SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 10-K

                  Annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the fiscal year ended DECEMBER 31, 1997
                         Commission File No.: 0-19985

                             WESTCO BANCORP, INC.
            (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                           36-3823760
 (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.)
  incorporation or organization)

            2121 S. MANNHEIM ROAD, WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS 60154-4363
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (708) 865-1100
       Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                    COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
                               (Title of class)

           The registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes  X  No    .
             ---    ---

           Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K.   X
                              ---

           The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity
held by non-affiliates of the registrant (i.e., persons other than directors and
executive officers of the registrant) is $54,717,533 and is based upon the last
sales price ($27.75) as quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market for March 12, 1998.

           The Registrant had 2,461,853 shares outstanding as of March 13, 1998

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

           PORTIONS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997 ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO PART II OF THIS FORM 10-K.

           PORTIONS OF THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO PART III OF THIS FORM 10-K.

 
                                     INDEX

PART I                                                                      PAGE
                                                                            ----

     Item 1.  Business....................................................    3
                                                                            
     Additional Item.  Executive Officers of the Registrant...............   33
                                                                            
     Item 2.  Properties..................................................   34
                                                                            
     Item 3.  Legal Proceedings...........................................   34
                                                                            
     Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.........   34
                                                                            
PART II                                                                     
                                                                            
     Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related             
              Stockholders Matters........................................   35
                                                                            
     Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.....................................   35
                                                                            
     Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial             
              Condition and Results of Operations.........................   35
                                                                            
     Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About                
              Market Risk.................................................   35
                                                                            
     Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.................   35
                                                                            
     Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on              
              Accounting and Financial Disclosure.........................   35
                                                                            
PART III                                                                    
                                                                            
     Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant..........   35
                                                                            
     Item 11. Executive Compensation......................................   36
                                                                            
     Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and           
              Management..................................................   36
                                                                            
     Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions..............   36
                                                                            
PART IV                                                                     
                                                                            
     Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and                   
              Reports on Form 8-K.........................................   36
                                                                            
SIGNATURES................................................................   39

                                       2

 
                                    PART I


Item I.  Business
- -----------------

         Westco Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") was
incorporated under Delaware law on March 11, 1992. On June 26, 1992, the
Registrant acquired First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester,
Westchester, Illinois (the "Association" or "First Federal") as a part of the
Association's conversion from a mutual to a stock federally chartered savings
association. The Registrant is a savings and loan holding company and is subject
to regulation by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"). Currently, the Registrant does not transact any material business other
than through its sole subsidiary, the Association, but the company may enter
into joint ventures for the purpose of developing residential properties. Such
an activity would not be significant.

         The Association was founded in 1906 as an Illinois chartered savings
and loan association. In 1971, the institution converted to a federally
chartered and insured savings and loan association. The Association is a member
of the Federal Home Loan Bank (the "FHLB") System and its deposit accounts are
insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC. At December 31, 1997 the
Association had total assets of $309.7 million and stockholders' equity of $41.8
million (13.5% of total assets). In 1997, the Association paid a dividend to the
Company in the amount of $3.1 million.

         The Association's principal business has been and continues to be
attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those deposits,
together with funds generated from operations primarily in one- to four-family,
owner-occupied, residential mortgage loans, and to a lesser extent, multi-family
residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and land
loans, consumer loans, and other short-term investments, including U.S.
Government and federal agency securities and other marketable securities. The
Association's revenues are derived principally from interest on its mortgage
loan portfolio and interest and dividends on its investment securities. The
Association's primary sources of funds are deposits and principal and interest
payments on investment securities and loans.

Market Area

         The Association has been, and continues to be, a community-oriented
savings institution offering a variety of financial products to meet the needs
of the communities it serves. The Association's deposit gathering area is
concentrated in the neighborhoods surrounding its home office and a limited
service office, both located in Westchester, Illinois. The Association's lending
base primarily covers western Cook County and DuPage County and extends, to a
lesser extent, to the remainder of Cook County, Lake, McHenry, Kane, Will,
Kendall and Grundy Counties in Illinois. Management believes that its offices
are located in a community that can generally be characterized as stable,
residential neighborhoods of predominately one- to four-family residences.

                                       3

 
Lending Activities

         Loan and Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Compositions. The
Association's loan portfolio composition consists primarily of conventional
first mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences. At December 31,
1997, the Association's total mortgage loans outstanding were $231.7 million, of
which $187.0 million were one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, or
77.0% of the Association's total loan portfolio. Of the one- to four-family
residential mortgage loans outstanding at that date, 65.9% were fixed-rate
loans, and 34.1% were adjustable-rate ("ARM") loans. At the same date,
multi-family residential mortgages totaled $23.0 million, or 9.5% of the
Association's total loan portfolio, of which 53.7% were fixed-rate loans either
fully amortizing or with a balloon payment and 46.3% were ARM loans. At December
31, 1997, the Association had commercial real estate loans of $12.5 million, or
5.1% of the Association's total loan portfolio, and construction and land loans
of $9.2 million, or 3.8% of the Association's total loan portfolio. At December
31, 1997, the Association had $454,000 in purchased loans and loan
participations with $429,000 of this total being a participation loan purchased
in 1996 from another bank in a neighboring community. Other loans held by the
Association, which principally consist of consumer loans and share loans,
totaled $11.2 million, or 4.6% of the Association's total loan portfolio. At
December 31, 1997, the Association did not own any mortgage-backed securities.

                                       4

 
         The following table sets forth the composition of the Association's
loan portfolio and mortgage-backed securities portfolio in dollar amounts and in
percentages of the respective portfolios at the dates indicated.



                                                                             At December 31,
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997               1996                 1995               1994                1993
                                   ------------------  ------------------  ------------------ ------------------ -------------------
                                             Percent             Percent             Percent            Percent            Percent
                                    Amount   of Total   Amount   of Total   Amount   of Total  Amount   of Total  Amount   of Total
                                   --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------- --------  -------- --------  ---------
                                                                           (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                                             
Mortgage loans:
  One- to four-family...........   $186,967    76.98%  $180,815    79.61%  $172,800    81.31%  $169,608   81.14%  $162,073   83.50%
  Multi-family..................     23,016     9.48     18,993     8.36     16,556     7.79     16,711    7.99     11,768    6.06
  Commercial real estate........     12,489     5.14     10,819     4.76      9,779     4.60      9,430    4.51      7,528    3.88
  Construction..................      6,307     2.60      2,927     1.29        865      .41      1,035     .50      1,121     .58
  Land..........................      2,936     1.21      2,387     1.05      1,740      .82      1,008     .48        633     .33
                                   --------   ------   --------   ------   --------   -------  --------  ------   --------  ------
     Total mortgage loans.......    231,715    95.41    215,941    95.07    201,740    94.93    197,792   94.62    183,123   94.35

Other loans:                         11,154     4.59     11,197     4.93     10,784     5.07     11,237    5.38     10,975    5.65
                                   --------   ------   --------   ------   --------   -------  --------  ------   --------  ------

     Total loans receivable.....    242,869   100.00%   227,138   100.00%   212,524   100.00%   209,029  100.00%   194,098  100.00%
                                              ======              ======              ======             ======             ======

Less:
  Loans in process..............         30                 198                 117                 188                222
  Unearned discounts and      
   deferred loan fees...........      1,838               2,159               2,455               2,843              3,155
  Allowance for loan losses.....        903                 883                 883                 883                921
                                   --------            --------            --------            --------           --------        
     Loans receivable, net......   $240,098            $223,898            $209,069            $205,115           $189,800
                                   ========            ========            ========            ========           ========        


                                       5

 
         The following table sets forth the Association's loan originations and
loan and mortgage-backed securities purchases, sales and principal repayments
for the periods indicated:



