IOWA FIRST BANCSHARES CORP.
                             300 East Second Street
                              Muscatine, Iowa 52761
                              PHONE (319) 263-4221

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS


The annual  meeting of  shareholders  of Iowa First  Bancshares  Corp.,  an Iowa
corporation,  will be held  at the  corporate  offices  of the  Company  and its
subsidiary,  First  National  Bank of Muscatine,  Muscatine,  Iowa, on Thursday,
April 17, 1997, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in order to:

1.  Elect four Directors for terms of three years each.
2.  Increase the number of authorized common shares to six million.
3.  Transact any other business which may be properly brought before the 
    meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.

Common stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 1997, are
entitled to vote at the meeting.

Even if you plan to attend the meeting,  we encourage you to sign and return the
enclosed  proxy.  If you are unable to attend the meeting  because of illness or
any other  reason,  your vote will still be cast.  If you do attend the meeting,
your proxy will automatically be suspended if you elect to vote in person.

We encourage your attendance at this meeting. The Officers and Directors want to
keep you,  one of the owners of the  Company,  informed  of its  activities  and
progress.


                                                   /s/ George A. Shepley
                                                   -----------------------------
March  21, 1997                                    George A. Shepley
                                                   Chairman of the Board
                                                    Chief Executive Officer

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND  THE  MEETING,  PLEASE  SIGN,  DATE,  AND  RETURN THE
ENCLOSED  PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED,  POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE.  IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT
PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY.

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

General Information Concerning the Solicitation of  Proxies

This proxy  statement is furnished on March 21,  1997,  in  connection  with the
solicitation by the Board of Directors of the proxies in the accompanying form.

A shareholder  who gives a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to its exercise
by filing with the Corporate  Secretary a written  revocation or a duly executed
proxy bearing a later date.  The proxy will be suspended if the  shareholder  is
present at the meeting and elects to vote in person.

As of March 14, 1997, 1,740,948 shares of common stock were outstanding, each of
which is entitled to one vote at the meeting.  Only shareholders of record as of
the close of  business  on March 14,  1997 will be  entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting.

The  affirmative  vote of the  holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares
entitled to vote is required  for  adoption of motions and  resolutions,  except
that changes in voting rights, removal of Directors,  amendments to the Articles
of  Incorporation,   and  approval  of  mergers,   consolidations,   or  partial
liquidations  require the  affirmative  vote of the holders of two-thirds of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote.



Beneficial Owners of Common Stock

The following table sets forth information as of February 28, 1997, with respect
to any person who is known to the  Company  to be the  beneficial  owner of more
than 5 percent of the Company's common stock.

Name and Address                    Amount and Nature of               Percent
of Beneficial Owner                 Beneficial Ownership              of  Class
- -------------------                 --------------------              ---------

Carl J. Spaeth                          175,815 (1)                     10.11%
1630 Fifth Avenue
Moline, Illinois

George A. Shepley                       108,234 (2)                      6.23%
34 Colony Drive
Muscatine, Iowa

(1)   Includes 4,815 shares as beneficially  and indirectly  owned by Mr. Spaeth
      regarding shares owned by Mr. Spaeth's spouse. Also includes 50,535 shares
      owned by Spaeth and Co. and 34,200 shares owned by 10 Yen, Inc. Mr. Spaeth
      is President of Spaeth and Co. and, as such, shares voting and dispositive
      powers as to shares held by that  entity.  Mr.  Spaeth is a director of 10
      Yen, Inc. and, as such, shares voting and dispositive  powers as to shares
      held by that entity, of which he disclaims "beneficial ownership."

(2)   Includes  92,934 shares as  beneficially  owned by Mr. Shepley because the
      Company's  management  believes  he has the power to  exercise  investment
      decisions with respect to such shares.

The beneficial  ownership,  including  exercisable  but not yet exercised  stock
options, of current,  continuing and nominated Directors is set out in the table
on the following page. All current  Directors and Executive  Officers as a group
own beneficially 439,795 shares, which constitutes 25.3 percent of the class.

