,  the  Company  purchased  mortgage-backed
securities and other  securities in the amount of $121.0 million,  $43.5 million
and $76.4 million, respectively.
 
     At September 30, 1996, the Company had outstanding commitments to originate
and purchase loans of $20.7 million. Certificates of deposit scheduled to mature
in one year or less from September 30, 1996 total $126.5  million.  Based on its
historical  experience,  management  believes that a significant portion of such
deposits will remain with the Company,  however,  there can be no assurance that
the Company can retain all such deposits.  Management  believes,  however,  that
loan repayment and other sources of funds will be adequate to meet the Company's
foreseeable short- and long-term liquidity needs.

     During the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996,  the Company  completed a
major remodeling of its main office building at an approximate cost of $911,000.
In addition,  the Company initiated negotiations for the purchase of an existing
building  located in Des Moines,  Iowa, for the purpose of establishing a branch
office of First  Federal.  The building  purchase,  and related  remodeling,  is
anticipated  to be completed  during the first  quarter of the 1997 fiscal year.
During the fiscal  year ended  September  30,  1995,  the Company  completed  an
upgrade of its data processing  system at an approximate  cost of $300,000.  The
source  of funds  for  capital  improvements  of this  type is from  the  normal
operations of the Company.

     On September 20, 1993, the Bank converted from a federally chartered mutual
savings and loan  association  to a federally  chartered  stock savings bank. At
that time, a  liquidation  account was  established  for the benefit of eligible
account  holders who continue to maintain  their account with the Bank after the
conversion.  The  liquidation  account is reduced  annually  to the extent  that
eligible  account holders have reduced their qualifying  deposits.  At September
30, 1996, the liquidation account approximated $3.8 million.

     Under the Financial Institution's Reform,  Recovery, and Enforcement Act of
1989 ("FIRREA") and the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act of 1991  ("FDICIA"),  the
capital requirements applicable to all financial  institutions,  including First
Federal and Security, were substantially  increased.  First Federal and Security
are in full compliance with the fully phased-in capital requirements.  (See note
14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
<PAGE>
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices 
     The Consolidated  Financial  Statements and Notes thereto  presented herein
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles,
which require the  measurement  of financial  position and operating  results in
terms of  historical  dollars  without  considering  the change in the  relative
purchasing  power of money over time due to  inflation.  The  primary  impact of
inflation is reflected in the increased cost of the Company's operations. Unlike
most  industrial  companies,  virtually  all the assets and  liabilities  of the
Company are monetary in nature.  As a result,  interest  rates  generally have a
more  significant  impact on a financial  institution's  performance than do the
effects of general levels of inflation.  Interest rates do not necessarily  move
in the same  direction,  or to the  same  extent,  as the  prices  of goods  and
services.
 
Impact of New Accounting  Standards  
     Several  new  accounting  standards  have been issued by the FASB that will
apply for the year ending September 30, 1997. SFAS No. 121,  "Accounting for the
Impairment of  Long-Lived  Assets and for Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed of,"
requires a review of  long-term  assets for  impairment  of  recorded  value and
resulting  write-downs if the value is impaired.  SFAS No. 122,  "Accounting for
Mortgage  Servicing  Rights,"  requires  recognition  of an asset when servicing
rights are retained on in-house  originated  loans that are sold.  SFAS No. 123,
"Accounting for  Stock-Based  Compensation,"  encourages,  but does not require,
entities  to  use a  "fair  value  based  method"  to  account  for  stock-based
compensation plans and requires  disclosure of the proforma effect on net income
and on  earnings  per share  had the  accounting  been  adopted.  SFAS No.  125,
"Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial  Assets and  Extinguishment
of Liabilities,"  provides  accounting and reporting standards for transfers and
servicing  of  financial  assets  and  extinguishment  of  liabilities.  Several
transactions common to banking are affected by SFAS No. 125, including servicing
of loans and other financial assets, repurchase agreements, loan participations,
asset securitizations,   and transfers of receivables with recourse. Adoption of
these  statements  are not expected to have a material  effect on the  Company's
consolidated financial position or results of operations.
<PAGE>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries


Report of Independent Auditors

Board of Directors
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Storm Lake, Iowa

   We have audited the accompanying  consolidated balance sheet of First Midwest
Financial,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries  (the "Company") as of September 30, 1996 and
the related consolidated  statements of income,  changes in shareholders' equity
and cash  flows for the year then  ended.  These  financial  statements  are the
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion  on these  financial  statements  based on our audit.  The  consolidated
financial  statements  of the Company as of September 30, 1995 and for the years
ended  September 30, 1995 and 1994 were audited by other  auditors  whose report
dated November 17, 1995 expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.
   We  conducted  our  audit in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   In our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects,  the financial position of the Company
as of September  30, 1996 and the results of its  operations  and its cash flows
for the year  then  ended  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

CROWE, CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP
October 9, 1996
South Bend, Indiana

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets                                                   September 30, 1996 and 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  1996             1995
                                                                                  ----             ----
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>
ASSETS  
   Cash and due from financial institutions .............................   $     736,979    $     453,230
   Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions - short-term       4,743,636        4,162,482
   Federal funds sold ...................................................       8,848,037             --
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total cash and cash equivalents ...................................      14,328,652        4,615,712
   Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions
     (cost approximates market value) ...................................         300,000             --
   Securities available for sale ........................................     109,491,558       70,232,092
   Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
     of $2,356,113 in 1996 and $1,649,520 in 1995 .......................     243,533,519      178,551,501
   Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock, at cost .........................       5,524,700        3,915,300
   Accrued interest receivable ..........................................       5,029,047        2,745,747
   Premises and equipment, net ..........................................       3,680,332        1,976,647
   Foreclosed real estate, net of allowances of $5,000 in 1996 and
     $-0- in 1995 .......................................................          86,818           48,418
   Other assets .........................................................       6,033,672        2,127,806
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total assets ......................................................   $ 388,008,298    $ 264,213,223
                                                                            =============    =============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

LIABILITIES
   Noninterest-bearing demand deposits ..................................   $   5,452,911    $   2,076,671
   Savings, NOW and money market demand deposits ........................      49,358,478       40,407,661
   Other time certificates of deposit ...................................     178,594,337      129,308,665
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total deposits ....................................................     233,405,726      171,792,997
   Advances from FHLB ...................................................     102,287,803       51,098,388
   Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .......................       2,789,918        1,149,918
   Other borrowings .....................................................       1,400,000             --
   Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance ......................         490,243          501,522
   Accrued interest payable .............................................       1,271,465          788,008
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities ...............................       3,153,441          869,694
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total liabilities .................................................     344,798,596      226,200,527
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)                                       September 30, 1996 and 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  1996             1995
                                                                                  ----             ----
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Preferred stock, 800,000 shares authorized; none issued ..............            --               --
   Common stock, $.01 par value; 5,200,000 shares authorized;
     1,990,495 shares issued and 1,945,735 shares outstanding
     at September 30, 1996; 1,991,453 shares issued and 1,794,025
     shares outstanding at September 30, 1995 ...........................          19,905           19,915
   Additional paid-in capital ...........................................      20,862,551       19,310,045
   Retained earnings - substantially restricted .........................      23,748,383       22,080,579
   Net unrealized appreciation on securities available for sale,
     net of tax of $18,324 in 1996 and $340,190 in 1995 .................          28,698          571,564
   Unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares ........................        (767,200)        (967,200)
   Treasury stock, 44,760 and 197,428 common shares, at cost,
     at September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively .......................        (682,635)      (3,002,207)
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total shareholders' equity ........................................      43,209,702       38,012,696
                                                                            -------------    -------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity ........................   $ 388,008,298    $ 264,213,223
                                                                            =============    =============
The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income                      Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

                                                              1996            1995           1994
                                                              ----            ----           ----
<S>                                                      <C>             <C>            <C>
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
   Loans receivable ..................................   $ 18,567,097    $ 13,768,064   $  9,743,957
   Securities available for sale .....................      5,437,734       7,015,145      3,842,930
   Securities held to maturity .......................           --              --        1,400,824
   Dividends on FHLB stock ...........................        332,634         270,261        164,980
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                           24,337,465      21,053,470     15,152,691

INTEREST EXPENSE
   Deposits ..........................................      9,766,586       8,245,227      6,102,042
   FHLB advances and other borrowings ................      4,212,024       3,403,497      1,180,452
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                           13,978,610      11,648,724      7,282,494
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
NET INTEREST INCOME ..................................     10,358,855       9,404,746      7,870,197

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES ............................        100,000         250,000        105,000
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION
   FOR LOAN LOSSES ...................................     10,258,855       9,154,746      7,765,197

NONINTEREST INCOME
   Loan fees and service charges .....................        830,256         712,345        597,984
   Gain on sales of securities available for sale, net         79,317       1,070,247          9,170
   Gain (loss) on sales of foreclosed real estate, net         (8,630)           --             --
   Brokerage commissions .............................        292,189         297,777        328,343
   Other income ......................................        226,163         206,101        142,270
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                            1,419,295       2,286,470      1,077,767

NONINTEREST EXPENSE
   Employee compensation and benefits ................      3,732,839       3,400,190      3,079,769
   Occupancy and equipment expense ...................        668,784         432,571        316,375
   SAIF deposit insurance premium ....................      1,699,363         404,306        350,314
   Data processing expense ...........................        289,390         291,961        200,219
   Other expense .....................................      1,177,886       1,047,149        991,020
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                            7,568,262       5,576,177      4,937,697
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND CUMULATIVE
   EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ........      4,109,888       5,865,039      3,905,267

INCOME TAX EXPENSE ...................................      1,696,323       2,320,687      1,433,519
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
   CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ..................      2,413,565       3,544,352      2,471,748

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES:
   Change in method of accounting for income taxes ...           --              --          257,163
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
NET INCOME ...........................................   $  2,413,565    $  3,544,352   $  2,728,911
                                                         ============    ============   ============
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income                      Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
(continued)
                                                              1996            1995           1994
                                                              ----            ----           ----
<S>                                                      <C>             <C>            <C>
EARNINGS PER COMMON AND COMMON
   EQUIVALENT SHARE
   Fully diluted:
      Income before cumulative effect of
        changes in accounting principles .............   $       1.34    $       1.99   $       1.24
      Cumulative effect of changes in
        accounting principles ........................           --              --              .13
                                                         ------------    ------------   ------------
NET INCOME ...........................................   $       1.34    $       1.99   $       1.37
                                                         ============    ============   ============

The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity                Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Net Unrealized
                                                                                             Appreciation
                                                                                          (Depreciation) on      Unearned
                                                            Additional                     Securities Avail-   Employee Stock  
                                              Common          Paid-in         Retained       able-For-Sale,      Ownership     
                                              Stock           Capital         Earnings         Net of Tax        Plan Shares   
                                              -----           -------         --------         ----------        -----------   
<S>                                     <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Balance at October 1, 1993 ........     $     19,886      $ 18,480,114      $ 16,322,411      $       --        $ (1,384,100)    

  Reduction of conversion costs ...             --              93,210              --                --                --       

  Purchase of 135,716 common
    shares of  treasury stock .....             --                --                --                --                --       

  19,810 common shares committed
    to be released under the ESOP .             --                --                --                --             198,100     

  Issuance of 4,794 shares in
    connection with recognition
    and retention plan ............               48               (48)             --                --                --       

  Retirement of 1,918 common shares              (19)               19              --                --                --       

  Amortization of recognition and
    retention plan common shares ..             --             381,897              --                --                --       

  Net change in unrealized
    appreciation (depreciation)
    on securities available for
    sale, net of tax of ($43,568) .             --                --                --             (86,964)             --       

  Net income for the year ended
    September 30, 1994 ............             --                --           2,728,911              --                --       
                                        ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------ 
Balance at September 30, 1994 .....     $     19,915      $ 18,955,192      $ 19,051,322      $    (86,964)     $ (1,186,000)     
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Continued)    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Total    
                                             Treasury        Shareholders'
                                               Stock            Equity   
                                               -----            ------
<S>                                       <C>               <C> 
Balance at October 1, 1993 ........       $       --        $ 33,438,311     
                                                                             
  Reduction of conversion costs ...               --              93,210     
                                                                             
  Purchase of 135,716 common                                                 
    shares of  treasury stock .....         (2,070,177)       (2,070,177)    
                                                                             