                                                                       Year Ended December 31,
                                                          ------------------------------------------------
                                                              1997               1996               1995
                                                           -----------        -----------        ----------
                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                              
Mortgage loans (gross):
  At beginning of period ............................        $ 215,941         $ 201,740         $ 197,792

    Mortgage loans originated(1)
       One-to four-family ...........................           33,426            35,091            34,116
       Multi-family .................................            5,145             5,494             1,249
       Commercial real estate .......................            3,272               816             2,748
       Construction .................................           10,749             7,850             3,368
       Land .........................................            2,524             2,663               930
                                                             ---------         ---------         ---------  
         Total mortgage loans originated ............           55,116            51,914            42,411
                                                             ---------         ---------         ---------  

    Mortgage Loans Purchased
       Commercial real estate .......................               --               500                --
    Transfer of mortgage loans to
       foreclosed real estate .......................             (682)               --                --
    Principal repayments ............................          (38,660)          (38,213)          (38,463)
                                                             ---------         ---------         ---------  

  At end of period ..................................        $ 231,715         $ 215,941         $ 201,740
                                                             =========         =========         =========  

Other loans (gross):
  At beginning of period ............................        $  11,197         $  10,784         $  11,237

    Other loans originated(1) .......................            7,001             6,244             6,183
    Principal repayments ............................           (7,044)           (5,831)           (6,636)
                                                             ---------         ---------         ---------  

  At end of period ..................................        $  11,154         $  11,197         $  10,784
                                                             =========         =========         =========  


- -------------------------
(1)  Includes line of credit originations.


                                       6

 
         Loan Repricing. The following table shows the repricing of the
Association's loan portfolio at December 31, 1997. The table does not include
prepayments or scheduled principal amortization. Prepayments and scheduled
principal amortization on the Association's loans totaled $45.8 million, $44.0
million, $45.1 million, $42.4 million and $67.8 million for the years ended
December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993.



                                                                          At December 31, 1997
                                                      -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Mortgage Loans
                                                      ----------------------------
                                                        One- to                                          Total
                                                      Four-Family                                        Loans
                                                      Originated         Other        Other Loans      Receivable
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------    -------------
                                                                             (In thousands)
                                                                                           
         Amounts due:
            Within 1 year..........................     $  15,244         $12,591         $10,524        $  38,359
                                                        ---------         -------         -------        ---------
            After 1 year
              1 to 3 years.........................        21,933           4,656             402           26,991
              3 to 5 years.........................        27,235           5,854             202           33,291
              5 to 10 years........................        23,495           8,377              21           31,893
              10 to 20 years.......................        51,992          11,298               5           63,295
              Over 20 years........................        47,068           1,972              --           49,040
                                                        ---------         -------         -------        ---------

              Total due after 1 year...............       171,723          32,157             630          204,510
                                                        ---------         -------         -------        ---------
              Total amounts due....................       186,967          44,748          11,154          242,869
         Less:
            Loan in process........................            30              --              --               30
            Unearned discounts, premiums
              and deferred loan fees, net..........         1,483             355              --            1,838
            Allowance for possible loan losses.....           601             270              32              903
                                                        ---------         -------         -------        ---------

              Loans receivable, net................      $184,853         $44,123         $11,122         $240,098
                                                        =========         =======         =======        =========


                                       7

 
         The following table sets forth at December 31, 1997, the dollar amount
of all loans due after December 31, 1998, and whether such loans have fixed
interest rates or adjustable interest rates. Loans that have adjustable rates
are shown as being due in the period during which the interest rates are next
subject to change.

 
 
                                                                        Due after December 31, 1998               
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Fixed             Adjustable               Total
                                                       ------------------   ------------------    ------------------
                                                                              (In thousands)
                                                                                          
Mortgage loans:
  One- to four-family originated..................         $123,620              $48,103              $171,723      
  Other originated................................           19,007               12,720                31,727      
  Other purchased.................................              429                   --                   429      
Other loans.......................................              631                   --                   631      
                                                           --------              -------              --------      
      Total loans receivable......................         $143,687              $60,823              $204,510      
                                                           ========              =======              ========      
 

         One- to Four-Family Mortgage Loans. The Association offers first
mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences, including townhouse
and condominium units, in the Association's primary lending area. Typically,
such residences are single family homes that serve as the primary residence of
the owner. Loan originations are generally obtained from existing or past
customers and members of the local communities and, to a much lesser extent,
local real estate agent and builder/developer referrals within the Association's
area. During 1997, the Association did not originate any loans through mortgage
brokers.

         The Association offers fixed-rate and ARM loans on one- to four-family
residential properties. At December 31, 1997, 28.4% of the Association's total
loan portfolio was on a bi-weekly payment basis. At December 31, 1997, $123.2
million, or 65.9% of the total one- to four-family mortgage loan portfolio, were
fixed-rate and $63.8 million, or 34.1%, were ARM loans. The Association's
fixed-rate mortgage loans are made for terms of 15 to 30 years. Interest rates
charged on fixed-rate loans are competitively priced based on market conditions
and the Association's cost of funds. Origination fees range from 0% to 2%
depending on the interest rate charged and other factors. The Association offers
one and three year ARM loans. The three year ARM loan has a maximum periodic
adjustment of 2.5% and a maximum adjustment of 5% over the life of the loan. The
most popular one year ARM loan has a fixed rate for five years, after which
there is an annual cap of 2% and a 5% lifetime cap. Generally, ARM loans pose
credit risks different from the risks inherent in fixed-rate loans, primarily
because as interest rates rise, the underlying payments of the borrower rise,
thereby increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the
marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher
interest rates.

         Each loan applicant is considered on an individual basis pursuant to
the Association's mortgage loan underwriting standards. The Association makes
one- to four-family residential loans in amounts up to 80% of the appraised
value of the secured property and will originate loans with loan-to-value ratios
of up to 95%, generally, provided that private mortgage insurance on the amount

                                       8

 
in excess of such 80% ratio is obtained. If a loan is originated in an amount
over 80% and no private mortgage insurance is obtained, the Association
typically requires additional collateral to be pledged. Originated mortgage
loans in the Association's portfolio include due-on-sale clauses which provide
the Association with the contractual right to deem the loan immediately due and
payable in the event that the borrower transfers ownership of the property
without the Association's consent. It is the Association's policy to enforce
due-on-sale provisions.

         The Association also originates second mortgage loans secured by one-
to four-family residences in its primary market area. Most of these loans are
originated with an adjustable interest rate equal to the prime rate plus 1.0% to
1.5% with terms from five to 10 years. Second mortgage loans on owner-occupied
one- to four-family residences are subject to an 80% loan-to-value limitation,
including the first mortgage. During 1994, the Association began offering a
second mortgage loan program whereby the loan amount can equal 100% of the
homeowner's equity of an owner occupied residence up to a maximum loan amount of
$25,000.

         Multi-Family Lending. The Association offers fixed-rate, ARM and
balloon loans on multi-family residential properties. The Association originates
fixed-rate multi-family loans with terms of 15 to 25 years. These loans are
amortized over the term of the loan. Balloon loans are for terms of five to
seven years and amortize over a period of 15 to 25 years. These loans are
generally made in amounts up to 75% of the appraised value of the property
securing the loan. Most of the Association's multi-family loans are not
owner-occupied. In making such loans, the Association bases its underwriting
decision primarily on the net operating income generated by the real estate to
support the debt service, the financial resources and income level of the
borrower, the borrower's experience in owning or managing similar property, the
marketability of the property and the Association's lending experience with the
borrower. An origination fee of 1% to 3% is usually charged on such loans. As of
December 31, 1997, $23.0 million, or 9.5%, of the Association's total loan
portfolio consisted of originated multi-family residential loans all of which
were secured by property located in the Association's primary lending area. Of
this, 53.7% were fixed-rate fully amortizing loans or loans with a balloon
payment, and 46.3% were ARM loans. The typical multi-family property in the
Association's multi-family lending portfolio has between 5 and 12 dwellings
units with an average loan balance of approximately $235,000 at December 31,
1997. The largest multi-family loan at December 31, 1997, had an outstanding
balance of $1.6 million. This loan is secured by a 6 unit condominium located in
Chicago, Illinois. The loan has been current since its origination in December
of 1997.