Election of Directors

At the annual  meeting,  shareholders  will be asked to elect four  Directors to
hold office for terms of three years each.

The  Board of  Directors  and  management  recommend  the  election  of the four
nominees listed herein. The named proxies intend to vote for the election of the
nominees.  If, at the time of the  meeting,  any of such  nominees  is unable or
declines to serve,  the  discretionary  authority  provided in the proxy will be
exercised to vote for a substitute or substitutes,  unless  otherwise  directed.
The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any  substitute  nominee or
nominees will be required.

Information Concerning Nominees for Election as Directors

The Board of Directors presently consists of eleven Directors divided into three
classes,  with four  Directors in two classes and three  Directors in one class.
Directors  of one class are elected  each year to hold  office for a  three-year
term,  until their  successors  are duly elected and  qualified,  or until their
earlier  resignation  or  removal.  The terms of office of the  current  Class I
Directors  will  expire on the  election  of the  Directors  at the 1997  annual
meeting of shareholders.

The shareholders will be asked to elect each of the four Class I nominees listed
herein for terms of three years or until a successor is elected and qualified or
until his or her earlier  resignation  or removal.  If all  nominees are elected
they will fill all but one of the current twelve  Directorships  with the intent
that the vacancy be filled by the Board of  Directors as provided in the By-laws
when the Board  deems such  action  advisable.  The Board of  Directors  has not
selected a nominee for the  vacancy,  and will not  present a candidate  for the
vacancy at the annual meeting.




Certain  information  is set out below and on the following page with respect to
the four persons  nominated by the Board of Directors to serve as Directors  and
with respect to the Directors  continuing  in office for terms  expiring in 1998
and 1999. All nominees are currently Directors of the Company.

                           IOWA FIRST BANCSHARES CORP.
                                    DIRECTORS

                                                                                                 As of February 28, 1997
                                                                                                       Common Stock
                                                                                                 -----------------------
                                                                                 Amount and
                    Position(s)                                                  Nominated       Nature of      Percent
                    Held with                                         Director   For Term       Beneficial        of
Nominees            the Company                                Age      Since    Expiring       Ownership       Class
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              

Kim K. Bartling     Director.  Executive Vice President, Chief
                    Operating Officer, and Treasurer            39       1994        2000           32,214         1.85%

Larry L. Emmert     Director                                    55       1993        2000           12,450            *

George A. Shepley   Chairman of the Board and CEO               74       1983        2000          108,234         6.23%

Carl J. Spaeth      Director                                    79       1984        2000          175,815        10.11% (1)

Continuing                                                                         Term
Directors                                                                         Expires
- ------------------                                                                -------

Roy J. Carver, Jr.  Director                                    53       1989       1998            23,904         1.38%

Craig R. Foss       Director                                    47       1994        1999            2,910            *

Donald R.
Heckman             Director                                    58       1984        1999           19,560         1.13%

Dean H. Holst       Director. President and CEO, First National
                    Bank in Fairfield                           57       1985        1998           19,950         1.15%

D. Scott Ingstad    Director and President. President and CEO,
                    First National Bank of Muscatine            46       1990        1999           21,334         1.23%

Dr. Victor G.       Director.                                   53       1994        1998            3,900            *
McAvoy

Beverly J. White    Director                                    57       1988        1999           19,524          1.12%
<FN>

(1)   Includes 4,815 shares as beneficially  and indirectly  owned by Mr. Spaeth
      regarding shares owned by Mr. Spaeth's spouse. Also includes 50,535 shares
      owned by Spaeth and Co. and 34,200 shares owned by 10 Yen, Inc. Mr. Spaeth
      is President of Spaeth and Co. and, as such, shares voting and dispositive
      powers as to shares held by that  entity.  Mr.  Spaeth is a Director of 10
      Yen, Inc. and, as such, shares voting and dispositive  powers as to shares
      held by that entity, of which he disclaims "beneficial ownership

*   Less than 1 percent of the outstanding stock of the Company.
</FN>

Shares listed as beneficially owned include vested, but unexercised,  options to
purchase  shares of the Company's stock and, for Directors who are also officers
of the Company,  shares held in the Company's retirement plan for the benefit of
such individuals.