  19,810 common shares committed                                             
    to be released under the ESOP .               --             198,100     
                                                                             
  Issuance of 4,794 shares in                                                
    connection with recognition                                              
    and retention plan ............               --                --       
                                                                             
  Retirement of 1,918 common shares               --                --       
                                                                             
  Amortization of recognition and                                            
    retention plan common shares ..               --             381,897     
                                                                             
  Net change in unrealized                                                   
    appreciation (depreciation)                                              
    on securities available for                                              
    sale, net of tax of ($43,568) .               --             (86,964)    
                                                                             
  Net income for the year ended                                              
    September 30, 1994 ............               --           2,728,911     
                                          ------------      ------------   
Balance at September 30, 1994 .....       $ (2,070,177)     $ 34,683,288                                        
                                                                             
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Continued)    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Net Unrealized
                                                                                             Appreciation
                                                                                          (Depreciation) on      Unearned
                                                            Additional                     Securities Avail-   Employee Stock  
                                              Common          Paid-in         Retained       able-For-Sale,      Ownership     
                                              Stock           Capital         Earnings         Net of Tax        Plan Shares   
                                              -----           -------         --------         ----------        -----------   
<S>                                       <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Balance at September 30, 1994 .....       $     19,915      $ 18,955,192      $ 19,051,322      $    (86,964)     $ (1,186,000)     


  Purchase of 61,712 common
    shares of treasury stock ......             --                --                --                --                --       

  21,880 common shares committed
    to be released under the ESOP .             --              87,789              --                --             218,800     

  Amortization of recognition and
    retention plan common shares
    and tax benefit of restricted
    stock under plan ..............             --             267,064              --                --                --       

  Cash dividends declared on
    common stock ($.30 per share) .             --                --            (515,095)             --                --       

  Net change in unrealized
    appreciation (depreciation)
    on securities available for
    sale, net of tax of $383,758 ..             --                --                --             658,528              --       

  Net income for the year ended
    September 30, 1995 ............             --                --           3,544,352              --                --       
                                        ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------ 
Balance at September 30, 1995 .....      $     19,915      $ 19,310,045      $ 22,080,579      $    571,564      $   (967,200)    


<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Continued)    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Total    
                                           Treasury        Shareholders'
                                             Stock            Equity   
                                             -----            ------
<S>                                     <C>               <C> 
Balance at September 30, 1994 .....     $ (2,070,177)     $ 34,683,288        
                                           
                                           
  Purchase of 61,712 common             
    shares of treasury stock ......         (932,030)         (932,030)        
                                                                                
  21,880 common shares committed                                                
    to be released under the ESOP .             --             306,589                                           
                                                                                
  Amortization of recognition and                                               
    retention plan common shares                                                
    and tax benefit of restricted                                               
    stock under plan ..............             --             267,064         
                                                                                
  Cash dividends declared on                                                    
    common stock ($.30 per share) .             --            (515,095)        
                                                                                
  Net change in unrealized                                                      
    appreciation (depreciation)                                                 
    on securities available for                                                 
    sale, net of tax of $383,758 ..             --             658,528         
                                                                                
  Net income for the year ended                                                 
    September 30, 1995 ............             --           3,544,352      
                                        ------------      ------------    
Balance at September 30, 1995 .....     $ (3,002,207)     $ 38,012,696      
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Continued)    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Net Unrealized
                                                                                             Appreciation
                                                                                          (Depreciation) on      Unearned
                                                            Additional                     Securities Avail-   Employee Stock  
                                              Common          Paid-in         Retained       able-For-Sale,      Ownership     
                                              Stock           Capital         Earnings         Net of Tax        Plan Shares   
                                              -----           -------         --------         ----------        -----------   
<S>                                       <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Balance at September 30, 1995 ....        $     19,915      $ 19,310,045      $ 22,080,579      $    571,564      $   (967,200)     

  Purchase of 27,940 common
    shares of treasury stock .....                --                --                --                --                --        

  Retirement of 958 common shares                  (10)               10              --                --                --        

  20,000 common shares committed
     to be released under the ESOP                --             303,524              --                --             200,000      

  Amortization of recognition and
    retention plan common shares
    and tax benefit of restricted
    stock under the plan .........                --             168,120              --                --                --        

  Cash dividends declared on
    common stock ($.44 per share)                 --                --            (745,761)             --                --        

  Issuance of 171,158 common
    shares from treasury stock in
    connection with acquisition of
    Central West Bancorporation ..                --           1,192,990              --                --                --        

  Issuance of 9,450 common shares
    from treasury stock due to
    exercise of stock options ....                --            (112,138)             --                --                --        

  Net change in unrealized
    appreciation (depreciation) on
    securities available for sale,
    net of tax of ($321,866) .....                --                --                --            (542,866)             --        

  Net income for the year ended
    September 30, 1996 ...........                --                --           2,413,565              --                --        
                                          ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------      ------------      
Balance at September 30, 1996 ....        $     19,905      $ 20,862,551      $ 23,748,383      $     28,698      $   (767,200)     
                                          ============      ============      ============      ============      ============      

<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (continued)    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Total    
                                               Treasury        Shareholders'
                                                 Stock            Equity   
                                                 -----            ------
<S>                                          <C>               <C> 

Balance at September 30, 1995 ....           $ (3,002,207)     $ 38,012,696    
                                                                               
  Purchase of 27,940 common                                                    
    shares of treasury stock .....               (630,710)         (630,710)            
                                                                               
  Retirement of 958 common shares                    --                --      
                                                                               
  20,000 common shares committed                                               
     to be released under the ESOP                   --             503,524    
                                                                               
  Amortization of recognition and                                              
    retention plan common shares                                               
    and tax benefit of restricted                                              
    stock under the plan .........                   --             168,120    
                                                                               
  Cash dividends declared on                                                   
    common stock ($.44 per share)                    --            (745,761)   
                                                                               
  Issuance of 171,158 common                                                   
    shares from treasury stock in                                              
    connection with acquisition of                                             
    Central West Bancorporation ..              2,743,644         3,936,634    
                                                                               
  Issuance of 9,450 common shares                                              
    from treasury stock due to                                                 
    exercise of stock options ....                206,638            94,500    
                                                                               
  Net change in unrealized                                                     
    appreciation (depreciation) on                                             
    securities available for sale,                                             
    net of tax of ($321,866) .....                   --            (542,866)   
                                                                               
  Net income for the year ended                                                
    September 30, 1996 ...........                   --           2,413,565    
                                             ------------      ------------  
Balance at September 30, 1996 ....           $   (682,635)     $ 43,209,702    
                                             ============      ============    
                                             
The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                                     Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          1996               1995               1994
                                                                          ----               ----               ----
<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net income ..................................................     $   2,413,565      $   3,544,352      $   2,728,911
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    from operating activities:
    Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles ....              --                 --             (257,163)
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net .............           907,721            697,879            690,755
    Provision for loan losses .................................           100,000            250,000            105,000
    Provision for losses on foreclosed real estate ............            20,000               --                 --
    Gain on sales of securities available for sale, net .......           (79,317)        (1,070,247)            (9,170)
    Proceeds from the sales of loans held for sale ............         1,064,000               --                 --
    Originations of loans held for sale .......................        (1,064,000)              --                 --
    Stock dividends from FHLB stock ...........................           (78,900)              --                 --
    (Gain) loss on sales of office property, net ..............           (24,739)              --                 --
    (Gain) loss on sales of foreclosed real estate, net .......             8,630               --                 --
    Net change in interest receivable .........................        (1,406,034)          (504,937)          (221,613)
    Net change in other assets ................................          (399,200)           (55,643)             5,181
    Net change in accrued interest payable ....................           348,940            (47,662)           350,455
    Net change in accrued expenses and other liabilities ......         1,689,497           (122,777)          (343,537)
                                                                    -------------      -------------      -------------    
      Net cash from operating activities ......................         3,500,163          2,690,965          3,048,819

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Net change in interest-bearing deposits in other
    financial institutions ....................................          (300,000)              --                 --
  Purchase of securities available for sale ...................      (120,994,759)       (31,580,132)       (10,342,303)
  Purchase of securities held to maturity .....................              --          (11,888,625)       (66,050,121)
  Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale ........           366,829         49,445,258         16,136,827
  Proceeds from maturities and principal repayment of
    mortgage-backed securities available for sale .............        95,068,472         29,105,289         15,975,260
  Proceeds from maturities and principal repayment of
    mortgage-backed securities held to maturity ...............              --               27,205          8,256,744
  Loans purchased .............................................       (24,975,540)       (19,211,940)       (22,059,813)
  Net change in loans .........................................        (3,599,754)        (4,280,762)        (2,281,756)
  Proceeds from sales of foreclosed real estate ...............           132,842             78,738              2,000
  Purchase of FHLB stock ......................................        (1,355,100)          (899,800)        (1,134,900)
  Purchase of Community Financial Systems, Inc.,
    net of cash received ......................................              --                 --           (6,801,434)
  Purchase of Iowa Bancorp, Inc., net of cash received ........        (5,217,265)              --                 --
  Purchase of Central West Bancorporation, net of cash
    received ..................................................          (229,430)              --                 --
  Purchase of premises and equipment, net .....................          (845,380)          (581,126)           (34,366)
  Proceeds from sales of assets ...............................            72,925               --                 --
                                                                    -------------      -------------      -------------    
    Net cash from investing activities ........................       (61,876,160)        10,214,105        (68,333,862)
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)                    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          1996               1995               1994
                                                                          ----               ----               ----
<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>                <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Net change in noninterest-bearing demand,
    savings, NOW, and money market demand deposits ............          (295,265)        (5,082,644)        (5,066,686)
  Net change in other time deposits ...........................        18,548,037            708,934          1,829,381
  Proceeds from advances from FHLB ............................       210,000,000        246,000,000        298,300,000
  Repayments of advances from FHLB ............................      (160,510,585)      (255,209,677)      (240,308,847)
  Net change in securities sold under agreements to repurchase          1,640,000            240,000         (1,488,152)
  Net change in advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance           (11,279)            70,919            (24,545)
  Cash dividends paid .........................................          (745,761)          (515,095)              --
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options .....................            94,500               --                 --
  Purchase of treasury stock ..................................          (630,710)          (932,030)        (2,070,177)
                                                                    -------------      -------------      -------------    
      Net cash from financing activities ......................        68,088,937        (14,719,593)        51,170,974

Net change in cash and cash equivalents .......................         9,712,940         (1,814,523)       (14,114,069)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ................         4,615,712          6,430,235         20,544,304
                                                                    -------------      -------------      -------------    
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR ......................     $  14,328,652      $   4,615,712      $   6,430,235
                                                                    =============      =============      =============
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)                    Years Ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          1996               1995               1994
                                                                          ----               ----               ----
<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>                <C>

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
 Cash paid during the year for:
    Interest                                                        $  13,629,670      $  11,696,386      $   6,594,377
    Income taxes                                                        1,736,192          2,366,886          1,463,427

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and
  financing activities
  Loans transferred to foreclosed real estate                       $     220,474      $     129,408      $           -
  Issuance of common stock for purchase of
    Central West Bancorporation                                         3,936,634                  -                  -


The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.
</TABLE>
 
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                     
September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

General: 
     First Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  (the  "Company") is located in Storm Lake,
Iowa, and was organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware
for the  purpose of  acquiring  all of the  capital  stock to be issued by First
Federal  Savings  Bank of the Midwest (the "Bank" or "First  Federal")  upon the
conversion  described  below.  On September 20, 1993,  First Federal Savings and
Loan  Association  of  Storm  Lake  (the  "Association")  was  converted  from a
federally chartered mutual savings and loan association to a federally chartered
stock savings bank and the name of the  Association was changed to First Federal
Savings Bank of the Midwest.