         Commercial Real Estate Lending. Commercial real estate lending is not a
significant part of the Association's lending activities. At December 31, 1997,
the Association's commercial real estate loan portfolio totaled $12.5 million,
or5.1% of the Association's total loan portfolio. All of the Association's
commercial real estate loans are secured by improved property such as office
buildings, small warehouses, small restaurants and other small businesses. The
largest commercial real estate loan at December 31, 1997, had an outstanding
balance of $1.14 million. This loan is secured by an office building located in
Oak Brook, Illinois and is current as of December 31, 1997. The underwriting
criteria for commercial real estate is substantially similar to the criteria for
multi-family residential properties. Loans secured by commercial real estate
properties involve a greater degree of risk than residential mortgage loans.
Because payments on loans secured by commercial real estate properties are often
dependent on successful operation or management of the 

                                       9

 
properties, repayment of such loans may be subject to a greater extent to
adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy. The Association
seeks to minimize these risks by lending to established customers and generally
restricting such loans to its primary market area.

         Construction and Land Lending. Construction and land lending is not a
significant part of the Association's lending activities. The Association
generally originates loans to finance the construction of owner-occupied and
rental properties in its primary market area. At December 31, 1997, the
Association had one construction loan commitment in the amount of $260,000. The
outstanding balance of nineteen construction loans at such date was $6.3
million, or2.6% of the Association's total loan portfolio. In addition, the
Association originates loans for the acquisition and development of vacant (and
acquisition of improved) lots to contractors and individuals in its primary
market area. At December 31, 1997, the Association had nine land loans, five to
developers and four to homeowners with outstanding balances totaling $2.9
million, or1.2% of the Association's total loan portfolio. Land development
loans typically are short-term loans. Construction and land loans generally are
made to customers of the Association and developers and contractors with whom
the Association has had previous lending experience. The Association requires an
independent appraisal of the property and feasibility studies may be required to
determine the profit potential of the development. Payouts are made after an
inspection based on percentage of completion of the project.

         Other Lending. The Association also offers other loans, primarily
consumer loans and share loans secured by savings accounts. At December 31,
1997, $10.7 million, or4.4% of the total loan portfolio, consisted of consumer
loans and $461,000 or0.2% of the total loan portfolio, consisted of share loans.
Consumer loans primarily consist of motor vehicle loans directly made to
preexisting customers and home equity line of credit loans based on the credit
worthiness of the borrowers and are secured by a lien on the property.
Automobile loans typically are made for a term of five years or less with a
fixed interest rate. Home equity line of credit loans are based on the prime
rate plus 1.0% to 1.5% with terms of five to 10 years. Consumer loans also
include, to a much less extent, loans secured by marketable securities and
unsecured loans.

         Loan Approval Procedures and Authority. All loans must be approved by a
member of the Association's Loan Committee which consists of the President/Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Vice President/Chief Lending Officer. Any loan
over $500,000 requires approval by both members of the Loan Committee. The Loan
Committee meets on an as-needed basis. Real estate loans are reviewed monthly
and ratified by the Board of Directors which typically occur after a loan
commitment is issued or the loan is closed.

         For all loans originated by the Association, upon receipt of a
completed loan application from a prospective borrower, a credit report is
ordered, income and certain other information is verified and, if necessary,
additional financial information is required. An appraisal of the real estate
intended to secure the proposed loan is required which currently is performed by
an independent appraiser designated and approved by the Association. The Board
annually approves the independent fee appraisers used by the Association and
reviews the Association's appraisal policy. One of the independent fee
appraisers, who appraises a small portion of the Association's residential
mortgage loan business, is a member of the Association's Board of Directors. It
is the Association's policy to obtain title insurance on all first mortgage
loans. Borrowers also are required to obtain 

                                       10

 
hazard insurance prior to closing. Borrowers generally are required to advance
funds together with each payment of principal and interest to a mortgage escrow
account from which the Association makes disbursements for items such as real
estate taxes and hazard insurance premiums.

         At December 31, 1997, the largest aggregate amount of loans outstanding
to one borrower totaled $4.9 million and consisted of 17 loans on 2, 3 or 4 unit
apartment buildings. The largest single loan to this borrower is a $1.1 million
loan on a 4 unit apartment building. At December 31, 1997, all loans to this
borrower were current. The aggregate amount of loans to this borrower and his
affiliated parties does not exceed the Association's "loans to one borrower"
limitation established by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and
Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA") which, at December 31, 1997, was $6.3
million.

Delinquencies and Classified Assets.

         Delinquent Loans. The Association attempts to contact a borrower when a
loan is more than 20 days past due by sending a late notice. If payment is not
received, a phone call to the borrower typically is made within an additional
five days. In the event that payment still is not received, additional letters
may be sent and/or phone calls made to the borrower. When contact is made with
the borrower at any time prior to foreclosure, the Association will attempt to
obtain full payment or work out a repayment schedule with the borrower. Once a
loan is 90 days past due, the Association's collection department reports to the
Loan Committee and a liquidation plan or foreclosure action is recommended. The
Loan Committee then determines the Association's course of action. Interest
income is reduced by the full amount of accrued and uncollected interest on all
loans once they become 90 days delinquent. Property acquired by the Association
as a result of a foreclosure on a mortgage loan is classified as real estate
owned.

         Classified Assets. Federal regulations and the Association's
Classification of Assets Policy provide for the classification of loans and
other assets such as debt and equity securities considered by the OTS to be of
lesser quality as "substandard," "doubtful" or "loss" assets. See "Regulation
and Supervision -Federal Savings Institution Regulations - Classified Assets."

         A savings institution's determination as to the classification of its
assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the
OTS, which can order the establishment of additional general or specific loss
allowances. The OTS has an interagency policy statement on the allowance for
loan and lease losses. The policy statement provides guidance for financial
institutions on both the responsibilities of management for the assessment and
establishment of adequate allowances and guidance for banking agency examiners
to use in determining the adequacy of general valuation allowances. Generally,
the policy statement requires that institutions have effective systems and
controls to identify, monitor and address asset quality problems; have analyzed
all significant factors that affect the collectibility of the portfolio in a
reasonable manner; and have established acceptable allowance evaluation
processes that meet the objectives set forth in the policy statement.

         At December 31, 1997, the Association had one loan classified doubtful
totalling $139,000 (net of a $175,000 specific valuation reserve). The loan is
secured by a 38 unit multi-family property located in Maywood, Illinois. There
is also one loan classified as substandard at December 31, 1997, 

                                       11

 
totalling $354,000. The loan is on a combination commercial/residential
property. At December 31, 1997, the Association had 12 loans classified as
special mention totaling $1.8 million. Eleven are on one- to four-family
residences and had an average balance at such date of $133,000; the remaining
loan is on a multi-family residential property with an outstanding balance of
$299,000. At December 31, 1997, none of the Association's loans were classified
as loss.

