UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 21, 2004



                             AMCORE FINANCIAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                         Commission file number 0-13393
          NEVADA                                              36-3183870
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)


                  501 Seventh Street, Rockford, Illinois 61104
                         Telephone number (815) 968-2241



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




ITEM 12: Results of Operations and Financial Condition

AMCORE Financial, Inc. is furnishing herewith, in the earnings press release
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, certain financial information for the period
ended December 31, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Limitation on Incorporation by Reference

In accordance with general instruction B.6 of Form 8-K, the information in this
report (including exhibits) is furnished pursuant to Item 12 and shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, as
amended, or otherwise subject to liabilities of that section. This report will
not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in the
report.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.



Date: January 21, 2004             AMCORE Financial, Inc.

                                   (Registrant)







                                   /s/ John R. Hecht
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   John R. Hecht
                                   Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                   (Duly authorized officer of the registrant
                                   and principal financial officer)






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description

99.1        Press Release, dated January 21, 2004.