Principles  of  Consolidation  and  Nature  of  Business  and  Industry  Segment
Information:
     The consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned  subsidiaries,  which include the Bank, Security State Bank
("Security"),  First Services Financial Limited, which offers brokerage services
and non-insured  investment  products,  and Brookings Service  Corporation.  All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

     The primary source of income for the Company is the purchase or origination
of commercial,  commercial real estate,  and residential  real estate loans. See
Note 4 for a discussion of  concentrations  of credit risk. The Company  accepts
deposits from customers in the normal course of business  primarily in northwest
and central Iowa and eastern South Dakota. The Company operates primarily in the
banking  industry  which  accounts for more than 90% of its revenues,  operating
income and assets.
<PAGE>
     Assets held in trust or  fiduciary  capacity  are not assets of the Company
and, accordingly,  are not included in the accompanying  consolidated  financial
statements.  At September 30, 1996 and 1995, trust assets totaled  approximately
$10,172,000 and $9,245,000, respectively.

Use of Estimates in Preparing Financial Statements:
     The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets,  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain Significant  Estimates: 
     The allowance for loan losses, deferred income tax provisions,  fair values
of securities and other financial  instruments,  the  determination and carrying
value of impaired loans,  goodwill amortization and depreciation of premises and
equipment,  involve  certain  significant  estimates made by  management.  These
estimates  are reviewed by management  routinely  and it is reasonably  possible
that  circumstances that exist at September 30, 1996 may change in the near-term
future and that the effect could be material to the financial statements.

Certain  Vulnerability  Due to  Certain  Concentrations:
     Management  is of the opinion  that no  concentrations  exist that make the
Company vulnerable to the risk of near-term severe impact.
<PAGE>
Cash and Cash  Equivalents: 
     For purposes of reporting cash flows,  cash and cash equivalents is defined
to include the Company's  cash on hand and due from financial  institutions  and
short-term  interest-bearing  deposits  in  other  financial  institutions.  The
Company  reports  net  cash  flows  for  customer  loan  transactions,   deposit
transactions,  interest-bearing  deposits in other financial  institutions,  and
short-term borrowings with maturities of 90 days or less.

Securities:
     Effective  October 1, 1993, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  (SFAS) No.  115,  "Accounting  for Certain
Investments  in  Debt  and  Equity  Securities".   The  Company  now  classifies
securities  as  securities  held to  maturity,  available  for sale and  trading
securities.  Securities  held to  maturity  are those  which the Company has the
positive  intent and ability to hold to maturity,  and are reported at amortized
cost.  Securities available for sale are those the Company may decide to sell if
needed for liquidity,  asset-liability  management or other reasons.  Securities
available for sale are reported at fair value,  with unrealized gains and losses
included as a separate  component of shareholders'  equity,  net of tax. Trading
securities are bought principally for sale in the near term, and are reported at
fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.  The effect of
adopting SFAS No. 115 was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

     In  implementing  SFAS No.  115,  the  Company  originally  designated  the
securities  and   mortgage-backed   securities   held  at  October  1,  1993  as
available-for-sale  securities.  Securities  acquired since October 1, 1993 have
been  designated  at  acquisition  as  available-for-sale  or  held-to-maturity,
however, in May 1995, all securities  previously designated as held-to-maturity,
including mortgage-backed securities, were transferred to the available-for-sale
category.   The   Company   does   not  have  any   securities   classified   as
held-to-maturity  or trading at September 30, 1996 or 1995. Although the Company
does not have a current intent to sell the securities available for sale, and it
is  management's  opinion  that  the  Company  has the  ability  to  hold  these
securities   to   maturity,    management    considers   the    designation   as
available-for-sale  to provide  flexibility in adjusting the  composition of the
securities portfolio as may become desirable in the future.

     Gains  and  losses  on the sale of  securities  are  determined  using  the
specific  identification  method  based on amortized  cost and are  reflected in
results  of  operations  at the  time of sale.  Interest  and  dividend  income,
adjusted by amortization of purchase premium or discount over the estimated life
of the security using the level yield method, is included in earnings.

Loans Held for Sale:
     Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are
carried at the lower of cost or  estimated  market value in the  aggregate.  Net
unrealized losses are recognized in a valuation allowance by charges to income.

Loans: 
     Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the
foreseeable   future  or  until  maturity  or  pay-off  are  reported  at  their
outstanding  principal balances adjusted for any charge-offs,  the allowance for
loan losses,  any deferred fees or costs on originated loans and any unamortized
premiums or discounts on purchased loans.
 
     Premiums or discounts on purchased  loans are amortized to income using the
level yield method over the remaining period to contractual  maturity,  adjusted
for anticipated prepayments.
<PAGE>
     Interest  income on loans is accrued  over the term of the loans based upon
the amount of principal  outstanding  except when serious doubt exists as to the
collectibility of a loan, in which case the accrual of interest is discontinued.
Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent that cash payments
are received until, in  management's  judgment,  the borrower has the ability to
make  contractual  interest and  principal  payments,  in which case the loan is
returned to accrual status.

Loan Origination Fees,  Commitment Fees and Related Costs:
     Loan fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred,  with the
net fee or cost  recognized  as an  adjustment  to  interest  income  using  the
interest method.

Allowance  for Loan  Losses: 
     Because some loans may not be repaid in full,  an allowance for loan losses
is recorded.  The allowance for loan losses is increased by a provision for loan
losses  charged to expense and  decreased by  charge-offs  (net of  recoveries).
Estimating  the risk of loss and the  amount of loss on any loan is  necessarily
subjective.  Management's   periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance
is based on the Company's past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in
the portfolio,  adverse  situations  that may affect the  borrower's  ability to
repay,  the estimated value of any underlying  collateral,  and current economic
conditions. While management may periodically allocate portions of the allowance
for specific problem loan  situations,  the whole allowance is available for any
loan charge-offs that occur.

     SFAS No. 114,  "Accounting  by  Creditors  for  Impairment  of a Loan",  as
amended by SFAS No. 118,  was  adopted  effective  October 1, 1995 and  requires
recognition of loan impairment.  Loans are considered impaired if full principal
or interest payments are not anticipated in accordance with the contractual loan
<PAGE>
terms.  Impaired loans are carried at the present value of expected  future cash
flows discounted at the loan's  effective  interest rate or at the fair value of
the collateral if the loan is collateral  dependent.  A portion of the allowance
for loan losses is  allocated  to  impaired  loans if the value of such loans is
deemed  to be less  than the  unpaid  balance.  If these  allocations  cause the
allowance for loan losses to require an increase, such increase is reported as a
component  of the  provision  for loan  losses.  The  effect of  adopting  these
standards was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

     Smaller-balance  homogeneous  loans are evaluated for  impairment in total.
Such loans include  residential  first  mortgage  loans  secured by  one-to-four
family residences, residential construction loans, and automobile,  manufactured
homes,  home equity and second  mortgage  loans.  Commercial  loans and mortgage
loans secured by other  properties are evaluated  individually  for  impairment.
When analysis of borrower  operating results and financial  condition  indicates
that underlying  cash flows of the borrower's  business are not adequate to meet
its debt service requirements,  the loan is evaluated for impairment. Often this
is  associated  with a delay  or  shortfall  in  payments  of 90  days or  more.
Nonaccrual loans are often also considered impaired. Impaired loans, or portions
thereof,  are charged off when deemed  uncollectible.  The nature of disclosures
for impaired loans is considered  generally  comparable to prior  nonaccrual and
renegotiated loans and non-performing and past due asset disclosures.
 
Foreclosed Real Estate:  
     Real estate properties  acquired  through,  or in lieu of, loan foreclosure
are initially recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition,  establishing a
new cost  basis.  Any  reduction  to fair value from the  carrying  value of the
related  loan at the time of  acquisition  is  accounted  for as a loan loss and
charged  against the  allowance  for loan losses.  Valuations  are  periodically
performed by management and valuation  allowances are adjusted  through a charge
to income for changes in fair value or estimated selling costs.

Income Taxes:
     Effective  October 1, 1993, the Company  adopted SFAS No. 109,  "Accounting
for Income Taxes".  Under SFAS No. 109 deferred tax assets and  liabilities  are
reflected  at currently  enacted  income tax rates  applicable  to the period in
which the  deferred  tax assets or  liabilities  are  expected to be realized or
settled.  As changes in tax laws or rates are  enacted,  deferred tax assets and
liabilities are adjusted through income tax expense. 

     The  effect of  applying  the  provisions  of SFAS No.  109  resulted  in a
one-time  adjustment  that increased net income for the year ended September 30,
1994 by $257,163 ($.13 per share) recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principles.

Premises and Equipment:
     Land is carried at cost. Buildings,  furniture,  fixtures and equipment are
carried  at  cost,  less  accumulated  depreciation  and  amortization  computed
principally by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of
the assets ranging from 3 to 40 years.
<PAGE>
Employee Stock Ownership Plan:  
     Effective  October 1, 1994,  the Company  began to account for its employee
stock  ownership  plan ("ESOP") in accordance  with AICPA  Statement of Position
("SOP") 93-6. Under SOP 93-6, the cost of shares issued to the ESOP, but not yet
allocated  to  participants,  are  presented  in the  consolidated  statement of
financial condition as a reduction of shareholders' equity. Compensation expense
is recorded  based on the market price of the shares as they are committed to be
released for allocation to  participant  accounts.  The  difference  between the
market  price and the cost of shares  committed to be released is recorded as an
adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Dividends on allocated ESOP shares are
recorded as a reduction of retained earnings; dividends are not paid on unearned
ESOP shares.

     ESOP shares are considered  outstanding for earnings per share calculations
as they  are  committed  to be  released;  unearned  shares  are not  considered
outstanding.

     Prior to the  adoption of SOP 93-6,  the expense  recorded  relative to the
ESOP was limited to the  principal  repayment  on the loan and the  earnings per
share  calculation  included as  outstanding  all 153,410 shares of common stock
owned by the ESOP.

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk:
     The Company,  in the normal course of business,  makes  commitments to make
loans which are not  reflected in the financial  statements.  A summary of these
commitments is disclosed in Note 15.
 
Intangible Assets: 
     Goodwill arising from the acquisition of subsidiary banks is amortized over
15 years using the  straight-line  method.  As of  September  30, 1996 and 1995,
unamortized   goodwill   totaled   $5,090,958  and   $1,689,776,   respectively.
Amortization   expense was  $170,070,  $125,160  and $62,584 for the years ended
September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase:
     The Company enters into sales of securities  under agreements to repurchase
with  primary  dealers  only,  which  provide  for the  repurchase  of the  same
security.  Securities sold under agreements to purchase identical securities are
collateralized  by assets which are held in  safekeeping in the name of the Bank
by the dealers who arranged the transaction. Securities sold under agreements to
<PAGE>
repurchase  are treated as financings  and the  obligations  to repurchase  such
securities  are  reflected  as  a  liability.   The  securities  underlying  the
agreements remain in the asset accounts of the Company.

Earnings Per Share:
     Earnings  per  common  share is  computed  by  dividing  net  income by the
weighted   average  number  of  common  shares   outstanding  and  common  share
equivalents  which would arise from  considering  dilutive  stock  options.  The
difference between primary and fully diluted earnings per share is not material.
The weighted average number of shares for calculating fully diluted earnings per
common share is:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Year ended September 30,        1996          1995          1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                           <C>           <C>           <C>
Fully diluted                 1,798,973     1,780,592     1,988,064
</TABLE>

Reclassifications: 
     Certain amounts in the 1995 and 1994 consolidated financial statements were
reclassified to conform with the 1996 presentation.

Note 2 - Acquisitions
     On  March  28,  1994  the  Company  acquired  100% of the  common  stock of
Community   Financial  Systems,   Inc.   ("Community"),   and  its  wholly-owned
subsidiary,  Brookings  Federal  Bank,  a federal  savings  bank,  in a purchase
transaction with $69 million in assets.  Each share of Community's  common stock
was exchanged for $31.38 in cash. The Company paid approximately  $10.5 million.
Community's  results of  operations  are  included  in the  consolidated  income
statement of the Company beginning as of the purchase date.

     Presented  below are the proforma  results of operations of the Company for
the year ended  September  30, 1994,  assuming  the  Community  acquisition  had
occurred as of October 1, 1993.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                   <C>
Net interest income .........................................         $8,819,577
Net income ..................................................          2,804,020
Earnings per common and common equivalent share
   Fully diluted:
      Net income ............................................         $     1.41
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     On December 29, 1995, the Company acquired 100% of the common stock of Iowa
Bancorp, Inc. ("Iowa Bancorp"),  and its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Iowa Savings
Bank, a federal  savings  bank,  in a purchase  transaction  with $25 million in
assets.  Each share of Iowa  Bancorp's  common stock was exchanged for $20.39 in
cash.  The Company paid  approximately  $8 million.  Iowa  Bancorp's  results of
operations  are  included in the  consolidated  income  statement of the Company
beginning as of the purchase date.