                                       12

 
         At December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, delinquencies in the
Association's portfolio were as follows:

 
 
                                              At December 31, 1997                               At December 31, 1996             
                               -------------------------------------------------   ------------------------------------------------
                                     60-89 Days             90 Days or More              60-89 Days              90 Days or More
                               -----------------------   -----------------------   ------------------------   ---------------------
                                 Number     Principal      Number     Principal      Number     Principal      Number   Principal
                                   of        Balance         of        Balance        of         Balance         of      Balance   
                                 Loans      of Loans       Loans      of Loans       Loans      of Loans       Loans    of Loans   
                               ----------  -----------   ----------  -----------   ----------  ------------   --------  -----------
                                                                      (Dollars in thousands)                                       
                                                                                                        
One- to four-family............     12        $1,354          3          $118            8          $667           8        $862  
Multi-family...................     --            --         --            --            1           320          --          --  
Commercial.....................     --            --          1           354           --            --           1         385  
                                   ---        ------        ---           ---          ---          ----         ---      ------  
   Total mortgage loans........     12        $1,354          4           472            9           987           9       1,247  
Other loans....................      1            21         --            --           --            --          --              
                                   ---        ------        ---           ---          ---          ----         ---      ------  
   Total all loans.............     13        $1,375          4           472            9          $987           9      $1,247  
                                   ===        ======        ===           ===          ===          ====         ===      ======  
Delinquent loans to total                                                                                                         
 loans.........................                 0.57%                    0.19%                      0.43%                   0.56%  
                                                ====                     =====                      ====                    ====   
 
                                                 At December 31, 1995
                                  ---------------------------------------------------
                                         60-89 Days              90 Days or More
                                  -------------------------  ------------------------
                                    Number       Principal    Number      Principal
                                      of          Balance       of         Balance
                                    Loans        of Loans      Loans      of Loans
                                  -----------   -----------  ----------  ------------
                                                (Dollars in thousands)
                                                              
 One- to four-family ..........        13          $1,237         9          $473   
 Multi-Family..................        --              --         1           235   
 Commercial....................        --              --         1           397   
                                      ---          ------         -          ----
   Total mortgage loans........        13           1,237        11         1,105
 Other loans...................        --              --         1            36   
                                      ---          ------        --        ------ 
   Total all loans.............        13          $1,237        12        $1,141   
                                      ===          ======        ==        ====== 
 Delinquent loans to                                                               
    total loans................                      0.59%                   0.55%   
                                                     ====                    ====    
 

                                       13

 
         The following table sets forth information regarding non-accrual loans
delinquent 90 days or more. At December 31, 1997, there was one restructured
loan within the meaning of SFAS No. 15 and no other potential problem loans
except as described above or included in the table below.

 
 
                                                                  At December 31,
                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                  1997       1996     1995        1994     1993
                                                  ----       ----     ----        ----     ----
                                                               (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                             
Mortgage loans delinquent
   90 days or more..............................  $472     $1,247    $1,105       $290      $729
Restructured real estate loans                     314         --        --         --        --
Other loans delinquent 90 days or  more.........    --        320        36         18        41
                                                 ------    ------     -----       ----     -----
         Total non-performing loans.............   786      1,567     1,141        308       770
Total foreclosed real estate, net of                  
 related allowance for losses...................     --        --        --        447        98
                                                 ------    ------     -----       ----     -----
         Total nonperforming assets.............  $786     $1,567    $1,141       $755      $868
                                                 ======    ======     =====       ====     =====

Non-performing loans to total loans.............  0.33%      0.70%     0.55%      0.15%     0.40%

Total non-performing assets to total assets.....  0.25%      0.50%     0.37%      0.25%     0.29%
 

- -------------------------------

(1)  For the year ended December 31, 1997 gross interest income which would have
     been recorded had the non-performing loans been current in accordance with
     their original terms amounted to approximately $21,000.

         The balance of non-performing assets, amounting to $786,000 at December
31, 1997, decreased from $1.6 million at December 31, 1996. The largest single
delinquency was a mortgage loan secured by a combination commercial/residential
property in the amount of $354,000 at December 31, 1997.

         Allowance for Loan Losses. Notwithstanding the Association's limited
historical loss experience, in 1990 management decided that it was advisable to
establish an allowance to provide for future loan losses. The allowance for loan
losses was established and maintained through a provision for loan losses based
on management's evaluation of the risk inherent in its loan portfolio and the
general economy. Such evaluation, which includes a review of all loans on which
full collectibility may not be reasonably assured, considers among other
matters, the estimated net realizable value of the underlying collateral,
economic conditions, and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for
an adequate loan loss allowance. For classified assets or certain other
circumstances recognized as potential problems, a specific reserve is
established. If an asset is classified, an estimated value of the property
securing the loan is determined and if the unpaid balance of the loan is greater
than such estimated value, the difference is established as a specific reserve.
At December 31, 1997, the Association had a specific reserve in the amount of
$175,000 against the restructured real estate loan.

                                       14

 
         The following table sets forth the Association's allowance for possible
loan losses at the dates indicated.

 
 
                                                                                At December 31,
                                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1997          1996         1995           1994            1993
                                                      ----------    ----------   ----------     ----------     ------------
                                                                              (Dollars in thousands)

                                                                                                    
Balance at beginning of year.....................         $883          $883          $883           $921          $925
Provision for loan losses........................           --            --            --             --            --
Charge-offs: One- to four-family mortgage loans..           --            --            --            (38)          (15)
Recoveries: One- to four-family mortgage loans...           20            --            --             --            11
                                                          ----          ----          ----           ----          ----
Balance at end of year...........................         $903          $883          $883           $883          $921
                                                          ====          ====          ====           ====          ====
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to              
  average loans outstanding during the period....           --%           --%           --%           .02%          .01%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to net                  
  loans receivable at the end of period..........          .38           .39           .42            .43           .49
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total             
  non-performing assets at the end of period.....       114.86         56.34         77.37         116.88        106.11
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to non-              
  performing loans at the end of the period......       114.86         56.34         77.37         286.51        119.61 
 

                                       15

 
         The following table sets forth the Association's allowance for possible
loan losses by type of loan for the periods indicated.

 
 
                                                                     For the Year Ended December 31,
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1997                             1996                         1995
                                     ------------------------------   -----------------------------   --------------------------
                                        Amount       Percentage(1)      Amount       Percentage(1)      Amount      Percentage(1)
                                     -----------   ----------------   ----------    ---------------   -----------  -------------
                                                                         (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                                                   
Specific Allowance:
         Mortgage Loans:
           Residential..................  $175           86.46%         $ 175            87.97         $  --          89.10%
           Commercial...................    --            5.14             --             4.76            --           4.60
           Construction.................    --            2.60             --             1.29            --            .41
           Land.........................    --            1.21             --             1.05            --            .82
         Other Loans:
           Equity lines of credit.......    --            4.23             --             4.55            --           4.64
           Consumer.....................    --            0.36             --             0.38            --           0.43
                                           ---            ----            ---             ----           ---           ----
Total Specific Allowances...............   175          100.00%           175           100.00%           --          100.00%
                                           ---          ======            ---           ======           ---          ======

General Allowances:
         Mortgage Loans:
           Residential..................   375           86.46            590            87.97%          547          89.10%
           Commercial...................    60            5.14             59             4.76            52           4.60
           Construction.................    20            2.60              6             1.29             5            .41
           Land.........................    17            1.21              8             1.05             6            .82
         Other Loans:
           Equity lines of credit.......    32            4.23             35             4.55            33           4.64
           Consumer.....................     1            0.36             --             0.38             2           0.43
           Unallocated..................   223              --             10               --           238             --
                                           ---          ------            ---           ------           ---         ------
Total General Allowances................   728          100.00%           708           100.00%          883         100.00%
                                           ---          ======            ---           ======           ---         ======
    Total allowances for loan losses....  $903                           $883                           $883
                                           ===                           ====                           ====
                                            
 

- --------------------
(1) Percent of loans in each category to total loans receivable at the date
indicated.

