Exhibit 10.10

Short-term note with American National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago as of 
April 30, 1997 setting forth the terms of the Parent Company's $2,000,000 
short-term debt agreement. 
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American National Bank
and Trust Company of Chicago
33 North LaSalle Street/Chicago, Illinois 60690/(312) 661-5000

April 30, 1997

Brenton Banks, Inc.
Capital Square
400 Locust
Des Moines, Iowa 50304

Gentlemen:

This letter will replace the previous Letter Agreement regarding the negative 
pledge on Brenton Bank stock dated April 30, 1996.  This letter is in reference 
to the certain Promissory Note (Unsecured) dated April 30, 1997, both by 
Brenton Banks, Inc. ("Brenton") in favor of American National Bank and Trust 
Company of Chicago ("ANB") in connection with a commitment in the amount of 
Two Million and 00/100 Dollars to be extended by ANB to Brenton and any 
subsequent renewals and modification ("Commitment").

In consideration of ANB providing the Commitment, Brenton hereby covenants that 
it will not create, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon the stock of a 
Subsidiary bank.

For the purpose of this Letter Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

     "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
     lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the
     foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and
     the filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the
     Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction).

     "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation with respect to which more than
     50% of the outstanding shares of stock of each class having ordinary
     voting power (other than stock having such power only by reason of the
     happening of a contingency) is at the time owned by Brenton or by one or
     more Subsidiaries of Brenton.
     

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If the foregoing correctly states your understanding of our agreement, please 
execute the enclosed copy of the Letter Agreement in the space indicated and 
return it to Pam Katsules, Officer of ANB.

American National Bank and Trust
Company of Chicago

By: ____________________________
Its:____________________________

Accepted and agreed to this 30th day of April, 1997.

Brenton Banks, Inc.
an Iowa corporation

By: /s/ Steven T. Schuler
Its:  CFO/Treasurer/Secretary
     

American National Bank
and Trust Company of Chicago

PROMISSORY NOTE (UNSECURED)

$2,000,000.00

Chicago, Illinois                                             April 30, 1997
                                                          Due April 30, 1998

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned (jointly and severally if more than 
one) ("Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO ("Bank"), at its principal place of business in 
Chicago, Illinois or such other place as Bank may designate from time to time 
hereafter, the principal sum of Two Million and 00/100 Dollars, or such lesser
principal sum as may then be owed by Borrower to Bank hereunder.

     Borrower's obligations and liabilities to Bank under this Note ("Borrowers 
Liabilities") shall be due and payable on April 30, 1998.

     This Note restated and replaces a Promissory Note (Unsecured) in the 
principal amount of $2,000,000.00, dated April 30, 1996 executed by Borrower in 
favor of Bank (the "Prior Note") and is not a repayment or novation of the 
Prior Note.

     The unpaid principal balance of Borrower's Liabilities due hereunder shall 
bear interest from the date of disbursement until paid, computed at a daily 
rate equal to the daily rate equivalent of 0.00% per annum (computed on the 
basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed) in excess of the rate of 
interest announced or published publicly from time to time by Bank as its 
prime or base rate of interest (the "Base Rate"); provided, however, that in 
the event that any of Borrower's Liabilities are not paid when due, the 
unpaid amount of Borrower's Liabilities shall bear interest after the due 
date until paid at a rate equal to the sum of the rate that would otherwise 
be in effect plus 3%.

     The rate of interest to be charged by Bank to Borrower shall fluctuate 
hereafter from time to time concurrently with, and in an amount equal to, each 
increase or decrease in the Base Rate, whichever is applicable.

     Accrued interest shall be payable by Borrower to Bank on the same day of 
each month, and at maturity, commencing with the last day of May, 1997 or as 
billed by Bank to Borrower, at Bank's principal place of business, or at such 
other place as Bank may designate from time to time hereafter.  After maturity, 
accrued interest on all of Borrower's Liabilities shall be payable on demand.

     Borrower warrants and represents to Bank that Borrower shall use the 
proceeds represented by this Note solely for proper business purposes and 
consistently with all applicable laws and statutes.

     Any deposits or other sums at any time credited by or payable or due from 
Bank to Borrower, or any monies, cash, cash equivalents, securities, 
instruments, documents or other assets of Borrower in the possession or 
control of Bank or its bailee for any purpose, may be reduced to cash and
applied by Bank to or setoff by Bank against Borrower's Liabilities.