   Presented below are the proforma results of operations of the Company for the
years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995,  assuming the Iowa Bancorp  acquisition
had occurred as of the beginning of each fiscal year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1996            1995
                                                         ----            ----
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>
Net interest income ............................     $10,467,578     $ 9,872,849
Net income .....................................       2,268,794       3,569,052
Earnings per common and common equivalent share
Fully diluted:
      Net income ...............................     $      1.26     $      2.00
</TABLE>
     On September  30, 1996,  the Company  acquired  100% of the common stock of
Central West Bancorporation  ("Central West"), and its wholly-owned  subsidiary,
Security State Bank, in a purchase  transaction with $33 million in assets. Each
share of Central West's common stock was exchanged for $18.04 in cash and 2.3528
shares of the  Company's  common  stock.  The Company  paid  approximately  $1.3
million and issued  171,158  common  shares  valued at $23 per share for a total
value of  $3,936,634.  Central  West's results of operations are included in the
consolidated income statement of the Company beginning as of the purchase date.

     Presented below are the consolidated  proforma results of operations of the
Company for the years ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995,  assuming the Central
West acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of each fiscal year.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         1996            1995
                                                         ----            ----
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>
Net interest income ............................     $11,326,730     $10,265,360
Net income .....................................       2,410,218       3,481,751
Earnings per common and common equivalent share
Fully diluted:
      Net income ...............................     $      1.22     $      1.78
</TABLE>
Note 3 - Securities
   The  amortized  cost and fair value of  securities  available for sale are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        September 30, 1996
                                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Gross             Gross
                                                                  Amortized         Unrealized        Unrealized           Fair
                                                                     Cost              Gains             Losses            Value
                                                                     ----              -----             ------            -----
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>                <C>                <C>
DEBT SECURITIES
   Obligations of states and political subdivisions ......     $   1,392,354     $        --        $        --        $   1,392,354
   U.S. Government and federal agencies ..................        69,595,584            63,693           (450,111)        69,209,166
   Corporate obligations .................................           199,971             2,466               --              202,437
   Mortgage-backed securities ............................        35,278,943           633,751           (326,380)        35,586,314
                                                               -------------     -------------      -------------      -------------
                                                                 106,466,852           699,910           (776,491)       106,390,271
MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES .............................         2,977,684           125,983             (2,380)         3,101,287
                                                               -------------     -------------      -------------      -------------
                                                               $ 109,444,536     $     825,893      $    (778,871)     $ 109,491,558
                                                               =============     =============      =============      =============
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        September 30, 1995
                                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Gross             Gross
                                                                  Amortized         Unrealized        Unrealized           Fair
                                                                     Cost              Gains             Losses            Value
                                                                     ----              -----             ------            -----
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>                <C>                <C>
DEBT SECURITIES
  U.S. Government and federal agencies ...........             $ 45,442,279      $    157,179       $    (87,473)      $ 45,511,985
  Corporate obligations ..........................                1,050,569             7,368                (62)         1,057,875
  Mortgage-backed securities .....................               20,658,802           817,761            (73,574)        21,402,989
                                                               -------------     -------------      -------------      -------------
                                                                 67,151,650           982,308           (161,109)        67,972,849
MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES .....................                2,168,688            90,555                 --          2,259,243
                                                               -------------     -------------      -------------      -------------
                                                               $ 69,320,338      $  1,072,863       $   (161,109)      $ 70,232,092
                                                               ============      ============       ============       ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     The  amortized  cost  and  fair  value of debt  securities  by  contractual
maturity  are shown  below.  Expected  maturities  may differ  from  contractual
maturities  because  borrowers may have the right to call or prepay  obligations
with or without call or prepayment penalties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      September 30, 1996
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                   Amortized           Fair
                                                      Cost            Value
                                                 ------------     ------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>
Due in one year or less .......................  $ 43,968,463     $ 43,977,423
Due after one year through five years .........    21,224,420       20,891,552
Due after five years through ten years ........     5,696,876        5,636,832
Due after ten years ...........................       298,150          298,150
                                                 ------------     ------------
                                                   71,187,909       70,803,957
Mortgage-backed securities ....................    35,278,943       35,586,314
                                                 ------------     ------------
                                                 $106,466,852     $106,390,271
                                                 ============     ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     Activities  related  to the  sale of  securities  available  for  sale  and
mortgage-backed securities available for sale are summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              Years Ended September 30,
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                         1996           1995             1994
                                   -----------      -----------      -----------
<S>                                <C>              <C>              <C>
Proceeds from sales .........      $   366,829      $49,445,258      $16,136,827
Gross gains on sales ........           79,317        1,070,247           80,666
Gross losses on sales .......             --               --             71,496

</TABLE>
     During  the  period  ended  September  30,  1994,  there  were no  sales of
securities  held to maturity or transfers of  securities  between  available for
sale and held to maturity. In May 1995, the Company reclassified all securities,
including mortgage-backed securities,  previously designated as held to maturity
to the available for sale category.  The  reclassification  was performed  after
consideration  by management of a pending  regulatory  policy  clarification  in
regard  to  the   measurement   of   interest   sensitivity   of   floating-rate
mortgage-backed  securities.  It  was  management's  opinion  that  the  pending
regulatory policy clarification provided sufficient potential risk to the market
value of this type of security  to warrant  reclassification  of the  securities
held by the Company to the available or sale designation. The amortized cost and
approximate  fair value of securities and  mortgage-backed  securities that were
transferred to the available for sale category were $77,832,845 and $78,948,854,
respectively.
 
Note 4 - Loans Receivable, Net

     Loans receivable as of September 30 are summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         1996               1995
                                                         ----               ----
<S>                                                <C>                <C>
One to four family residential mortgage loans:
   Insured by FHA or guaranteed by VA ........     $     502,786      $     599,019
   Conventional ..............................        77,973,057         56,674,526
Construction .................................         7,819,129         17,877,327
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans         85,157,278         73,418,931
Agricultural real estate loans ...............        11,068,059          7,021,264
Commercial business loans ....................        15,468,175          8,172,989
Agricultural business loans ..................        30,364,235         11,905,367
Consumer loans ...............................        20,427,632         13,007,467
                                                   -------------      -------------
                                                     248,780,351        188,676,890
Less:  Allowance for loan losses .............        (2,356,113)        (1,649,520)
   Undistributed portion of loans in process .        (2,240,373)        (8,071,693)
   Net deferred loan origination fees ........          (650,346)          (404,176)
                                                   -------------      -------------
                                                   $ 243,533,519      $ 178,551,501
                                                   =============      =============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
   Activity in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended September 30 is
summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    1996             1995             1994
                                                    ----             ----             ----
<S>                                            <C>              <C>              <C>
Balance at beginning of year .............     $ 1,649,520      $ 1,442,077      $   825,000
Provision for loan losses ................         100,000          250,000          105,000
Community allowance at acquisition date ..            --               --            517,781
Iowa Bancorp allowance at acquisition date         132,500             --               --
Central West allowance at acquisition date         563,310             --               --
Charge-offs ..............................         (89,217)         (42,557)          (5,704)
                                               -----------      -----------      -----------
Balance at end of year ...................     $ 2,356,113      $ 1,649,520      $ 1,442,077
                                               ===========      ===========      ===========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     Virtually  all of the  Company's  originated  loans  are to Iowa and  South
Dakota-based  individuals  and  organizations.  The  Company's  purchased  loans
totalled  approximately  $76,444,000  at September  30, 1996 and were secured by
properties located, as a percentage of total loans, as follows: 8% in Wisconsin,
5% in Minnesota, 4% in Iowa, 2% in South Dakota, 2% in New York, 2% in Nebraska,
2% in North Dakota and the  remaining 7% in thirteen  other  states.  The Bank's
purchased  loans  totalled  approximately  $78,760,000 at September 30, 1995 and
were secured by properties  located,  as a percentage of total loans as follows:
11% in  Wisconsin,  7% in Minnesota,  5% in Iowa, 4% in South Dakota,  3% in New
York and the remaining 14% in fifteen other states.
 
     The Company  originates and purchases  commercial real estate loans.  These
loans  are  considered  by  management  to  be  of  somewhat   greater  risk  of
uncollectibility  due to the  dependency  on income  production.  The  Company's
commercial real estate loans include approximately  $8,766,000 and $7,430,000 of
loans secured by nursing homes at September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
remainder of the  commercial  real estate  portfolio is diversified by industry.
The Company's  policy for requiring  collateral and  guarantees  varies with the
creditworthiness of each borrower.

     The amount of restructured and related party loans as of September 30, 1996
and 1995 were not significant.  The amount of non-accruing loans as of September
30,  1996 and 1995  were  $2,646,000  and  $711,000,  respectively.

     Information  regarding  impaired  loans is as  follows  for the year  ended
September 30, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   <S>                                                                             <C>
   Average investment in impaired loans ......................................     $   405,000
   Interest income recognized on impaired loans including interest income
      recognized on cash basis ...............................................          78,000
   Interest income recognized on impaired loans on cash basis ................          78,000
</TABLE>
Information regarding impaired loans at year end is as follows. 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   <S>                                                                             <C>
   Balance of impaired loans .................................................     $ 1,623,000
   Less portion for which no allowance for loan losses is allocated ..........      (1,623,000)
                                                                                   -----------
   Portion of impaired loan balance for which an allowance for loan losses
      is allocated ...........................................................     $      --
                                                                                   ===========
   Portion of allowance for loan losses allocated to the impaired loan balance     $      --
                                                                                   ===========
</TABLE>
Note 5 - Foreclosed Real Estate
   Foreclosed real estate as of September 30 is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1996          1995
                                                             ----          ----
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>
Foreclosed real estate ..............................     $ 91,818      $ 48,418
Less:  Allowance for foreclosed real estate losses ..       (5,000)         --
                                                          --------      --------
                                                          $ 86,818      $ 48,418
                                                          ========      ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     A summary of the  activity  in the  allowance  for  foreclosed  real estate
losses for the years ended September 30 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      1996         1995          1994
                                                      ----         ----          ----
<S>                                                <C>           <C>          <C>
Balance, beginning of period .................     $   --        $   --       $ 10,897
Provision for losses on foreclosed real estate       20,000          --           --
Less:  Losses charged against allowance ......      (15,000)         --        (10,897)
                                                   --------      ------       --------
Balance, end of period .......................     $  5,000      $   --       $   --
                                                   ========      ======       ========  
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Note 6 - Loan Servicing
   Mortgage  loans  serviced  for others are not  included  in the  accompanying
consolidated  balance sheets.  The unpaid  principal  balances of these loans at
September 30 is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           1996          1995
                                                           ----          ----
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>
Mortgage loan portfolios serviced for FNMA .............$1,748,000    $1,630,000
                                                        ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
   Custodial  escrow  balances  maintained in connection with the foregoing loan
servicing were approximately $48,000 and $45,000 at September 30, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.