                                       16

 
Investment Activities

         The investment policy of the Company, which is established by the Board
of Directors and implemented by the Company's Chief Financial Officer, is
designed primarily to provide and maintain liquidity, to generate a favorable
return on investments without incurring undue interest rate and credit risk, and
to complement the Company's lending activities. Federally chartered savings
institutions have the authority to invest in various types of liquid assets,
including United States Treasury obligations, securities of various federal
agencies, certain certificates of deposit of insured banks and savings
institutions, certain bankers acceptances, repurchase agreements and loans on
federal funds. Subject to various restrictions, federally chartered savings
institutions may also invest a portion of their assets in commercial paper,
corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities. Investments generally are
made with the intent of holding them to maturity although some investments are
occasionally acquired for trading purposes. From time to time, in order to
enhance the Company's liquidity or to obtain a higher yield, securities of a
longer duration than the typical investment security in the Company's portfolio
may be acquired for the available for sale portfolio. At December 31, 1997, the
Company had investment securities in the aggregate amount of $55.4 million. The
portion of the investment portfolio which is held with the intent to hold to
maturity is accounted for on an amortized cost basis. Investment securities
which are categorized as held for trade are carried at fair value with any
unrealized holding gains and losses included in income. An Investment Committee
consisting of the Company's President/Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice
President/Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President/Chief Lending
Officer meets on an as-needed basis to make material investment decisions. The
Chief Financial Officer reports on a monthly basis the Company's investment
activities to the Board of Directors.

         The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
carrying and fair values of the Company's investment securities portfolio at the
dates indicated:



                                                                           At December 31,
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1997                       1996                     1995
                                            ---------------------     ------------------------    ------------------
                                             Carrying    Fair            Carrying     Fair        Carrying   Fair
                                              Value     Value              Value     Value          Value   Value
                                             --------   -----            --------   -------         ------  -----
                                                                           (In thousands)
                                                                                               
Interest-earning deposits:                      
  Term Federal funds .......................   $ 7,782   $ 7,782         $ 5,700     $ 5,700       $ 3,150   $ 3,150
  Money Market funds .......................     2,282     2,282           2,021       2,021           756       756
  FHLB daily investments ...................        95        95             157         157            65        65
                                               -------   -------         -------     -------       -------   -------

       Total interest-earning deposits .....   $10,159   $10,159         $ 7,878     $ 7,878       $ 3,971   $ 3,971
                                               =======   =======         =======     =======       =======   =======
                                                                                                           
Investment securities held with intent                                                                     
 to hold to maturity:                                                                                      
    U.S. Government securities and agency                                                                  
     obligations ...........................   $53,968   $53,974         $68,737     $68,638       $82,111   $82,359
    Other ..................................        --        --              --          --            --        --
                                               -------   -------         -------     -------       -------   -------
                                                                                                           
       Total investment securities held with                                                               
        intent to hold to maturity .........   $53,968   $53,974         $68,737     $68,638       $82,111   $82,359
                                               =======   =======         =======     =======       =======   =======
Investment securities held for trade:                                                                      
  Equity securities ........................   $ 1,462   $ 1,462         $   827     $   827       $   501   $   501
                                               =======   =======         =======     =======       =======   =======


                                       17

 
         Government Securities Carrying/Fair Value. The table below sets forth
certain information regarding the carrying value, weighted average yields and
maturities of the Company's held to maturity investment securities at December
31, 1997.

 
 
                                                                At December 31, 1997,
                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               One Year or Less      One to Five Years      Five to 10 Years       More than 10 Years     
                              --------------------- -------------------  --------------------  ------------------------- 
                                                                                                      
                                          Weighted             Weighted              Weighted              Weighted 
                              Carrying    Average   Carrying   Average    Carrying   Average    Carrying   Average  
                               Value       Yield     Value      Yield      Value     Yield        Value     Yield   
                              -------     -------   -------    -------    -------    --------    -------   --------
                                                               (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                                     
U.S. Government and                                                                                        
  agency securities......       $41,960     5.5%    $12,008     5.68%     $    --      --%       $    --      --%      
                                -------             -------               -------                -------               
         Total...........       $41,960             $12,008               $    --                $    --               
                                =======             =======               =======                -------               
 
                                         At December 31, 1997,
                          ---------------------------------------------------  
                                     Total Investment Securities               
                          ---------------------------------------------------  
                              Average                                     
                             Remaining              Approximate   Weighted 
                             Years to    Carrying      Fair       Average  
                              Maturity    Value        Value        Yield  
                           -----------   --------    ---------    --------
                                         (Dollars in thousands)
                                                       
U.S. Government and                                             
  agency securities......      0.83     $53,968     $53,974         5.61% 
                                        -------     -------               
         Total...........               $53,968     $53,974               
                                        =======     =======               
                                                               
 

         There were no investment securities (exclusive of the U.S. government
securities) issued by any one entity with a total carrying value in excess of
10% of stockholders' equity at December 31, 1997.

                                       18

 
Sources of Funds

     General. Deposits, loan repayments and cash flows generated from operations
are the primary sources of the Association's funds for use in lending, investing
and other general purposes.

     Deposits. The Association offers a variety of deposit accounts having a
range of interest rates and terms. The Association's deposits consist of
passbook savings, NOW, money market and certificate accounts. The flow of
deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in
money market and prevailing interest rates and competition. The Association's
deposits primarily are obtained from the areas surrounding its main office. The
Association relies primarily on customer service and long-standing relationships
with customers to attract and retain these deposits. Certificate accounts in
excess of $100,000 are not actively solicited by the Association nor does the
Association use brokers to obtain deposits.

     When management determines the levels of its deposit rates, consideration
is given to local competition and Treasury offerings. As part of its interest
rate management strategy, the Association maintains a significant percentage of
assets in short term Treasury and agency securities which permits the
Association to accept limited deposit disintermediation when the marginal cost
of new or renewing deposits exceeds profitable investment opportunities. The
consolidation of banking institutions has not had a significant impact locally
on the Association's operation to date, but management is unsure of the effect
as consolidation continues. At December 31, 1997, passbook savings and NOW
checking accounts amounted to 30.2% total deposits.

         The following table presents the deposit activity of the Association
for the periods indicated.

                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           1997            1996         1995
                                      --------------   ------------  -----------
                                                      (In thousands)  
                                                                       
Deposits.............................    $272,714        $246,689      $260,972
Withdrawals..........................     279,705         253,374       266,096
                                         --------        --------      --------
Deposit net of withdrawals...........      (6,991)         (6,685)       (5,124)
Interest credited on deposits........      11,448          11,195        10,445
                                         --------        --------      --------
         Total increase in deposits..    $  4,457        $  4,510      $  5,321
                                         ========        ========      ======== 

                                       19

 
     At December 31, 1997, the Association had outstanding $42.1 million in
deposit accounts in amounts of $100,000 or more ("Jumbo Accounts") maturing as
follows:


                                                          Amount
                                                     ----------------
              Maturity Period                         (In thousands)
              ---------------     

              Three months or less...................     $12,478
              Over three through six months..........       5,238
              Over six through 12 months.............      10,673
              Over 12 months.........................      13,715
                                                           ------

                       Total.........................     $42,104
                                                          =======

              Type of Jumbo Accounts
              ----------------------

              Negotiated.............................     $19,265
              Core...................................      22,839
                                                           ------

                       Total.........................     $42,104
                                                          =======

     The following table sets forth the distribution of the Association's
deposit accounts at the dates indicated and the weighted average nominal
interest rates on each category of deposits presented. Management does not
believe that the use of year end balances instead of average balances resulted
in any material difference in the information presented.