The business  experience of each nominated and continuing  Director is set forth
in the following section.  All Directors have held their present position for at
least five years unless otherwise indicated.




Kim K. Bartling. Mr. Bartling has been Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and  Treasurer  since  December  1996.  He has served as Executive  Vice
President and Chief Financial  Officer of First National Bank of Muscatine since
February 1997. Mr.  Bartling  served as Senior Vice  President,  Chief Financial
Officer  and  Treasurer  of the  Company and First  National  Bank of  Muscatine
beginning in 1988.  Prior to serving in these  positions Mr.  Bartling served as
Vice President/Finance of the Company and First National Bank of Muscatine since
1987. Mr.  Bartling  joined the Company in 1985 as Internal  Auditor after three
years of experience in public accounting. Mr. Bartling is also a Director of the
Company.

Larry L. Emmert.  Mr.  Emmert has been  President  of Hoffmann,  Inc., a general
building contractor located in Muscatine, Iowa, since 1981.

George A.  Shepley.  Mr.  Shepley has been  Chairman of the Board and CEO of the
Company  since 1983.  Mr.  Shepley  served as President of the Company from 1989
until  December  1996. He has served as Chairman of the Board,  1987 to present,
President,  1963 to 1989,  First  National Bank of Muscatine and Chairman of the
Board, 1986 to present, First National Bank in Fairfield.

Carl J. Spaeth. Mr. Spaeth has been President of Cabe Corporation and Spaeth and
Co.,  investment  companies located in Moline,  Illinois,  since the 1960's. Mr.
Spaeth is also  Director  of 10 Yen,  Inc.,  an  investment  company  located in
Moline, Illinois.

Roy J.  Carver,  Jr. Mr.  Carver has been  Chairman  of Carver Pump  Company,  a
manufacturer  of  industrial  pumps used in military and civilian  applications,
since 1981.  Mr.  Carver is also a Director of Bandag,  Incorporated,  which has
classes of securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Craig R. Foss.  Mr. Foss has been President and a shareholder of the law firm of
Foss, Kuiken, and Gookin, P.C., Fairfield, Iowa, since 1979.

Donald R. Heckman. Mr. Heckman is an investor. Prior to retirement,  Mr. Heckman
had been  Factory  Manager of the H. J. Heinz Co.  plant  located in  Muscatine,
Iowa, 1973 to February 1995. This plant produces and warehouses various consumer
products including ketchup, gravy and various sauces.

Dean H. Holst.  Mr. Holst has served as President and CEO of First National Bank
in Fairfield since 1985, prior to which he served as Vice President from 1973 to
1985. Mr. Holst is also a Director of the Company.

D. Scott Ingstad.  Mr. Ingstad has served as President and CEO of First National
Bank of  Muscatine  since 1990.  Prior to joining the Company,  Mr.  Ingstad was
Senior  Vice  President/  Senior Loan  Officer,  First  National  Bank and Trust
Company,  Columbia,  Missouri, 1989 to 1990 and President and CEO, Commerce Bank
of Harrisonville, NA, Harrisonville, Missouri, 1986 to 1989. Mr. Ingstad is also
a Director and, as of December 1996, President of the Company.

Victor G. McAvoy.  Dr.  McAvoy has served as  President  of Muscatine  Community
College and Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community College District since
1986.

Beverly J. White.  Mrs.  White has served as a Director  of Quality  Foundry Co.
since 1993 as well as Vice President beginning in 1996. Quality Foundry Co. is a
grey iron foundry specializing in semi-steel castings. Mrs. White also served as
Executive  Vice  President of Muscatine  Development  Corporation  and Muscatine
Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 1991 and as a Director of Muscatine Development
Corporation from 1989 to 1990.