Note 7 - Premises and Equipment, Net
   Premises and equipment at September 30 are summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      1996               1995
                                                      ----               ----
<S>                                              <C>                <C>
Land .....................................       $   535,233        $   446,547
Buildings ................................         3,979,312          2,685,197
Furniture, fixtures and equipment ........         2,078,258          1,929,692
                                                 -----------        -----------
                                                   6,592,803          5,061,436
Less accumulated depreciation ............        (2,912,471)        (3,084,789)
                                                 -----------        -----------
                                                 $ 3,680,332        $ 1,976,647
                                                 ===========        ===========
</TABLE>
   Depreciation  of premises and equipment,  included in occupancy and equipment
expense,  was $214,201,  $134,733 and $91,061 for the years ended  September 30,
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
Note 8 - Deposits
     The  aggregate  amount of  short-term  jumbo  certificates  of  deposit  in
denomination of $100,000 or more was approximately $12,463,000 and $6,957,500 at
September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

     At September 30, 1996, the scheduled  maturities of certificates of deposit
were as follows for the years ended September 30:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          <S>                                    <C>
          1997                                   $126,312,353
          1998                                     38,701,778
          1999                                     11,158,153
          2000                                      1,580,664
          2001 and thereafter                         841,389
                                                 ------------
                                                 $178,594,337
                                                 ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Note 9 - Advances From Federal Home Loan Bank
     At September 30, 1996,  advances from the FHLB of Des Moines with fixed and
variable  rates ranging from 4.59% to 7.82% mature in the year ending  September
30 as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          <S>                                    <C>

          1997                                   $ 69,850,000
          1998                                     23,550,000
          1999                                        200,000
          2000                                        600,000
          2001 and thereafter                       8,087,803
                                                 ------------ 
                                                 $102,287,803
                                                 ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     The Bank has executed a blanket pledge whereby the Bank assigns,  transfers
and  pledges  to the FHLB and  grants  to the FHLB a  security  interest  in all
property  now or  hereafter  owned.  However,  the  Bank  has the  right to use,
commingle and dispose of the  collateral it has assigned to the FHLB.  Under the
agreement,  the Bank must  maintain  "eligible  collateral"  that has a "lending
value" at least equal to the "required collateral amount", all as defined by the
agreement.

     At September 30, 1996 and 1995, the Bank pledged  securities with amortized
costs  of   approximately   $61,163,000  and  $22,500,000  and  fair  values  of
approximately  $60,605,000 and $22,468,000  against  specific FHLB advances.  In
addition, qualifying mortgage loans of approximately $69,296,000 were pledged as
collateral at September 30, 1996.
 
Note 10 - Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
     At  September  30,  1996 and 1995,  securities  sold  under  agreements  to
repurchase totaled $2,789,918 and $1,149,918, respectively.

     An  analysis  of  securities  sold under  agreements  to  repurchase  is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Years ended September 30,
                                                        ---------------------------------
                                                              1996               1995
                                                        ---------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                <C>
Highest month-end balance .........................     $   2,789,918      $   1,312,411
Average balance ...................................         2,197,611          1,139,431
Weighted average interest rate during the period...              5.56%              5.30%
Weighted average interest rate at end of period....              5.52%              5.75%
</TABLE>
     At September 30, 1996,  securities sold under  agreements to repurchase had
maturities  ranging  from 1 to 11 months with a weighted  average  maturity of 5
months.

     The  Bank  pledged   securities  with  amortized  costs  of   approximately
$3,045,000  and  $1,580,000  and fair  values of  approximately  $3,117,000  and
$1,603,000,  respectively,  at  September  30, 1996 and 1995 as  collateral  for
securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

Note 11 - Other Borrowings
     Other  borrowings at September 30, 1996 consisted of $1,400,000 of advances
from the Federal  Reserve Bank of Chicago with a 5.4%  discount rate due October
1, 1996. 

Note 12 - Employee Benefits

Profit Sharing Plan:

     The profit sharing plan covers  substantially  all full-time  employees and
provides for the Company,  at its option and subject to a percentage of employee
earnings  limitation  imposed by the Internal  Revenue  Code, to contribute to a
trust created by the plan.  Related  expense for years ended September 30, 1996,
1995 and 1994 was $-0-, $106,188 and $113,343, respectively.
<PAGE>
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): 
     In conjunction with the stock conversion,  the Company  established an ESOP
for eligible  employees.  Employees with 1,000 hours of employment with the Bank
and who have  attained age 21 are  eligible to  participate.  The ESOP  borrowed
$1,534,100 from the Company to purchase  153,410 shares of the Company's  common
stock.  Collateral for the loan is the unearned shares of common stock purchased
with the loan proceeds by the ESOP. The loan will be repaid principally from the
Bank's  discretionary  contributions  to the ESOP over a period of 8 years.  The
interest  rate  for the  loan is 8%.  Shares  purchased  by the ESOP are held in
suspense for allocation among  participants as the loan is repaid.  ESOP expense
of $451,500,  $358,613  and $198,100 was recorded for the years ended  September
30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.  Contributions of $200,000,  $218,800 and
$198,100 were made to the ESOP during the years ended  September 30, 1996,  1995
and 1994, respectively.
 
     Contributions  to the ESOP and shares  released  from suspense in an amount
proportional  to the  repayment  of the  ESOP  loan  are  allocated  among  ESOP
participants on the basis of  compensation  in the year of allocation.  Benefits
generally become 100% vested after seven years of credited service. Prior to the
completion  of seven years of credited  service,  a participant  who  terminates
employment  for  reasons  other than death,  normal  retirement,  or  disability
receives a reduced benefit based on the ESOP's vesting schedule. Forfeitures are
reallocated among remaining  participating  employees, in the same proportion as
<PAGE>
contributions.  Benefits  are payable in the form of stock upon  termination  of
employment.  The Bank's  contributions  to the ESOP are not fixed,  so  benefits
payable under the ESOP cannot be estimated.

     ESOP  participants  are entitled to receive  distributions  from their ESOP
accounts only upon termination of service.

     For the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995,  20,000 and 21,880 shares,
respectively,  with an  average  fair  value of $22.58  and  $16.39  per  share,
respectively, were committed to be released.

     The ESOP shares as of September 30 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1996           1995           1994
                                                                  ----           ----           ----
<S>                                                          <C>            <C>            <C> 
Allocated  shares ......................................         76,690         56,690         34,810
Unearned shares ........................................         76,720         96,720        118,600
                                                             ----------     ----------     ----------
Total ESOP shares ......................................        153,410        153,410        153,410
                                                             ==========     ==========     ==========
Fair value of unearned shares at September 30                $1,860,460     $1,934,400     $1,867,950
                                                             ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

Stock Option and Incentive Plans:
     Certain  officers  and  directors  of the  Company  and the Bank  have been
granted  options to purchase  common  stock of the Company  pursuant to the 1993
Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "1993 Plan").  For the year ended September
30, 1996,  options on 15,000 shares were granted at an exercise  price of $22.50
per share and options on 500 shares were granted at an exercise  price of $23.63
per share and expire January 22, 2006 and September 29, 2006, respectively.  For
the year ended  September  30, 1995,  options on 3,509 shares were granted at an
exercise  price of $20.62 per share and expire  January 22,  2005.  For the year
ended September 30, 1994,  options on 172,585 shares were granted at an exercise
price of $10.00 per share and expire September 20, 2003. Options on 9,450 common
shares were  exercised at $10.00 per share during the year ended  September  30,
1996. No options were exercised during the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995
and 1994. As of September 30, 1996, no options have expired under the 1993 Plan.

     Certain officers and directors of the Bank have been granted options to
purchase  common  stock of the  Company  pursuant  to the 1995 Stock  Option and
Incentive Plan (the "1995 Plan"). For the year ended September 30, 1996, options
on 1,000 shares were granted at an exercise price of $22.13 per share and expire
July 25, 2006 and options on 22,660 shares were granted at an exercise  price of
$23.63 per share and expire  September  29, 2006.  As of September  30, 1996, no
options have been exercised or have expired under the 1995 Plan.
<PAGE>
Management Recognition and Retention Plans:
     The Company  granted 4,794 and 70,952  (2,876 of which have been  forfeited
under terms of the Plan due to termination of service)  restricted shares of the
Company's common stock on May 23, 1994 and September 20, 1993, respectively,  to
certain officers of the Bank pursuant to a management  recognition and retention
plan (the "Plan").  The holders of the restricted  shares have all of the rights
of a shareholder,  except that they cannot sell, assign,  pledge or transfer any
of the restricted  shares during the restricted  period.  The restricted  shares
vest  at a rate  of 25% on  each  anniversary  of the  grant  date.  Expense  of
$117,064, $208,159 and $381,897 was recorded for these plans for the years ended
September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Note 13 - Income Taxes
     The Company has been  allowed a deduction  of 8% of taxable  income or on a
specified experience formula. The  percentage-of-taxable  income method was used
for tax  returns  filed for the years ended  September  30, 1995 and 1994 and is
anticipated  to be used for the year ended  September  30, 1996. In future years
only the specified  experience  formula method will be allowed due to recent tax
law changes.

     Income tax  expense  for the years  ended  September  30 is  summarized  as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   1996               1995              1994
                                   ----               ----              ----
<S>                            <C>                <C>               <C>
FEDERAL
   Current .............       $ 1,735,099        $ 1,946,687       $ 1,348,519
   Deferred ............          (282,756)            46,000           (59,700)
                               -----------        -----------       -----------
                                 1,452,343          1,992,687         1,288,819
STATE
   Current .............           290,825            324,000           150,000
   Deferred ............           (46,845)             4,000            (5,300)
                               -----------        -----------       -----------
                                   243,980            328,000           144,700
                               -----------        -----------       -----------
INCOME TAX EXPENSE .....       $ 1,696,323        $ 2,320,687       $ 1,433,519
                               ===========        ===========       ===========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     Total  income tax expense  differed  from amounts  computed  using the U.S.
Federal income tax rate of 34% on income before income taxes as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended September 30,                                         1996             1995            1994
- -------------------------                                         ----             ----            ----
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>             <C>
Income taxes at 34% Federal tax rate ....................     $ 1,397,000      $ 1,995,000     $ 1,327,790
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
   Bad debt deduction - net .............................            --               --           (34,000)
   State income taxes - net of federal benefit ..........         161,000          214,000          99,000
   Excess of cost over net assets acquired ..............          58,000           43,000          21,279
   Excess of fair value of ESOP shares released over cost          86,000           48,000            --
   Other - net ..........................................          (5,677)          20,687          19,450
                                                              -----------      -----------     -----------
      Total income tax expense ..........................     $ 1,696,323      $ 2,320,687     $ 1,433,519
                                                              ===========      ===========     ===========
</TABLE>
     The  components of the net deferred tax asset  (liability)  recorded in the
consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1996           1995
                                                                       ----           ----
<S>                                                                 <C>            <C>
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
   Bad debts ..................................................     $ 173,000      $ 228,000
   Deferred loan fees .........................................       140,000        104,000
   Management incentive program ...............................        68,000         83,000
   SAIF assessment ............................................       472,000           --
   Other items ................................................        63,000         33,000
                                                                    ---------      ---------
                                                                      916,000        448,000
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
   Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividend ......................      (452,000)      (419,000)
   Accrual to cash basis ......................................      (206,000)          --
   Net unrealized appreciation on securities available for sale       (18,324)      (337,349)
   Other ......................................................       (39,898)       (18,864)
                                                                    ---------      ---------
                                                                     (716,222)      (775,213)
Valuation allowance ...........................................          --             --
                                                                    ---------      ---------
Net deferred tax asset (liability) ............................     $ 199,778      $(327,213)
                                                                    =========      ========= 
</TABLE>
   Retained  earnings  at  September  30, 1996 and 1995  includes  approximately
$6,744,000 and $6,200,000,  respectively,  for which no deferred  federal income
tax liability has been recorded  which  represents  bad debt  deductions for tax
purposes only. Reduction of amounts so allocated for purposes other than tax bad
debt losses would create income for tax purposes only, which would be subject to
the then-current  corporate income tax rate. The unrecorded  deferred income tax
liability on the above amount was  approximately  $2,300,000  and  $2,100,000 at
September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
<PAGE>
Note 14 - Capital Requirements and Restrictions on Retained Earnings
     The Company has two primary subsidiaries, First Federal and Security. First
Federal and Security  are subject to various  regulatory  capital  requirements.
Failure to meet minimum capital  requirements can initiate certain  mandatory or
discretionary  actions by regulators  that, if  undertaken,  could have a direct
material effect on the financial  statements.  Under capital adequacy guidelines
and the regulatory  framework for prompt  corrective  action,  First Federal and
Security must meet specific  quantitative capital guidelines using their assets,
liabilities,  and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory
accounting practices. The requirements are also subject to qualitative judgments
by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

     Regulations  require First Federal to maintain  minimum  amounts and ratios
(set forth below) of tangible capital,  leverage capital and risk-based capital.
Management  believes,  as of September  30, 1996,  that First  Federal meets the
capital adequacy requirements.
<PAGE>
     The  following  is  a  reconciliation  of  First  Federal's  capital  under
generally  accepted  accounting  principles  (GAAP)  to  regulatory  capital  at
September 30, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                    Tangible      Leverage     Risk-Based
                                                                     Capital       Capital       Capital
                                                                     -------       -------       -------
                                                                             (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>