                                                               At December 31,
                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1997                           1996                        1995
                           -----------------------------  ---------------------------- -----------------------------
                                              Weighted                      Weighted                      Weighted
                                    Percent   Average               Percent  Average             Percent   Average
                                    of Total  Nominal               of Total Nominal             of Total  Nominal
                            Amount  Deposits     Rate       Amount  Deposits   Rate     Amount   Deposits    Rate
                            ------  --------  -------       ------  -------- -------   -------   -------- --------
                                                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                                 
Transaction accounts:       
  NOW..................... $ 17,207    6.63%   1.98%      $ 15,816    6.20%   2.00%  $ 14,630      5.84%   2.01%
  Money Market............    7,511    2.89    2.88          9,271    3.63    2.88     10,960      4.37    2.88
  Passbook savings........   61,225   23.58    3.04         62,743   24.59    3.04     62,927     25.11    3.04
                             ------   -----                 ------   -----             ------     -----
  Total...................   85,943   33.10                 87,830   34.42             88,517     35.32
                             ------   -----                 ------   -----             ------     -----

Certificate accounts:
  Six month...............   17,916    6.90    5.54         23,619    9.26    5.45     21,667      8.64    5.40
  Twelve month............   17,491    6.74    6.05         17,082    6.69    5.65     15,698      6.26    5.68
  Eighteen month..........   40,988   15.79    5.84         21,198    8.31    5.53     20,340      8.12    5.41
  Two to five years.......   51,321   19.77    6.48         59,770   23.43    6.44     60,286     24.05    6.39
  IRA and Keogh...........   45,952   17.70    6.29         45,655   17.89    6.27     44,136     17.61    6.28
                             ------   -----                 ------   -----             ------     -----
  Total...................  173,668   66.90                167,324   65.58            162,127     64.68
                            -------   -----                -------   -----            -------     -----

Total deposits............ $259,611  100.00%   5.03       $255,154  100.00%   4.95   $250,644    100.00%   4.85
                           ========  ======               ========  ======           ========    ======


                                       20

 
     The following table presents, by various rate categories, the amount of
certificate accounts outstanding at December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 and the
periods to maturity of the certificate accounts outstanding at December 31,
1997.
 
                                                                           
                                                                                       Period to Maturity  
                                                                                     from December 31, 1997 
                                     At December 31,            -------------------------------------------------------------
                           -----------------------------------      Within     One to     Two to 
                               1997       1996        1995         One Year  Two Years  Three Years  Thereafter      Total
                              ------     ------      ------        --------  ---------  ----------   ----------      -----
                                                                     (In thousands)          
                                                                                           
Certificate accounts:
  3.99% or less..........   $     --   $     --    $  1,668         $    --    $    --      $    --     $    --   $     --
  4.00% to 4.99%.........        275        394      10,476             231         24           20          --        275
  5.00% to 5.99%.........     97,468    100,077      80,353          70,496     10,599        8,687       7,686     97,468
  6.00% to 6.99%.........     50,024     41,776      41,371          20,399     16,061       13,163         401     50,024
  7.00% to 7.99%.........     17,335     16,934      20,616           1,241      8,725        7,152         217     17,335
  8.00% to 8.99%.........      8,566      8,143       7,643              --      4,709        3,857          --      8,566
                            --------   --------    --------         -------    -------      -------     -------   --------
                            $173,668   $167,324    $162,127         $92,367    $40,118      $32,879     $ 8,304   $173,668
                            ========   ========    ========         =======    =======      =======     =======   ========
 

Borrowed Funds

     In connection with its initial public offering, the Association established
an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust ("ESOP"). The ESOP was funded by the
proceeds from a $1.8 million loan from an unaffiliated third party lender. The
loan is currently held by the Company. The loan carries an interest rate of
one-eighth of one percent under the prime rate, and matures in the year 1999.
The loan is secured by shares of the Common Stock purchased with loan proceeds
in the initial public offering. The Association has committed to make
contributions to the ESOP sufficient to allow the ESOP to fund the debt service
requirements of the loan. In consolidation of financial statements the debt is
eliminated.

Subsidiary Activities

     Westco, Inc., an Illinois corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Association, is engaged in insurance activities and securities brokerage
services. For the year ended December 31, 1997, Westco, Inc. had a net loss of
$15,000 and net income of $9,000, respectively, from its insurance activities
and securities brokerage services.

     Westco, Inc. operates as a full service insurance agency which offers a
variety of insurance products and annuities. Westco, Inc. also has entered into
an agreement with a registered broker-dealer to provide certain securities
brokerage insurance products and investment advisory securities to the general
public. Through this program and a licensed dual employee, these services are
offered to the Association's customers and members of the local community.
Revenues generated from the sales of these products are apportioned between the
registered broker-dealer and Westco, Inc.

Competition

     The Chicago metropolitan area has a high density of financial institutions,
many of which are significantly larger and have greater financial resources than
the Association, and all of which are competitors of the Association to varying
degrees. The Association's competition for loans

                                       21

 
comes principally from savings and loan associations, savings banks, mortgage
banking companies, insurance companies, and commercial banks. Its most direct
competition for savings has historically come from savings and loan
associations, savings banks, commercial banks, and credit unions. The
Association faces additional competition for savings from short-term money
market funds and other corporate and government securities funds. The
Association also faces increased competition from other financial institutions
such as brokerage firms and insurance companies for deposits. Competition may
also increase as a result of the lifting of restrictions on the interstate
operations of financial institutions.

     The Association serves its market area with a wide selection of residential
loans and retail financial services. Management considers the Association's
reputation for financial strength and customer service as its major competitive
advantage in attracting and retaining customers in its market area. The
Association also believes it benefits from its community orientation as well as
its relatively high core deposit base.

Personnel

     As of December 31, 1997, the Association had 50 full-time employees and 10
part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective
bargaining unit, and the Association considers its relationship with its
employees to be excellent.


                          REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

General

     The Company, as a savings and loan holding company, is required to file
certain reports with, and otherwise comply with the rules and regulations of the
Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") under the Home Owners' Loan Act, as amended
(the "HOLA"). In addition, the activities of savings institutions, such as the
Association, are governed by the HOLA and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
("FDI Act").

     The Association is subject to extensive regulation, examination and
supervision by the OTS, as its primary federal regulator, and the FDIC, as the
deposit insurer. The Association is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank
("FHLB") System and its deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by
the Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") managed by the FDIC. The
Association must file reports with the OTS and the FDIC concerning its
activities and financial condition in addition to obtaining regulatory approvals
prior to entering into certain transactions such as mergers with, or
acquisitions of, other savings institutions. The OTS and/or the FDIC conduct
periodic examinations to test the Association's safety and soundness and
compliance with various regulatory requirements. This regulation and supervision
establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an institution can
engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and
depositors. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities
extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement
activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the
classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves
for regulatory purposes. Any change in such regulatory requirements 

                                       22

 
and policies, whether by the OTS, the FDIC or the Congress, could have a
material adverse impact on the Company, the Association and their operations.
Certain of the regulatory requirements applicable to the Association and to the
Company are referred to below or elsewhere herein. The description of statutory
provisions and regulations applicable to savings institutions and their holding
companies set forth in this Form 10-K does not purport to be a complete
description of such statutes and regulations and their effects on the
Association and the Company.