Officers  and  Directors of the Company and its  subsidiaries  have had, and may
have in the future,  banking  transactions in the ordinary course of business of
the Company's subsidiaries.  All such transactions are on substantially the same
terms, including interest rates on loans and collateral,  as those prevailing at
the time for  comparable  transactions  with  others,  involve  no more than the
normal risk of collectibility, and present no other unfavorable features.




Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors held twelve regular  meetings and three special  meetings
during the last fiscal year.  All incumbent  Directors  attended at least 75% of
the  regular  Board of  Directors  meetings  held after each  Director  was duly
elected and qualified.  The annual retainer that each outside Director  received
in 1996 was $5,300  plus $100 for each  committee  meeting  attended.  Executive
officers who also serve on the Board of  Directors do not receive such  retainer
or committee fees.

The  Company  has  committees  of the Board of  Directors,  which meet on an "as
needed" basis.  During 1996, the Strategic  Planning  Committee met three times.
Its members are Mr. Emmert (Chairman),  Mr. Spaeth, Mr. Heckman,  Mr. McAvoy and
Mr. Shepley.  The Human Resource Committee met twice; its members are Mrs. White
(Chairperson),  Mr. Emmert,  Mr. Spaeth and Mr.  Shepley.  The  Retirement  Plan
Committee met one time during 1996; its members are Mr. Spaeth  (Chairman),  Mr.
Emmert, Mrs. White and Mr. Bartling.

Compensation Committee Report

The Human Resource Committee serves as the Company's compensation committee. The
Committee  policy  is to seek to  provide  fair  and  competitive  compensation,
encourage the retention of highly qualified  individuals and enhance shareholder
value by  encouraging  increased  profitability  of the Company.  This policy is
intended to align the financial  interest of the Company's and subsidiary banks'
officers (including executive officers) with those of the shareholders,  as well
as to create an atmosphere  which recognizes the contribution and performance of
each officer. In addition to merit-based promotions, the essential components of
the  compensation   policy  for  the  Company's   executive  officers  are  base
compensation, bonuses and stock option awards.

The Committee  considers many factors when determining  compensation  levels for
executive  officers.  These factors  include the extent to which each  executive
officer  contributes to enhancement of shareholder  value and comparisons of the
Company's  compensation  of  executive  officers  to the  compensation  paid  to
executive  officers by other companies in the banking  industry,  including peer
groups.  The Committee also considers the extent to which each executive officer
contributes  to  attainment  of  earnings  targets  for  the  Company  and  each
subsidiary. Other factors include the executive officer's contribution to return
on average assets and return on average  equity,  contribution to the profitable
growth of the Company, and contribution to improvements in quality of assets and
, thus, quality of earnings.

In determining  the base  compensation  of the executive  officers for 1996, the
Committee considered all of the aforementioned factors,  including the Company's
strong  earnings  performance  and an average salary  increase at the subsidiary
banks of approximately 3%-4%.

In determining  the  compensation  level for the Chief  Executive  Officer,  the
Committee  specifically reviews trends in the Company's return on average assets
and equity. It looks at the overall return to shareholders,  including dividends
paid and changes in the fair market value of the Company's  stock. The Committee
also assesses the CEO's effectiveness in leadership and communication skills, as
demonstrated by the level at which the subsidiary banks attain their targets for
earnings and asset quality, and the effectiveness of the strategic and operating
planning process,  which the CEO leads.  During 1995, the Company's net earnings
increased  approximately  6.1%,  earnings per share  increased  4.9%,  and total
shareholder  return was over 32%.  Return on average assets and equity was 1.18%
and 14.0%, respectively.  Additionally, asset quality, as measured by nonaccrual
loans and loans past due 90 days or more,  improved  with a decrease of $398,000
(29%)  in  these  categories.  This  report  submitted  by  the  Human  Resource
Committee: Beverly J. White, Chairperson
           Larry L. Emmert
           Carl J. Spaeth