     The occurrence of any one of the following events shall constitute a 
default by the Borrower ("Event of Default") under this Note: (a) if Borrower
fails to pay any of Borrower's Liabilities when due and payable or declared 
due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required payment, acceleration,
demand or otherwise); (b) if Borrower or any guarantor of any of Borrower's 
Liabilities fails or neglects to perform, keep or observe any term, provision,
condition, covenant, warranty or representation contained in this Note; (c) 
occurrence of a default or an event of default under any agreement, instrument
or document heretofore, now or at any time hereafter delivered by or on behalf
of Borrower to Bank; (d) occurrence of a default or an event of default under
any agreement, instrument or document heretofore, now or at any time 
hereafter delivered to Bank by any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities or by 
any person or entity which has granted to Bank a security interest or lien in 
and to some or all such person's or entity's real or personal property to 
secure the payment of Borrower's Liabilities; (e) if any of Borrower's assets 
are attached, seized, subjected to a writ, or are levied upon or become 
subject to any lien or come within the possession of any receiver, trustee, 
custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors; (f) if a notice of lien, 
levy or assessment is filed of record or given to Borrower with respect to 
all or any of Borrower's assets by any federal, state or local department 
or agency; (g) if Borrower or any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities becomes
insolvent or generally fails to pay or admits in writing its inability to pay
debts as they become due, if a petition under Title 11 of the United States 
Code or any similar law or regulation is filed by or against Borrower or 
any such guarantor, if 
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Borrower or any such guarantor shall make an assignment for the benefit of 
creditors, if any case or proceeding is filed by or against Borrower or any
such guarantor for its dissolution or liquidation, or if Borrower or any such 
guarantor is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court order from 
conducting all or any material part of its business affairs; (h) the death or 
incompetency of Borrower or any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities, or the 
appointment of a conservator for all or any portion of Borrower's assets; (i)
the revocation, termination or cancellation of any guaranty of Borrower's 
Liabilities without written consent of Bank; (j) if a contribution failure 
occurs with respect to any pension plan maintained by Borrower or any 
corporation, trade or business that is, along with Borrower, a member of a 
controlled group of corporations or a controlled group of trades or businesses
(as described in Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
or Section 4001 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as 
amended, "ERISA") sufficient to give rise to a lien under Section 302(f) of 
ERISA; (k) if Borrower or any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities is in 
default in the payment of any obligations, indebtedness or other liabilities
to any third party and such default is declared and is not cured within the 
time, if any, specified therefor in any agreement governing the same; (l) if
any material statement, report or certificate made or delivered by Borrower,
any of Borrower's partners, officers, employees or agents or any guarantor of
Borrower's Liabilities is not true and correct; or (m) if Bank is reasonably 
insecure.

     Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, at Bank's option, without 
notice by Bank to or demand by Bank of Borrower, all of Borrower's Liabilities
shall be immediately due and payable.

     All of Bank's rights and remedies under this Note are cumulative and non-
exclusive. The acceptance by Bank of any partial payment made hereunder after
the time when any of Borrower's Liabilities become due and payable will not 
establish a custom or waive any rights of Bank to enforce prompt payment 
hereof.  Bank's failure to require strict performance by Borrower of any 
provision of this Note shall not waive, affect or diminish any right of Bank 
thereafter to demand strict compliance and performance therewith. Any waiver 
of an Event of Default hereunder shall not suspend, waive or affect any 
other Event of Default hereunder. Borrower and every endorser waive 
presentment, demand and protest and notice of presentment, protest, default,
non-payment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or renewal 
of this Note, and hereby ratify and confirm whatever Bank may do in this 
regard. Borrower further waives any and all notice or demand to which 
Borrower might be entitled with respect to this Note by virtue of any 
applicable statute or law (to the extent permitted by law).

     Borrower agrees to pay, immediately upon demand by Bank, any and all 
costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and
expenses) incurred by Bank (i) in enforcing any of Bank's rights hereunder,
and (ii) in representing Bank in any litigation, contest, suit or dispute, 
or to commence, defend or intervene or to take any action with respect to
any litigation, contest, suit or dispute (whether instituted by Bank, 
Borrower or any other person) in any way relating to this Note or Borrower's 
Liabilities, and to the extent not paid the same shall become part of 
Borrower's Liabilities.

     This Note shall be deemed to have been submitted by Borrower to Bank and 
to have been made at Bank's principal place of business. This Note shall be 
governed and controlled by the internal laws of the State of Illinois and not 
the law of conflicts.

     Advances under this Note may be made by Bank upon oral or written request
of any person authorized to make such requests on behalf of Borrower 
("Authorized Person").  Borrower agrees that Bank may act on requests which 
Bank in good faith believes to be made by an Authorized Person, regardless of 
whether such requests are in fact made by an Authorized Person.  Any such 
advance shall be conclusively presumed to have been made by Bank to or for 
the benefit of Borrower.  Borrower does hereby irrevocably confirm, ratify 
and approve all such advances by Bank and agrees to indemnify Bank against
any and all losses and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and 
shall hold Bank harmless with respect thereto.

     TO INDUCE BANK TO ACCEPT THIS NOTE, BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, 
SUBJECT TO BANK'S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY 
WAY, MANNER OR RESPECT, ARISING OUT OF OR FROM OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE SHALL 
BE LITIGATED IN COURTS HAVING SITUS WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, STATE OF 
ILLINOIS.  BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY 
LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN SAID CITY AND STATE.  BORROWER 
HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER OR CHANGE THE VENUE OF ANY 
LITIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST BORROWER BY BANK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS 
PARAGRAPH.

     BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, 
SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR PROCEEDING (I) TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER 
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTE OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR 
AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION 
HEREWITH, OR (II) ARISING FROM ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY
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IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE OR ANY SUCH AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, 
DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR 
PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

400 Locust, Box 961               Brenton Banks, Inc.
Des Moines, Iowa 50304            an Iowa corporation
                                  By:  /s/ Steven T. Schuler 
FEIN                              Its:  CFO/Treasurer/Secretary 
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