Holding Company Regulation

     The Company is a nondiversified unitary savings and loan holding company
within the meaning of the HOLA. As a unitary savings and loan holding company,
the Company generally is not restricted under existing laws as to the types of
business activities in which it may engage, provided that the Association
continues to be a qualified thrift lender ("QTL"). See "Federal Savings
Institution Regulation - QTL Test." Upon any non-supervisory acquisition by the
Company of another savings institution or savings bank that meets the QTL test
and is deemed to be a savings institution by the OTS, the Company would become a
multiple savings and loan holding company (if the acquired institution is held
as a separate subsidiary) and would be subject to extensive limitations on the
types of business activities in which it could engage. The HOLA limits the
activities of a multiple savings and loan holding company and its non-insured
institution subsidiaries primarily to activities permissible for bank holding
companies under Section 4(c)(8) of the Bank Holding Company Act ("BHC Act"),
subject to the prior approval of the OTS, and certain activities authorized by
OTS regulation, and no multiple savings and loan holding company may acquire
more than 5% of the voting stock of a company engaged in impermissible
activities.

     The HOLA prohibits a savings and loan holding company, directly or
indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, from acquiring more than 5% of
the voting stock of another savings institution or holding company thereof,
without prior written approval of the OTS or acquiring or retaining control of a
depository institution that is not insured by the FDIC. In evaluating
applications by holding companies to acquire savings institutions, the OTS must
consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the
company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to
the insurance funds, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive
factors.

     The OTS is prohibited from approving any acquisition that would result in a
multiple savings and loan holding company controlling savings institutions in
more than one state, subject to two exceptions: (i) the approval of interstate
supervisory acquisitions by savings and loan holding companies and (ii) the
acquisition of a savings institution in another state if the laws of the state
of the target savings institution specifically permit such acquisitions. The
states vary in the extent to which they permit interstate savings and loan
holding company acquisitions.

     Although savings and loan holding companies are not subject to specific
capital requirements or specific restrictions on the payment of dividends or
other capital distributions, HOLA does prescribe such restrictions on subsidiary
savings institutions as described below. The Association must notify the OTS 30
days before declaring any dividend to the Company. In addition, the financial
impact of a holding company on its subsidiary institution is a matter that is
evaluated by 

                                       23

 
the OTS and the agency has authority to order cessation of activities or
divestiture of subsidiaries deemed to pose a threat to the safety and soundness
of the institution.

Federal Savings Institution Regulation

     Capital Requirements. The OTS capital regulations require savings
institutions to meet three minimum capital standards: a 1.5% tangible capital
ratio, a 3% leverage (core) capital ratio and an 8% risk-based capital ratio. In
addition, the prompt corrective action standards discussed below also establish,
in effect, a minimum 2% tangible capital standard, a 4% leverage (core) capital
ratio (3% for institutions receiving the highest rating on the CAMEL financial
institution rating system), and, together with the risk-based capital standard
itself, a 4% Tier I risk-based capital standard. Core capital is defined as
common stockholders' equity (including retained earnings), certain noncumulative
perpetual preferred stock and related surplus, and minority interests in equity
accounts of consolidated subsidiaries less intangibles other than certain
mortgage servicing rights and credit card relationships. The OTS regulations
also require that, in meeting the tangible, leverage (core) and risk-based
capital standards, institutions must generally deduct investments in and loans
to subsidiaries engaged in activities as principal that are not permissible for
a national bank.

     The risk-based capital standard for savings institutions requires the
maintenance of Tier I (core) and total capital (which is defined as core capital
and supplementary capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 4% and 8%,
respectively. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets, all assets,
including certain off-balance sheet assets, are multiplied by a risk-weight
factor of 0% to 100%, as assigned by the OTS capital regulation based on the
risks OTS believes are inherent in the type of asset. The components of Tier I
(core) capital are equivalent to those discussed earlier. The components of
supplementary capital currently include cumulative preferred stock, long-term
perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt
and intermediate preferred stock and the allowance for loan and lease losses
limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Overall, the amount of
supplementary capital included as part of total capital cannot exceed 100% of
core capital.

     The OTS regulatory capital requirements also incorporate an interest rate
risk component. Savings institutions with "above normal" interest rate risk
exposure are subject to a deduction from total capital for purposes of
calculating their risk-based capital requirements. A savings institution's
interest rate risk is measured by the decline in the net portfolio value of its
assets (i.e., the difference between incoming and outgoing discounted cash flows
from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts) that would result from
a hypothetical 200 basis point increase or decrease in market interest rates
divided by the estimated economic value of the institution's assets. In
calculating its total capital under the risk-based capital rule, a savings
institution whose measured interest rate risk exposure exceeds 2% must deduct an
amount equal to one-half of the difference between the institution's measured
interest rate risk and 2%, multiplied by the estimated economic value of the
institution's assets. The Director of the OTS may waive or defer a savings
institution's interest rate risk component on a case-by-case basis. A savings
institution with assets of less than $300 million and risk-based capital ratios
in excess of 12% is not subject to the interest rate risk component, unless the
OTS determines otherwise. For the present time, the OTS has deferred
implementation of the interest rate risk component. At December 31, 1997, the
Association met each of its capital 

                                       24

 
requirements and it is anticipated that the Association will not be subject to
the interest rate risk component.
                                 
     The following table presents the Association's capital position at December
31, 1997.
 
 
                                                                                            Capital
                                                                Excess         ----------------------------------
                           Actual            Required        (Deficiency)          Actual           Required
                      ------------------   --------------  ------------------  ---------------  -----------------
                                                        (Dollars in thousands)
                                                                                  
   Tangible...........      $41,502            $4,635           $36,867             13.43%            1.50%       
   Core (Leverage)....       41,502             9,270            32,232             13.43             3.00        
   Risk-based.........       42,230            11,523            30,707             29.32             8.00        
 

     Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action. Under the OTS prompt corrective action
regulations, the OTS is required to take certain supervisory actions against
undercapitalized institutions, the severity of which depends upon the
institution's degree of undercapitalization. Generally, a savings institution is
considered "well capitalized" if its ratio of total capital to risk-weighted
assets is at least 10%, its ratio of Tier I (core) capital to risk-weighted
assets is at least 6%, its ratio of core capital to total assets is at least 5%,
and it is not subject to any order or directive by the OTS to meet a specific
capital level. A savings institution generally is considered "adequately
capitalized" if its ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is at least
8%, its ratio of Tier I (core) capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 4%,
and its ratio of core capital to total assets is at least 4% (3% if the
institution receives the highest CAMEL rating). A savings institution that has a
ratio of total capital to risk weighted assets of less than 8%, a ratio of Tier
I (core) capital to risk-weighted assets of less than 4% or a ratio of core
capital to total assets of less than 4% (3% or less for institutions with the
highest examination rating) is considered to be "undercapitalized." A savings
institution that has a total risk-based capital ratio less than 6%, a Tier 1
capital ratio of less than 3% or a leverage ratio that is less than 3% is
considered to be "significantly undercapitalized" and a savings institution that
has a tangible capital to assets ratio equal to or less than 2% is deemed to be
"critically undercapitalized." Subject to a narrow exception, the banking
regulator is required to appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution
that is "critically undercapitalized." The regulation also provides that a
capital restoration plan must be filed with the OTS within 45 days of the date a
savings institution receives notice that it is "undercapitalized,"
"significantly undercapitalized" or "critically undercapitalized." Compliance
with the plan must be guaranteed by any parent holding company. In addition,
numerous mandatory supervisory actions become immediately applicable to an
undercapitalized institution, including, but not limited to, increased
monitoring by regulators and restrictions on growth, capital distributions and
expansion. The OTS could also take any one of a number of discretionary
supervisory actions, including the issuance of a capital directive and the
replacement of senior executive officers and directors.