Management Compensation

The  following  table sets forth the  remuneration  paid or accrued for the past
three years by the Company and its  subsidiaries  to the highest paid  executive
officers whose 1996 cash compensation exceeded $100,000.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


                                                                                       Long Term Compensation
                                                                                 ----------------------------------
                                                                                         Awards
                                                   Annual Compensation           ------------------------   Payouts
                                               -------------------------------                    Options   -------
Name and Principal                                                Other Annual   Restricted Stock    or      LTIP       All Other
Position                             Year       Salary    Bonus   Compensation         Awards       SARs    Payouts    Compensation
                                                  $         $           $                $           #         $           $(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
 
George A. Shepley .............      1996      195,709    27,889        --                 --       --         --             13,197
Chairman and CEO ..............      1995      190,009    28,026        --                 --       --         --             12,677
                                     1994      184,475    24,443        --                 --       --         --             16,727

D. Scott Ingstad ..............      1996      139,900    17,837        --                 --       --         --             13,197
Director and President ........      1995      134,380    17,469        --                 --       --         --             12,432
of the Company; ...............      1994      130,380    12,712        --                 --       --         --             14,979
President and CEO, First
National Bank of Muscatine

Dean H. Holst .................      1996      110,119    15,141        --                 --       --         --             10,761
Director  of the Company; .....      1995      106,912    13,765        --                 --       --         --             10,256
President and CEO, First ......      1994      105,113    12,876        --                 --       --         --             13,126
National Bank in Fairfield

Kim K. Bartling (2) ...........      1996       94,100      12,939      --                --       --         --               9,260
Director , Executive Vice .....      1995       90,045      12,494      --                --       --         --               8,594
President, Chief Operating Officer
and Treasurer of the Company
<FN>
(1) Includes  contributions  to the employee  stock  ownership  plan with 401(k)
    provisions.

(2) Mr.  Bartling's cash  compensation did not exceed $100,000 during 1994, thus
    detailed compensation data is not supplied for that year.
</FN>


Employee Stock Ownership Plan with 401(k) Provisions

The Company sponsors an employee stock ownership plan with 401(k) provisions. An
employee  becomes a participant  upon completing a minimum period of employment.
Employee  contributions up to 6% of total  compensation per employee are matched
by  the  employer  at  a  rate  of  50%  of  the  employee  contributed  amount.
Additionally,  the employer may make discretionary  profit-sharing contributions
to the plan;  total annual  contributions  cannot  exceed the amount that can be
deducted for federal income tax purposes.  Participants may direct investment of
the funds they have  contributed  to their  individual  accounts  under the plan
utilizing several fixed income and equity investment  options.  A portion of the
discretionary   profit-sharing   contributions   made  by  the  Company  or  its
subsidiaries  for the  participants  may be directed  for  investment  in common
shares of the Company.  Participant (but not Company) contributions are included
in salary in the Summary  Compensation  Table.  The Company and its subsidiaries
contributed a cash total of $266,459 to this plan for 1996.

Performance Incentive Plans

In addition to base compensation,  each executive officer of the Company and the
subsidiaries has specific annual weighted goals which, if attained,  will result
in year-end cash performance incentive pay equal to 10% of base pay. The maximum
annual payment under this  incentive  plan is 15% of base pay for  substantially
exceeding the goals  established.  For the year ended December 31, 1996, amounts
paid or accrued  under this  incentive  plan  totaled  $116,735  which  included
$73,805 for executive  officers of the Company as a group. Also, the Company and
subsidiaries have discretionary  performance incentive plans covering a majority
of employees.  These plans encourage  improved  efficiency and  effectiveness of
employees  by  increasing  remuneration  as a direct  result of  individual  and
organizational  goal attainment.  Payments made or accrued under all performance
incentive plans,  including the executive officer plan discussed above,  totaled
$233,583 for 1996.




