Exhibit 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Doug Gulling, Chief Financial Officer
515.222.2309



WEST BANCORPORATION COMPLETES PURCHASE OF VMF CAPITAL


West Des Moines, IA (October 1, 2003) - West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA)
today announced it closed on the purchase of substantially  all of the assets of
VMF Capital, LLC, on Wednesday, October 1.

VMF  Capital  - the  largest  independent  investment  advisor  in Iowa - has 25
employees  in its Cedar  Rapids  and  Clive,  Iowa,  offices  and  assets  under
management of approximately $370M.

"We've  been  pleased  with VMF  Capital's  people  and  performance  during our
two-year  alliance,"  said Thomas E.  Stanberry,  Chairman,  President and Chief
Executive  Officer of West  Bancorporation.  "We now have the ability to provide
the asset management services important to our customers, and we look forward to
growing this line of business."

"This is a great day for our individual and institutional  clients," said Donald
E. Flynn, Managing Partner and CEO of VMF Capital.  "West Bancorporation has the
strength to help continue the growth of VMF Capital."

The information  contained in this Press Release and other financial reports may
contain  forward-looking  statements  about the Company's growth and acquisition
strategies,  new  products  and  services,  and  future  financial  performance,
including earnings and dividends per share, return on average assets,  return on
average equity,  efficiency ratio and capital ratio.  Certain  statements in the
news release constitute  "forward-looking  statements" within the meaning of the
Private  Securities   Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995.  Such   forward-looking
information   is  based  upon   certain   underlying   assumptions,   risks  and
uncertainties.   Because  of  the   possibility  of  change  in  the  underlying
assumptions,  actual results could differ materially from these  forward-looking
statements.  Risks and  uncertainties  that may affect future  results  include:
competitive pressures,  pricing pressures on loans and deposits, actions of bank
and non-bank  competitors,  changes in local and national  economic  conditions,
changes in  regulatory  requirements,  actions of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and/or the Federal Reserve Board,  and customer's  acceptance of the
Company's products and services.  The Company undertakes no obligation to revise
or update such statements to reflect current events or  circumstances  after the
date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.






ABOUT WEST BANCORPORATION

West  Bancorporation,  Inc. is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa and is the
parent company of West Bank. West Bank focuses on lending,  deposit services and
trust services for consumers and small to medium sized businesses.  The Bank has
eight  full-service  offices in the greater Des Moines area and two full-service
offices in Iowa City. Visit http://www.westbankiowa.com/ for more information.


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