GAAP capital at September 30, 1996 ............................     $ 34,398      $ 34,398      $ 34,398
Additional capital items and capital adjustments:
   Net unrealized depreciation on securities available for sale           11            11            11
   Intangible assets ..........................................       (2,279)       (2,279)       (2,279)
   Investment in nonincludable subsidiaries ...................         (787)         (787)         (787)
   Less assets required to be deducted ........................         --            --             (51)
   Includable allowance for loan losses .......................         --            --           1,792
                                                                    --------      --------      --------
Regulatory capital at September 30, 1996 ......................     $ 31,343      $ 31,343      $ 33,084
                                                                    ========      ========      ========

GAAP capital at September 30, 1995 ............................     $ 35,036      $ 35,036      $ 35,036
Additional capital items and capital adjustments:
   Net unrealized appreciation on securities available for sale         (539)         (539)         (539)
   Intangible assets ..........................................       (1,690)       (1,690)       (1,690)
   Investment in nonincludable subsidiaries ...................         (734)         (734)         (734)
   Less assets required to be deducted ........................         --            --             (74)
   Includable allowance for loan losses .......................         --            --           1,634
                                                                    --------      --------      --------
Regulatory capital at September 30, 1995 ......................     $ 32,073      $ 32,073      $ 33,633
                                                                    ========      ========      ========

</TABLE>
     First Federal's  actual capital and required capital amounts and ratios are
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                To Be Well
                                                         Requirement         Capitalized Under
                                                         For Capital          Prompt Corrective
                                     Actual           Adequacy Purposes      Action Provisions
                              Amount       Ratio      Amount      Ratio      Amount      Ratio
                             -------------------      ------------------    ------------------- 
                                                  (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>          <C>
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
   Tangible Capital ....     $31,343       9.04%      $ 5,198     1.50%     $10,396       3.00%
   Leverage Capital ....     $31,343       9.04%      $10,396     3.00%     $20,792       6.00%
   Risk-Based Capital ..     $33,084      16.36%      $16,176     8.00%     $20,220      10.00%

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
   Tangible Capital ....     $32,073      12.37%      $ 3,891     1.50%     $ 7,781       3.00%
   Leverage Capital ....     $32,073      12.37%      $ 7,781     3.00%     $15,562       6.00%
   Risk-Based Capital ..     $33,633      20.42%      $13,177     8.00%     $16,471      10.00%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     Regulations  of the  Office  of  Thrift  Supervision  limit  the  amount of
dividends  and  other  capital  distributions  that  may be  paid  by a  savings
institution  without  prior  approval of the Office of Thrift  Supervision.  The
regulatory  restriction  is based on a  three-tiered  system  with the  greatest
flexibility  being afforded to  well-capitalized  (Tier 1)  institutions.  First
Federal is currently a Tier 1 institution.  Accordingly, First Federal can make,
without prior regulatory  approval,  distributions  during a calendar year up to
100% of its net income to date  during  the  calendar  year plus an amount  that
would  reduce by  one-half  its  "surplus  capital  ratio"  (the excess over its
capital  requirements)  at the beginning of the calendar year.  Accordingly,  at
September  30,  1996,  approximately  $8,000,000  of  First  Federal's  retained
earnings is potentially available for distribution to the Company.

     Quantitative  measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy
require  Security to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table
below)  of total  risk-based  capital  and Tier I  capital  (as  defined  in the
regulations)  to  risk-weighted  assets  (as  defined),  and  a  leverage  ratio
consisting  of Tier I capital  (as  defined)  to average  assets  (as  defined).
Management  believes,  as of September 30, 1996, that Security meets all capital
adequacy requirements to which it is subject.
<PAGE>
     The  following is a  reconciliation  of  Security's  capital  under GAAP to
regulatory capital at September 30, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Total
                                                      Tier I      Leverage     Risk-Based
                                                      Capital      Capital      Capital
                                                      -------      -------      -------
                                                           (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>

GAAP capital at September 30, 1996 .............     $ 5,860      $ 5,860      $ 5,860
Additional capital items and capital adjustments
   Intangible assets ...........................      (2,811)      (2,811)      (2,811)
   Includable allowance for loan losses ........        --           --            274
                                                     -------      -------      -------
Regulatory capital at September 30, 1996 .......     $ 3,049      $ 3,049      $ 3,323
                                                     =======      =======      =======
</TABLE>
     As of December 31, 1995,  the most recent  notification  date,  the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation categorized Security as well capitalized under the
regulatory  framework for prompt  corrective  action.  To be categorized as well
capitalized Security must maintain minimum,  Tier I risk-based,  Tier I leverage
and total risk-based  capital ratios as set forth in the table below.  There are
no conditions or events since that  notification  that management  believes have
changed the institution's category.
 
     Security's  actual  capital  and  required  capital  amounts and ratios are
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     To Be Well
                                                                             Requirement         Capitalized Under
                                                                             For Capital         Prompt Corrective
                                                  Actual                  Adequacy Purposes      Action Provisions
                                           Amount        Ratio        Amount         Ratio      Amount       Ratio
                                           ------        -----        ------         -----      ------       -----
                                                                    (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                        <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996   
   Tier I Capital (to risk
      weighted assets) ...............     $3,049        14.1%        $  865        4.0%        $1,297        6.0%
   Leverage Capital
      (to average assets) ............     $3,049        10.0%        $1,220        4.0%        $1,525        5.0%
   Total Risk-Based Capital
      (to risk weighted assets) $3,323                   15.4%        $1,729        8.0%        $2,161       10.0%
</TABLE>
Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies
     In the normal course of business,  the Company makes various commitments to
extend credit which are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial
statements.
<PAGE>
     At September 30, 1996 and 1995, loan commitments  approximated  $20,671,000
and  $12,818,000,  respectively,  excluding  undisbursed  portions  of  loans in
process.  Loan  commitments  at  September  30,  1996  included  commitments  to
originate  fixed-rate  loans  with  interest  rates  ranging  from 8.5% to 9.25%
totaling $314,000,  adjustable-rate loan commitments with interest rates ranging
from 8.13% to 11.00%  totaling  $14,723,000  and  adjustable-rate  purchase loan
commitments of $5,634,000 with interest rates ranging from 9.25% to 9.50%.  Loan
commitments at September 30, 1995 included  commitments to originate  fixed-rate
loans  with  interest  rates  ranging  from 7.75% to 11.75%  totaling  $551,000,
adjustable-rate  loan  commitments  with  interest  rates  ranging from 7.75% to
10.75%  totaling  $9,059,000  and adjustable  rate purchase loan  commitments of
$3,208,000 with interest rates ranging from 8.75% to 9.38%.  Commitments,  which
are disbursed  subject to certain  limitations,  extend over various  periods of
time.  Generally,  unused  commitments  are  canceled  upon  expiration  of  the
commitment term as outlined in each individual contract.

     The  exposure  to  credit  loss in the  event of  non-performance  by other
parties to financial instruments for commitments to extend credit is represented
by the  contractual  amount of those  instruments.  The same credit policies and
collateral   requirements  are  used  in  making   commitments  and  conditional
obligations as are used for on-balance-sheet instruments.

     Since  certain  commitments  to make  loans and to fund lines of credit and
loans in process  expire  without  being used,  the amount does not  necessarily
represent  future cash  commitments.  In  addition,  commitments  used to extend
credit are  agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of
any condition established in the contract.
<PAGE>
     Securities with amortized costs of approximately  $9,711,000 and $6,465,000
and fair values of approximately $9,633,000 and $6,412,000 at September 30, 1996
and 1995, respectively, were pledged as collateral for public funds on deposit.
 
     Securities  with amortized costs of  approximately  $2,404,000 and $999,000
and fair values of approximately $2,456,000 and $1,006,000 at September 30, 1996
and 1995,  respectively,  were pledged as collateral for  individual,  trust and
estate deposits.

     Under employment agreements with certain executive officers, certain events
leading to separation from the Company or the Bank could result in cash payments
totaling approximately $2,500,000 as of September 30, 1996.

     The Company and its  subsidiaries  are subject to certain  claims and legal
actions  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business.  In  the  opinion  of
management,  after consultation with legal counsel,  the ultimate disposition of
these  matters  is  not  expected  to  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
consolidated financial position of the Company.

Note 16 - Parent Company Financial Statements
     Presented below are condensed financial  statements for the parent company,
First Midwest Financial, Inc.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Balance Sheets                                            September 30, 1996 and 1995
                                                                  ------------      ------------
                                                                       1996              1995
                                                                  ------------      ------------
<S>                                                               <C>               <C>
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents ...................................     $  1,383,318      $  1,161,376
Securities available for sale ...............................        1,433,285           694,950
Investment in subsidiary banks ..............................       40,258,011        35,036,350
Loan receivable from ESOP ...................................          767,200           967,200
Other assets ................................................           61,431           172,190
                                                                  ------------      ------------
   Total assets .............................................     $ 43,903,245      $ 38,032,066
                                                                  ============      ============

LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other liabilities ......................     $    693,543      $     19,370

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock ................................................           19,905            19,915
Additional paid-in capital ..................................       20,862,551        19,310,045
Retained earnings - substantially restricted ................       23,748,383        22,080,579
Net unrealized appreciation on securities available for sale,
  net of tax of $18,324 in 1996 and $340,190 in 1995 ........           28,698           571,564
Unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares ...............         (767,200)         (967,200)
Treasury stock, at cost .....................................         (682,635)       (3,002,207)
                                                                  ------------      ------------
   Total shareholders' equity ...............................       43,209,702        38,012,696
                                                                  ------------      ------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity ............     $ 43,903,245      $ 38,032,066
                                                                  ============      ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Statements of Income                          Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                             1996             1995            1994
<S>                                                      <C>              <C>             <C>
Dividend income from subsidiary banks ..............     $ 9,500,000      $ 1,800,000     $ 4,500,000
Interest income ....................................         219,546          177,901         238,357
Gain on sales of securities available for sale, net           51,237           51,250          46,342
                                                         -----------      -----------     -----------
                                                           9,770,783        2,029,151       4,784,699
Operating expenses .................................         182,743          132,175         175,586
                                                         -----------      -----------     -----------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN
  UNDISTRIBUTED NET INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES .........       9,588,040        1,896,976       4,609,113

Income tax expense .................................          53,000           50,000          70,482
                                                         -----------      -----------     -----------

INCOME BEFORE EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED NET INCOME
  OF SUBSIDIARIES ..................................       9,535,040        1,846,976       4,538,631

(Distributions in excess of) equity in undistributed
  net income of subsidiary banks ...................      (7,121,475)       1,697,376      (1,809,720)
                                                         -----------      -----------     -----------

NET INCOME .........................................     $ 2,413,565      $ 3,544,352     $ 2,728,911
                                                         ===========      ===========     ===========

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows                                           Years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 1996              1995              1994
                                                                                 ----              ----              ----
<S>                                                                         <C>               <C>               <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   Net income .........................................................     $  2,413,565      $  3,544,352      $  2,728,911
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from
         operating activities:
      Distribution in excess of (equity in undistributed) net income
         of subsidiary banks ..........................................        7,121,475        (1,697,376)        1,809,720
      Amortization of recognition and retention plan ..................          117,064           208,159           381,897
      Gain on sales of securities available for sale, net .............          (51,237)          (51,250)          (46,342)
      Change in other assets ..........................................          110,759           291,107          (463,297)
      Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities ................          721,109            54,984           (82,764)
                                                                            ------------      ------------      ------------
      Net cash from operating activities ..............................       10,432,735         2,349,976         4,328,125

Cash flows from investing activities
   Purchase of securities available for sale ..........................       (1,014,438)         (617,562)         (333,550)
   Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale ...............          338,750           241,875           162,378
   Purchase of Community Financial Systems, Inc. ......................             --                --          (9,929,443)
   Purchase of Iowa Bancorporation, Inc. ..............................       (6,529,615)             --                --
   Purchase of Central West Bancorporation ............................       (1,923,519)             --                --
   Repayments on loan receivable from ESOP ............................          200,000           218,800           198,100
                                                                            ------------      ------------      ------------
      Net cash from investment activities .............................       (8,928,822)         (156,887)       (9,902,515)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Cash dividends paid ................................................         (745,761)         (515,095)             --
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options ............................           94,500              --                --
   Purchase of treasury stock .........................................         (630,710)         (932,030)       (2,070,177)
                                                                            ------------      ------------      ------------
      Net cash from financing activities ..............................       (1,281,971)       (1,447,125)       (2,070,177)
                                                                            ------------      ------------      ------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents ...............................          221,942           745,964        (7,644,567)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ........................        1,161,376           415,412         8,059,979
                                                                            ------------      ------------      ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ..............................     $  1,383,318      $  1,161,376      $    415,412
                                                                            ============      ============      ============

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
   Issuance of common stock for purchase of Central West Bancorporation     $  3,936,634
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     The extent to which the Company may pay cash dividends to shareholders will
depend on the cash currently available at the Company, as well as the ability of
the subsidiary banks to pay dividends to the Company (see Note 14).
 