Executive Employment Agreements

In order to advance the  interests  of the  Company by  enabling  the Company to
attract and retain the  services  of key  executives  upon which the  successful
operations  of the  Company  are  largely  dependent,  the  Board  of  Directors
tendered, effective January 1, 1996, Employment and Change in Control Agreements
to D. Scott Ingstad,  Dean H. Holst and Kim K. Bartling. An Employment Agreement
was also tendered by the Board of Directors, effective September 1, 1996, to Tim
M.  Nelson,  Executive  Vice  President  and Senior  Loan  Officer of one of the
Company's banking subsidiaries, First National Bank of Muscatine.

The  Employment  Agreements  are for a base term of two years and  automatically
renew unless 90 days notice of non-renewal is provided to the other party. If an
executive's employment is terminated prior to the expiration of the Agreement or
by the providing of notice of non-renewal, or if the executive is constructively
discharged  (for  example,  as a result of a reduction  in  responsibilities  or
compensation, or other breach of the Agreement by the Company), the executive is
entitled  to a  severance  benefit  of : (1)  twelve  months  base pay;  (2) any
vacation  pay  accrued  but not yet  taken;  (3) an amount  equal to the  annual
average past three years  payment  under the  Performance  Incentive  Plan;  (4)
reimbursement  of a portion of medical  premiums paid by the executive such that
the same "cost-sharing" basis provided at the date of termination is maintained.

Upon a change in control,  as defined,  the Change in Control  Agreements become
effective.  The executive  will,  under the  Agreement,  remain  employed by the
Company for three years after the  effective  date or until  executive's  normal
retirement date (the Employment Term), whichever is earlier. An executive who is
terminated or constructively discharged after a change in control is entitled to
the  following  for the  remainder  of the  Employment  Term:  (1) base pay; (2)
payments under the  Performance  Incentive  Plan;  (3)  perquisites to which the
executive  was  entitled  on  the  date  of  the  change  in  control;  and  (4)
contributions  for  benefits  expected  to be made to the  Company's  retirement
plans.

Supplemental  Compensation  will also be provided to mitigate the effects of any
excise taxes  applicable to executive  employment  payments.  Each  executive is
subject  to a  confidentiality  agreement,  and  if  the  executive  voluntarily
terminates employment prior to a change in control or if executive's  employment
is terminated  for cause,  the executive will be subject to  noncompetition  and
nonsolicitation agreements.

Incentive Stock Option and Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan

The Company has an  Incentive  Stock Option and  Nonstatutory  Stock Option Plan
(hereinafter "Plan") for senior officers and directors.  The purpose of the Plan
is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by strengthening
its ability to attract  and retain key  officers  and  directors  by  furnishing
additional  incentives  whereby such officers and directors may be encouraged to
acquire,  or to increase their  acquisition of, the Company's common stock, thus
maintaining their personal and proprietary  interest in the Company's  continued
success and progress.  The Plan is administered by the Human Resource  Committee
of the Company.  The option price is 100 percent of the fair market value of the
common stock ($9.00 per share, adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends) of
the Company at the grant date,  January 1, 1993.  All options  granted under the
Plan vest ratably over five years and must be exercised within five years of the
grant date.  The Company  retains  Right of First  Refusal on all shares  issued
pursuant to the Plan.




The following table provides  information  regarding all stock options exercised
by the named executives  during 1996 and the number and value of options held by
such executive officers at December 31, 1996..

         AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END
                                OPTION/SAR VALUES


                                                                        Number of Securities                Value Of
                                                                       Underlying Unexercised      Unexercised In-the-Money
                                                                     Options/SARs at FY-End (#)   Options/SARs at FY-End($)(2)
                                   Shares Acquired      Value        ---------------------------  ---------------------------
Name                               on Exercise (#)  Realized ($)(1)  Exercisable   Unexercisable  Exercisable   Unexercisable
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              

George A. Shepley ...............       9,000          $92,970          5,400          3,600       $ 59,400       $ 39,600
D. Scott Ingstad ................       3,000          $23,000         11,400          3,600       $125,400       $ 39,600
Dean H. Holst ...................       3,900          $42,900          3,300          1,800       $ 36,300       $ 19,800
Kim K. Bartling .................       6,000          $66,000          8,400          3,600       $ 92,400       $ 39,600
<FN>
(1)   Value realized is calculated  based on the  difference  between the option
      exercise price and the higher of the most recent known market or appraisal
      price of the Company's common stock on the date of exercise  multiplied by
      the number of shares to which the exercise relates.

