Exhibit 16
[Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP Letterhead]
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Gentlemen:
In accordance with Item 4 of SEC Form 8-K, we have been requested by First
Midwest Financial, Inc. to furnish this letter commenting on Item 4 of the
Registrant's Form 8-K filed by it on May 30, 2000.
We disagree with the statements made in Item 4 (a) (iv) that there were no
disagreements with us. During the audit for the year ended September 30, 1998,
we advised Company management of the need to expand the scope of the audit
pertaining to the allowance for loan losses. Company management resisted this,
and further attempted to restrict us from having communications with regulatory
examination personnel. We advised them of our disagreements and we discussed
these mattes with Company management and the Board of Directors until they were
resolved to our satisfaction. In preparation for our audit of the September 30,
1999 financial statements, we advised management of the need to expand the scope
of our audit pertaining to the allowance for loan losses, due to our concerns
that the allowance appeared to be understated, and we discussed this matter with
the Company's management and Board of Directors until it was resolved to our
satisfaction. In commenting on drafts of the Form 8-K referred to above that did
refer to these disagreements, we were discussing wording changes provided by
management regarding these disagreements when we were advised that the Form 8-K
wording would be changed and filed indicating that there were no disagreements.
As to the other items in Item 4(a), under (i) we note that our audit engagement
had been with First Midwest Financial, Inc. and not separately with the other
entities mentioned therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with the date
indicated in (i) or with the statement in (iii). We agree with (ii) and with (v)
as through May 22, 2000.
/s/ Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP
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Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP
South Bend, Indiana
June 9, 2000