Note 17 - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               Quarter Ended
                                          -------------------------------------------------------
                                          December 31     March 31        June 30    September 30
                                          -----------     --------        -------    ------------
<S>                                       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
FISCAL YEAR 1996:
   Total  interest income ...........     $5,363,332     $5,962,258     $6,499,056     $6,512,819
   Total interest expense ...........      2,960,194      3,407,485      3,735,106      3,875,825
   Net interest income ..............      2,403,138      2,554,773      2,763,950      2,636,994
   Provision for loan losses ........         30,000         30,000         30,000         10,000
      Net income ....................        776,845        726,806        892,181         17,733

   Earnings per share (fully diluted)
      Net income ....................     $      .43     $      .41     $      .50           $.01

Fiscal year 1995:
   Total interest income ............     $5,202,586     $5,558,039     $5,162,491     $5,130,354
   Total interest expense ...........      2,815,729      3,154,619      2,897,007      2,781,369
   Net interest income ..............      2,386,857      2,403,420      2,265,484      2,348,985
   Provision for loan losses ........         30,000         30,000        130,000         60,000
      Net income ....................        776,494        774,220      1,262,075        731,563

   Earnings per share (fully diluted)
      Net income ....................     $      .43     $      .44     $      .72           $.41

FISCAL YEAR 1994:
   Total interest income ............     $2,741,732     $2,894,417     $4,506,061     $5,010,481
   Total interest expense ...........      1,355,277      1,211,200      2,169,440      2,546,577
   Net interest income ..............      1,386,455      1,683,217      2,336,621      2,463,904
   Provision for loan losses ........           --           25,000           --           80,000
   Income before cumulative
     effects of changes in
     accounting principles ..........        382,994        601,972        844,765        642,017
   Cumulative effects of changes
     in accounting principles .......        257,163           --             --             --
      Net income ....................        640,157        601,972        844,765        642,017
</TABLE>
Note 18 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments
     SFAS No.  107,  "Disclosures  About Fair Value of  Financial  Instruments,"
requires that the Company disclose estimated fair value amounts of its financial
instruments.  It is management's belief that the fair values presented below are
reasonable  based on the valuation  techniques and data available to the Company
as of September 30, 1996 and 1995, as more fully  described  below. It should be
noted that the  operations of the Company are managed from a going concern basis
and not a liquidation  basis.  As a result,  the ultimate value realized for the
financial instruments  presented could be substantially  different when actually
recognized  over time through the normal course of operations.  Additionally,  a
substantial portion of the Company's inherent value is the Bank's capitalization
and franchise value.  Neither of these components have been given  consideration
in the presentation of fair values below.
<PAGE>
     The following  presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the
financial  instruments  held by the Company at September 30, 1996 and 1995. This
information is presented  solely for compliance with SFAS No. 107 and is subject
to change over time based on a variety of factors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       1996                                  1995
                                        --------------------------------      --------------------------------
                                            Carrying          Estimated           Carrying         Estimated
                                             Amount          Fair Value            Amount          Fair Value
                                        -------------      -------------      -------------      -------------
<S>                                     <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>
SELECTED ASSETS:
   Cash and cash equivalents ........   $  14,328,652      $  14,329,000      $   4,615,712      $   4,616,000
   Interest-bearing deposits in
     other financial institutions ...         300,000            300,000               --                 --
   Securities available for sale ....     109,491,558        109,492,000         70,232,092         70,232,000
   Loans receivable, net ............     243,533,519        243,654,000        178,551,501        181,148,000
   FHLB Stock .......................       5,524,700          5,525,000          3,915,300          3,915,000
   Accrued interest receivable ......       5,029,047          5,029,000          2,745,747          2,746,000

SELECTED LIABILITIES:
   Noninterest bearing demand
     deposits .......................      (5,452,911)        (5,452,000)        (2,076,671)        (2,077,000)
   Savings, NOW and money
     market demand deposits .........     (49,358,478)       (49,358,000)       (40,407,661)       (40,408,000)
   Other time certificates of
     deposit ........................    (178,594,337)      (178,762,000)      (129,308,665)      (130,292,000)
                                        -------------      -------------      -------------      -------------
      Total deposits ................    (233,405,726)      (233,572,000)      (171,792,997)      (172,777,000)

   Advances from FHLB ...............    (102,287,803)      (102,185,000)       (51,098,388)       (51,123,000)
   Securities sold under
     agreements to repurchase .......      (2,789,918)        (2,790,000)        (1,149,918)        (1,148,000)
   Other borrowings .................      (1,400,000)        (1,400,000)              --                 --
   Advances from borrowers
     for taxes and insurance ........        (490,243)          (490,000)          (501,522)          (501,000)
   Accrued interest payable .........      (1,271,465)        (1,271,000)          (788,008)          (788,000)

OFF-BALANCE SHEET INSTRUMENTS:
   Loan commitments .................    $(20,671,000)     $           -       $(12,818,000)     $          --
</TABLE>
     The following  sets forth the methods and  assumptions  used in determining
the fair value  estimates for the Company's  financial  instruments at September
30, 1996 and 1995.

Cash and Cash Equivalent:  
     The  carrying  amount  of cash and  short-term  investment  is  assumed  to
approximate the fair value.

Interest-bearing Deposits In Other Financial Institutions:
     The  carrying  amount  of  interest-bearing  deposits  in  other  financial
institutions is assumed to approximate the fair value.

Securities  Available  For Sale:
     Quoted market prices or dealer quotes were used to determine the fair value
of securities available for sale.
<PAGE>
Loans Receivable, Net:
     The fair value of loans  receivable,  net was estimated by discounting  the
future cash flows using the current  rates at which  similar loans would be made
to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for similar  remaining  maturities.
When using the discounting  method to determine fair value,  loans were gathered
by  homogeneous  groups with similar terms and  conditions  and  discounted at a
target rate at which  similar  loans would be made to  borrowers as of September
30,  1996 and  1995.  The fair  value of loans  held for sale is  determined  by
outstanding  commitments from investments or current investor yield requirements
calculated on an aggregate loan basis. In addition, when computing the estimated
fair value for all loans,  allowances for loan losses have been  subtracted from
the calculated fair value for consideration of credit issues.

FHLB Stock: 
     The fair value of such stock approximates book value since the Bank is able
to redeem this stock with the Federal Home Loan Bank at par value.

Accrued Interest Receivable: 
     The  carrying  amount  of  accrued   interest   receivable  is  assumed  to
approximate the fair value.
<PAGE>
Deposits:  
     The fair value of deposits were determined as follows:  (i) for noninterest
bearing  deposits,  savings,  NOW and money market demand  deposits,  since such
deposits are immediately  withdrawable,  fair value is determined to approximate
the  carrying  value  (the  amount  payable  on  demand);  (ii) for  other  time
certificates  of  deposit,  the fair  value has been  estimated  by  discounting
expected future cash flows by the current rates offered as of September 30, 1996
and 1995 on  certificates  of deposit  with  similar  remaining  maturities.  In
accordance with SFAS No. 107, no value has been assigned to the Bank's long-term
relationships  with its deposit  customers  (core value of deposits  intangible)
since such  intangible  is not a financial  instrument as defined under SFAS No.
107.

Advances from FHLB:
     The fair value of such advances was estimated by  discounting  the expected
future cash flows using  current  interest  rates as of  September  30, 1996 and
1995, for advances with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase and Other Borrowings:
     The fair value of securities sold under  agreements to repurchase and other
borrowings  was estimated by  discounting  the expected  future cash flows using
derived  interest rates  approximating  market as of September 30, 1996 and 1995
over the contractual maturity of such borrowings.

Advances From Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance:
     The carrying  amount of advances from  borrowers for taxes and insurance is
assumed to approximate the fair value.

Accrued Interest Payable: 
     The carrying amount of accrued  interest  payable is assumed to approximate
the fair value.

Loan  Commitments:  
     The  commitments  to  originate  and  purchase  loans  have  terms that are
consistent with current market terms.  Accordingly,  the Company  estimates that
the face amounts of these commitments are not significant.
 
Limitations: 
     It must be noted that fair value  estimates are made at a specific point in
time,  based on relevant  market  information  about the  financial  instrument.
Additionally,  fair value  estimates  are based on existing on- and  off-balance
sheet  financial  instruments  without  attempting  to  estimate  the  value  of
anticipated future business,  customer relationships and the value of assets and
liabilities that are not considered  financial  instruments.  These estimates do
not  reflect  any  premium or  discount  that could  result  from  offering  the
Company's entire holdings of a particular  financial  instrument for sale at one
time. Furthermore, since no market exists for certain of the Company's financial
instruments,  fair value  estimates may be based on judgments  regarding  future
expected loss experience,  current economic conditions,  risk characteristics of
various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective
in nature and involve  uncertainties  and matters of  significant  judgment  and
therefore  cannot be  determined  with a high  level of  precision.  Changes  in
assumptions  as  well  as tax  considerations  could  significantly  affect  the
estimates.  Accordingly, based on the limitations described above, the aggregate
fair value  estimates are not intended to represent the underlying  value of the
Company, on either a going concern or a liquidation basis.
<PAGE>
Note 19 -Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
     On December 29, 1995, the Company purchased all of the common stock of Iowa
Bancorp for $8,000,000 in cash. In conjunction with the acquisition, liabilities
were assumed as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                <C>
Fair value of assets acquired ........................             $ 25,429,434
Cash paid ............................................               (8,000,000)
                                                                   ------------
   Liabilities assumed ...............................             $ 17,429,434
                                                                   ============
</TABLE>
   On September  30, 1996,  the  Company,  purchased  all of the common stock of
Central West for $1,312,474 in cash and issued 171,158 common shares at a market
value of $23 per share. In conjunction  with the  acquisition,  liabilities were
assumed as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                <C>
Fair value of assets acquired ........................             $ 35,577,247
Cash paid ............................................               (1,312,474)
Common stock issued ..................................               (3,936,634)
                                                                   ------------
   Liabilities assumed ...............................             $ 30,328,139
                                                                   ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

DIRECTORS OF FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC.



[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
JAMES S. HAAHR - Chairman of the Board,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer
for First Midwest  Financial Inc. and First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest;
President of First Services  Financial  Limited,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
First  Federal;  Chairman of the Board for  Security  State Bank.  Mr. Haahr has
served in numerous industry  organizations since beginning his career with First
Federal in 1961. He was recently  elected to the Board of Directors of America's
Community Bankers and is currently a committee member of the Savings Association
Insurance Fund Industry Advisory Committee.  Mr. Haahr is a former Vice Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the FHLB of Des Moines, former Chairman of the Iowa
League of  Savings  Institutions  and a former  director  of the U.S.  League of
Savings Institutions.  Board committees: First Federal Trust Committee. James S.
Haahr is the father of J. Tyler Haahr, a director.

[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
RODNEY  G.  MUILENBURG  - Member of the  Board of  Directors  for First  Midwest
Financial,  Inc., First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest,  and Security State
Bank. Mr. Muilenburg is employed as a dairy specialist with Purina Mills,  Inc.,
and supervises the sale of agricultural   products in a region which encompasses
northwest  Iowa,   northeast  Nebraska,   eastern  South  Dakota  and  southwest
Minnesota.  Board committees:  Chairman of the Stock Option Committee and member
of the Audit-Compensation/Personnel Committee.