(2)   Represents  the  aggregate  market value (market price of the common stock
      less the exercise  price) of the options  granted based upon the appraised
      price of $20.00 per share of the common stock on December 31, 1996.
</FN>


Comparative Performance By The Company

The  graphical  presentation  omitted  herein  compares the  performance  of the
Company's  common  stock with (i) the Media  General  Financial  Services,  Inc.
(MGFS) Index for NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S.  Companies),  and (ii) the MGFS Index
for the  stocks of banks and bank  holding  companies  located in the West North
Central  United States which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ
(representing  approximately thirty-five companies). Most of these companies are
considerably  larger  than Iowa  First  Bancshares  Corp.  The chart  assumes an
investment of $100 on January 1, 1992,  in each of the  Company's  common stock,
the NASDAQ  National  Market  Index and the stocks in the bank peer group.  Each
year's  performance  is for the twelve months ended December 31. The index level
for all series was set to 100.00 on January  1, 1992.  The  overall  performance
assumes dividend reinvestment  throughout the period. The Company's common stock
is not listed on any stock market exchange thus the price used for the Company's
common stock in the chart was the bid price at each  year-end as supplied by one
of the brokerage firms which acts a market maker for the Company. Beginning with
the year ended December 31, 1993, the price used for the Company's  common stock
in the  chart  is the  greater  of the  year-end  price  supplied  by one of the
Company's  market  makers or the  appraisal  price  supplied  by an  independent
appraiser.

               Comparison of 5-Year Cumulative Total Return Among
                          Iowa First Bancshares Corp.,
                    NASDAQ Market Index and Peer Group Index

The data points used in the omitted graph were as follows:



Symbol Index Description           1991       1992      1993      1994      1995      1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                   
                                                                   

Iowa First Bancshares Corp.        100       149.06    224.72    266.02    353.81    438.02
Peer Group Index                   100       126.49    141.01    143.94    213.25    295.55
NASDAQ Market Index                100       100.98    121.13    127.17    164.96    204.98
<FN>
Assumes $100 invested on Jan. 1, 1992.    
Assumes dividends reinvested.
</FN>





Amendment of Articles of Incorporation

The  Board  of  Directors  has  unanimously  recommended  that the  Articles  of
Incorporation be amended to increase the authorized common shares from 2 million
to 6 million shares. The resolution  necessary to accomplish this amendment will
be  submitted  to the vote of the  shareholders  at the  annual  meeting  and is
presented below.

The Board of Directors  believes that it may be advantageous at some future date
to have such  additional  shares  available (for example,  to be able to declare
common stock  dividends when  appropriate  without  waiting for  shareholders to
authorize additional shares). The Board of Directors has the power to issue such
shares,  subject to applicable  state and federal  regulations,  without further
action   by   shareholders,   but  it  has  no   present   plan,   arrangements,
understandings,  or commitments with respect to issuance of such shares.  To the
extent such  shares are issued  other than on a pro rata  basis,  the  ownership
position of present shareholders may be diminished.

Proposed Resolution

RESOLVED,  that the number of  authorized  common shares of the  Corporation  is
changed from 2 million to 6 million shares. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation is adopted:

Section 4.01 of the Articles of  Incorporation of Iowa First Bancshares Corp. is
repealed, and the following is substituted for it:

         Section 4.01.  Authorized  Shares. The aggregate number of shares which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 6,500,000 shares, consisting of
500,000 shares designated as "preferred stock" or "preferred  shares" with a par
value of $1.00 per share, and 6,000,000  shares  designated as "common stock" or
"common shares" with no par value per share (collectively "shares").

FURTHER  RESOLVED,   that  the  appropriate  officers  of  the  Corporation  are
authorized and directed on behalf of the  Corporation to do all things which may
be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this resolution.

Independent Auditors

Representatives  of  McGladrey  &  Pullen,  LLP,  independent  auditors  for the
Company, will be present at the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make
any  statement  they desire,  and will be  available  to respond to  appropriate
questions.

Deadline for Shareholder Proposals for 1998 Annual Meeting

Proposals by  shareholders  intended to be presented at the 1998 annual  meeting
must be received at the Company's  executive  offices no later than November 21,
1997, to be included in the proxy statement and proxy form.

Deadline for Shareholder Nominations of Directors for 1998 Annual Meeting

Proposals by shareholders for vacant  directorships  intended to be presented at
the 1998 annual meeting must be received at the Company's  executive  offices no
later than  November 21, 1997,  to be included in the proxy  statement and proxy
form.

General

The entire  cost of  soliciting  proxies  for the annual  meeting is paid by the
Company. No solicitation other than by mail is contemplated.

The Board of Directors  knows of no other matters  which will be brought  before
the meeting, but, if other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons
named in the proxy intend to vote the proxy according to their best judgment.

On written request to the undersigned at 300 East Second Street, Muscatine, Iowa
52761, the Company will provide,  without charge to the  shareholder,  a copy of
its Annual Report on Form 10-K,  including  financial  statements and schedules,
filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  for its most recent fiscal
year.

Information  set forth in this proxy  statement is as of March 14, 1997,  unless
otherwise dated.

                                                    /s/ George A. Shepley
                                                    ----------------------------
March 21, 1997                                      George A. Shepley
                                                    Chairman of the Board and
                                                    Chief Executive Officer




                           IOWA FIRST BANCSHARES CORP.

Common Stock Proxy Solicited by Board of Directors for Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders on April 17, 1997.

The undersigned  acknowledges receipt of a Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement
dated March 21,  1997,  and appoints D. Scott  Ingstad and Beverly J. White,  or
either of them with full power of substitution,  as the proxies and attorneys of
the  undersigned  to vote all shares of common  stock of Iowa  First  Bancshares
Corp.  which the  undersigned  is  entitled  to vote at the  annual  meeting  of
shareholders of Iowa First  Bancshares  Corp. to be held at Muscatine,  Iowa, on
April 17,  1997,  at 2:00 p.m.  and any  adjournment  thereof.  The  proxies are
directed to vote as checked  below on the  following  matters and  otherwise  in
their discretion.


                                                                                                   VOTE     VOTE
                                                                                                    FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                                                                                                   -----   -------   -------
                                                                               Nominees             
                                                                               --------
                                                                                                            

1.  Election of four Directors each with a term expiring in 2000:          Kim K. Bartling          __        __        __
                                                                           Larry L. Emmert          __        __        __
                                                                           George A. Shepley        __        __        __
                                                                           Carl J. Spaeth           __        __        __



2.  Increase the number of authorized common shares to six million.


This proxy will be voted as specifically  directed above. In the absence of such
direction, this proxy will be voted FOR the nominees.

(Continued and to be dated and signed on reverse side.)





The Board of Directors  knows of no other  matters that may properly be, or that
are likely to be, brought before the meeting.  However, if any other matters are
properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, the proxies will
vote on such matters in their discretion.

PLEASE DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL IN ENCLOSED, POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.

Dated ______________________________, 1997   (Please date this proxy and sign
____________________________________         exactly as your name or names 
____________________________________         appear hereon.  If stock is held 
   Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)            jointly, both owners should sign.
                                             If you sign as attorney, executor,
                                             administrator, trustee, guardian,
( ) Individual     ( ) Corporation           custodian, or corporate official,
                                             please give your full title in such
( ) Partnership    ( ) _____________         capacity.