[GRAPHIC  PHOTOGRAPH]
E.  THURMAN  GASKILL  - Member  of the Board of  Directors  for  First  Midwest
Financial,  Inc., First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest,  and Security State
Bank. Mr. Gaskill has owned and operated a grain farming  operation located near
Corwith,  Iowa  since  1958.  Board  committees:    Audit-Compensation/Personnel
Committee and First Federal Trust Committee Chairman.

[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
J. TYLER HAAHR - Member of the Board of Directors for First  Midwest  Financial,
Inc.,  First Federal  Savings Bank of the Midwest,  and Security State Bank. Mr.
Haahr is a partner  with the law firm of Lewis and Roca LLP,  Phoenix,  Arizona,
and has been with the firm since 1989. Board committees:  Stock Option Committee
and First Federal Trust Committee.  J. Tyler Haahr is the son of James S. Haahr,
Chairman of the Board of Directors.

[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
E. WAYNE COOLEY - Member of the Board of Directors for First Midwest  Financial,
Inc.,  First Federal  Savings Bank of the Midwest,  and Security State Bank. Dr.
Cooley  has  served  as  Executive  Secretary  of the Iowa  Girls'  High  School
Athletic Union  in Des Moines,  Iowa since 1954. Board  committees:  Chairman of
the    Audit-Compensation/Personnel   Committee;  member  of  the  Stock  Option
Committee.

[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
JEANNE  PARTLOW - Member of the Board of Directors for First Midwest  Financial,
Inc.  Mrs.  Partlow is  President  of the Iowa  Savings  Bank  Division of First
Federal, Des Moines, Iowa. She was President,  Chief Executive Officer and Chair
of the Board of Iowa Savings  Bank,  F.S.B.  from 1987 until the end of December
1995 when Iowa  Savings  Bank was  acquired by and became  a  Division  of First
Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest.
<PAGE>


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
JAMES S. HAAHR
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO for First Midwest Financial,  Inc., and
First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
FRED A. STEVENS
Vice  President,  Secretary  and  Chief  Operating  Officer  for  First  Midwest
Financial,  Inc.,  and Executive  Vice  President,  Secretary,  Chief  Operating
Officer, and Trust Officer for First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
DONALD J. WINCHELL, CPA
Vice  President,  Treasurer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  for  First  Midwest
Financial,  Inc.,  and Senior  Vice  President,  Treasurer  and Chief  Financial
Officer for First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
KRISTI L. FREY
Senior Vice President - Marketing and Sales,  First Federal  Savings Bank of the
Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
SUSAN C. JESSE
Senior Vice  President - Branch  Administration  and Compliance  Officer,  First
Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
RICHARD A. WEHDE
Vice President - Commercial/
Agricultural Loans, First Federal Savings Bank of the Midwest


[GRAPHIC-PHOTOGRAPH]
MELODY A. BUCKENDAHL
Vice President - Savings
First Federal Savings Bank
of the Midwest

<PAGE>


ADDITIONAL FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT




MAIN BANK OFFICE -- STORM LAKE, IOWA
Barbara A. Kestel
Executive Secretary

Brad A. Lenhart
Assistant Treasurer and Controller

Dan B. Berglund
Assistant Secretary

Nyla Bertram
Assistant Secretary-
Savings

Vicki D. Page
Account Services Supervisor

Cindy J. Pudenz
Retirement Plans Administrator

Carol J. Seavey
Internal Auditor

Dustin G. Williams
Credit Analyst

OTHER BANK OFFICES
Carol A. Pierce
Regional Vice President
Laurens Office

Virginia M. Thayer
Regional Vice President
LakeView Office

Karen Waller
Regional Vice President
Manson Office

Renae Babcock
Branch Manager
Odebolt Office

Marilyn C. Winkel
Branch Manager
Sac City Office

Kate Ellis
Office Supervisor
Laurens Office
<PAGE>

Charlene M. Pickhinke
Office Supervisor
Sac City Office

Marlene M. Nimke
Office Supervisor
Manson Office

Lynn Pranschke
Office Supervisor
Storm Lake Plaza Office


BROOKINGS DIVISION
James C. Winterboer
President
Brookings Federal

Robert L. Brooks
Vice President/
Senior Loan Officer
Brookings Federal

Jay M. Johnson
Assistant Vice President
Brookings Federal

Steve C. Almos
Assistant Vice President
Agricultural Loans
Brookings Federal

John D. Heylens
Loan Officer
Brookings Federal

Cheryl A. Engel
Customer Service Supervisor
Brookings Federal

Susan E. Schutt
Director of Marketing
and Sales
Brookings Federal

IOWA SAVINGS BANK DIVISION
Jeanne Partlow
President
Iowa Savings Bank

James E. Peters
Vice President/
Consumer Loans
Iowa Savings Bank
<PAGE>

Bryce Loring
Vice President/
Mortgage Loans
Iowa Savings Bank

Lora D. White
Secretary/Treasurer
Iowa Savings Bank





SECURITY STATE BANK OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT




MAIN BANK OFFICE -- 
STUART, IOWA
Claude F. Havick
President
Security State Bank


Iva Mae Howard
Vice President and Cashier

Robert C. Duff
Vice President

Curtis D. Petersen
Vice President

OTHER BANK OFFICES 
Dana L. Hansen
Vice President and
Branch Manager
Casey Office


Steven R. Kroeger
Ag Loan Officer
and Branch Manager
Menlo Office

<PAGE>


CORPORATE INFORMATION



CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
First Midwest Financial, Inc.
First Federal Building
Fifth at Erie
P.O. Box 1307
Storm Lake, Iowa  50588

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will convene at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 27,
1997.  The meeting will be held in the Board Room of First Federal  Savings Bank
of the Midwest, Fifth at Erie, Storm Lake, Iowa. Further information with regard
to this meeting can be found in the proxy statement.

GENERAL COUNSEL
Mack, Hansen, Gadd, Armstrong
& Schiller, P.C. 316
East Sixth Street 
Storm Lake,  Iowa 50588

SPECIAL COUNSEL
Silver, Freedman & Taff, L.L.P.
1100 New York Avenue, NW
Washington,  DC 20005-3934 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP 
330 East Jefferson Blvd. 
P.O. Box 7
South Bend, Indiana 46624

STOCKHOLDER  SERVICES AND INVESTOR  RELATIONS 
Stockholders  desiring to change the name,  address or  ownership  of stock,  to
report  lost  certificates  or  to  consolidate   accounts  should  contact  the
corporation's transfer agent:
     Registrar & Transfer Company
     10 Commerce Drive
     Cranford, New Jersey  07016
     1-800-368-5948

Analysts, investors and others seeking a copy of the Form 10-KSB or other public
financial information should contact:
     Investor Relations - Attention: Kristi L. Frey,
     First Midwest Financial, Inc.,
     First Federal Building, Fifth at Erie,
     P.O. Box 1307,
     Storm Lake, Iowa  50588
     Telephone 712-732-4117

<PAGE>

STOCK MARKET INFORMATION




First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.'s  common stock  trades on the Nasdaq  National
Market under the symbol "CASH".  The Wall Street Journal publishes daily trading
information  for our stock under the  abbreviation  "FstMidwFnl" in the National
Market Listing.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        1995           1996               Fiscal Year 1995                 Fiscal Year 1996
                                      Dividend       Dividend
                                        Paid           Paid             Low              High             Low               High
                                        ----           ----             ---              ----             ---               ----
<S>                                  <C>             <C>            <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
First quarter ...................    $    .075       $   .11        $   14.25        $   16.00        $   19.75        $   23.50
Second quarter ..................    $    .075       $   .11        $   14.25        $   16.25        $   22.00        $   23.50
Third quarter ...................    $    .075       $   .11        $   14.25        $   17.50        $   21.75        $   24.25
Fourth quarter ..................    $    .075       $   .11        $   17.38        $   21.75        $   21.75        $   24.75
</TABLE>

Dividend payment  decisions are made with  consideration of a variety of factors
including earnings,   financial condition,  market considerations and regulatory
restrictions.  Restrictions on dividend payments are described in Note 14 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report.

As  of  September  30,  1996,  there  were  1,945,735  shares  of  common  stock
outstanding  which were held by 338  stockholders of record,  and 205,804 shares
subject to  outstanding  options.  The  stockholders  of record  number does not
reflect approximately 620 persons or entities who hold their stock in nominee or
"street" name.

As of September 30, 1996,  the following  securities  firms  indicated they were
acting as market makers for First Midwest Financial, Inc., stock:
     Everen Securities, Inc.                      Howe, Barnes & Johnson, Inc.
     Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc.


                                                                      Exhibit 21




                                      SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              State of
                                                                       Percentage           Incorporation
                                                                          of                     or
   Parent                               Subsidiary                     Ownership            Organization
   ------                               ----------                     ---------            ------------
<S>                                  <C>                                  <C>                 <C> 
First Midwest                        First Federal                        100%                Federal
 Financial, Inc.                      Savings Bank
                                      of the Midwest

First Midwest                        Security State                       100%                Iowa
 Financial, Inc.                      Bank

First Federal                        First Services                       100%                Iowa
 Savings Bank of                      Financial Limited
 the Midwest

First Services                       Brookings Service                    100%                South Dakota
 Financial Limited                    Corporation
 

The financial statements of First Midwest Financial,  Inc. are consolidated with
those of its subsidiaries.
</TABLE>

                                                                      Exhibit 23







                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
33-80171  of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  on Form  S-8 and in  Registration
Statement  No.  333-9871  of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc. on Form S-3 of our
report  dated  October  9,  1996,  contained  in  Exhibit  13 to  First  Midwest
Financial,  Inc.'s  Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB  for the  fiscal  year  ended
September 30, 1996.



                                               /s/ Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP


South Bend, Indiana
December 24, 1996


<PAGE>



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
33-80171  of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  on Form S-8 of our  report  dated
November  17, 1995  (which  expresses  an  unqualified  opinion and  includes an
explanatory  paragraph  relating  to a change in the  method of  accounting  for
income taxes and for debt and equity  securities in fiscal year 1994)  appearing
in Exhibit 99 in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of First  Midwest  Financial,
Inc. for the year ended September 30, 1996.


/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
- ------------------------
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Omaha, Nebraska
December 23, 1996

<PAGE>



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
333-9871  of First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  on Form S-3 of our  report  dated
November  17, 1995  (which  expresses  an  unqualified  opinion and  includes an
explanatory  paragraph  relating  to a change in the  method of  accounting  for
income taxes and for debt and equity  securities in fiscal year 1994)  appearing
in Exhibit 99 in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of First  Midwest  Financial,
Inc. for the year ended September 30, 1996.


/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
- ------------------------
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Omaha, Nebraska
December 23, 1996




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         736,979
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       5,043,636
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             8,848,037
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                109,491,558
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    245,889,632
<ALLOWANCE>                                  2,356,113
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             388,008,298
<DEPOSITS>                                 233,405,726
<SHORT-TERM>                                74,039,918
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          4,915,149
<LONG-TERM>                                 32,437,803
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        19,905
<OTHER-SE>                                  43,189,797
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             388,008,298
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             18,567,097
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            5,770,368
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            24,337,465
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           9,766,586
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          13,978,610
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       10,358,855
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  100,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              79,317
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              7,568,262
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,109,888
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   4,109,888
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,413,565
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.34
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.16
<LOANS-NON>                                  2,645,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   176,700
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              1,408,515
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             1,649,520
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   89,217
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            2,356,113
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         2,143,113
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        213,000
        

</TABLE>


                                                                      Exhibit 99


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board of Directors
First Midwest Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Storm Lake, Iowa

We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  statement of financial condition
of  First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (the  "Company")  as of
September  30,  1995,  and  the  related  consolidated   statements  of  income,
stockholders'  equity and cash flows for the years ended  September 30, 1995 and
1994.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  such consolidated  financial  statements present fairly, in all
material respects,  the financial position of First Midwest Financial,  Inc. and
subsidiaries at September 30, 1995 and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for the years ended  September 30, 1995 and 1994 in  conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated  financial statements,  on October 1,
1993 the Company  changed its method of  accounting  for income taxes to conform
with the Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 109 and its method of
accounting for debt and equity securities to conform with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 115.


/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
- ------------------------
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Omaha, Nebraska
November 17, 1995


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