     Insurance of Deposit Accounts. Deposits of the Association are presently
insured by the SAIF. On September 30, 1996, the President signed into law the
Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 (the "Funds Act") which, among other things,
imposed a special one-time assessment on SAIF member institutions, including the
Association, to recapitalize the SAIF. The SAIF was 

                                       25

 
undercapitalized due primarily to a statutory requirement that SAIF members make
payments on bonds issued in the late 1980s by the Financing Corporation ("FICO")
to recapitalize the predecessor to the SAIF. As required by the Funds Act, the
FDIC imposed a special assessment of 65.7 basis points on SAIF assessable
deposits held as of March 31, 1995, payable November 27, 1996 (the "SAIF Special
Assessment"). The SAIF Special Assessment was recognized by the Association as
an expense in the quarter ended September 30, 1996 and was generally tax
deductible. The SAIF Special Assessment recorded by the Association amounted to
$1.6 million on a pre-tax basis and $1.1 million on an after-tax basis.

     The Funds Act also spread the obligations for payment of the FICO bonds
across all SAIF and Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") members. The BIF is the fund
which primarily insures commercial bank deposits. Beginning on January 1, 1997,
BIF deposits were assessed for a FICO payment of approximately 1.3 basis points,
while SAIF deposits pay approximately 6.4 basis points. Full pro rata sharing of
the FICO payments between BIF and SAIF members will occur on the earlier of
January 1, 2000 or the date the BIF and SAIF are merged. The Funds Act specifies
that the BIF and SAIF will be merged on January 1, 1999, provided no savings
associations remain as of that time.

     As a result of the Funds Act, the FDIC voted to effectively lower SAIF
assessments to 0 to 27 basis points as of January 1, 1997, a range comparable to
that of BIF members. SAIF members will also continue to make the FICO payments
described above. Management cannot predict the level of FDIC insurance
assessments on an on-going basis, whether the savings association charter will
be eliminated or whether the BIF and SAIF will eventually be merged.

     The Association's assessment rate for fiscal 1997 was 6.48 basis points and
the premium paid for this period was $165,000. A significant increase in SAIF
insurance premiums would likely have an adverse effect on the operating expenses
and results of operations of the Association.

     Under the FDI Act, insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon
a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in
an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any
applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC or the
OTS. The management of the Association does not know of any practice, condition
or violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance.

     Thrift Rechartering Legislation. The Funds Act provides that the BIF and
SAIF will merge on January 1, 1999 if there are no more savings associations as
of that date. Various proposals to eliminate the federal thrift charter, create
a uniform financial institutions charter and abolish the OTS have been
introduced in Congress. Some bills would require federal savings institutions to
convert to a national bank or some type of state charter by a specified date, or
they would automatically become national banks. Under some proposals, converted
federal thrifts would generally be required to conform their activities to those
permitted for the charter selected and divestiture of nonconforming assets would
be required over a two year period, subject to two possible one year extensions.
State chartered thrifts would become subject to the same federal regulation as
applies to state commercial banks. A more recent bill passed by the House
Banking Committee would allow federal savings institutions to continue to
exercise activities being conducted when they convert to a bank regardless of
whether a national bank could engage in the activity. Holding companies for

                                       26

 
savings institutions would become subject to the same regulation as holding
companies that control commercial banks, with some limited grandfathering,
including for savings and loan holding company activities. The grandfathering
would be lost under certain circumstances such as a change in control of the
Company. The Company is unable to predict whether such legislation would be
enacted or the extent to which the legislation would restrict or disrupt its
operations.

     Loans to One Borrower. Under the HOLA, savings institutions are generally
subject to the limits on loans to one borrower applicable to national banks.
Generally, savings institutions may not make a loan or extend credit to a single
or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of its unimpaired capital and
surplus. An additional amount may be lent, equal to 10% of unimpaired capital
and surplus, if such loan is secured by readily-marketable collateral, which is
defined to include certain financial instruments and bullion. At December 31,
1997, the Association's limit on loans to one borrower was $6.3 million. At
December 31, 1997, the Association's largest aggregate outstanding balance of
loans to one borrower consisted of seventeen loans totaling $4.9 million. All
loans to this borrower were current.

     QTL Test. The HOLA requires savings institutions to meet a QTL test. Under
the QTL test, a savings and loan association is either must qualify as a
"domestic building and loan association" as defined in the Internal Revenue Code
or required to maintain at least 65% of its "portfolio assets" (total assets
less: (i) specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets; (ii) intangibles,
including goodwill; and (iii) the value of property used to conduct business) in
certain "qualified thrift investments" (primarily residential mortgages and
related investments, including certain mortgage-backed securities) in at least 9
months out of each 12 month period.

     A savings institution that fails the QTL test is subject to certain
operating restrictions and may be required to convert to a bank charter. As of
December 31, 1997, the Association maintained 91.6% of its portfolio assets in
qualified thrift investments and, therefore, met the QTL test. Recent
legislation has expanded the extent to which education loans, credit card loans
and small business loans may be considered "qualified thrift investments."

     Limitation on Capital Distributions. OTS regulations impose limitations
upon all capital distributions by savings institutions, such as cash dividends,
payments to repurchase or otherwise acquire its shares, payments to shareholders
of another institution in a cash-out merger and other distributions charged
against capital. The rule establishes three tiers of institutions, which are
based primarily on an institution's capital level. An institution that exceeds
all fully phased-in capital requirements before and after a proposed capital
distribution ("Tier 1 Bank") and has not been advised by the OTS that it is in
need of more than normal supervision, could, after prior notice but without
obtaining approval of the OTS, make capital distributions during a calendar year
equal to the greater of (i) 100% of its net earnings to date during the calendar
year plus the amount that would reduce by one-half its "surplus capital ratio"
(the excess capital over its fully phased-in capital requirements) at the
beginning of the calendar year or (ii) 75% of its net income for the previous
four quarters. Any additional capital distributions would require prior
regulatory approval. In the event the Association's capital fell below its
regulatory requirements or the OTS notified it that it was in need of more than
normal supervision, the Association's ability to make capital distributions
could be restricted. In addition, the OTS could prohibit a proposed capital
distribution by any institution, which would otherwise be permitted by the
regulation, if the OTS determines that such distribution 


                                      27

 
would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In December 1994, the OTS
proposed amendments to its capital distribution regulation that would generally
authorize the payment of capital distributions without OTS approval provided
that the payment does not cause the institution to be undercapitalized within
the meaning of the prompt corrective action regulation. However, institutions in
a holding company structure would still have a prior notice requirement. At
December 31, 1997, the Association was a Tier 1 Bank.

     Liquidity. The Association is required to maintain an average daily balance
of specified liquid assets equal to a monthly average of not less than a
specified percentage of its net withdrawable deposit accounts plus short-term
borrowings. This liquidity requirement was 5% for fiscal 1997, but is subject to
change from time to time by the OTS to any amount within the range of 4% to 10%
depending upon economic conditions and the savings flows of member institutions.
During 1997, OTS regulations also required each savings institution to maintain
an average daily balance of short-term liquid assets of at least 1% of the total
of its net withdrawable deposit accounts and borrowings payable in one year or
less. Monetary penalties may be imposed for failure to meet these liquidity
requirements. The OTS has recently lowered the liquidity requirement from 5% to
4% and eliminated the 1% short term liquid asset requirement. The Association's
liquidity ratio for December 31, 1997 was 36.5%, which exceeded the applicable
requirements. The Association has never been subject to monetary penalties for
failure to meet its liquidity requirements.

     Assessments. Savings institutions are required to pay assessments to the
OTS to fund the agency's operations. The general assessments, paid on a
semi-annual basis, are computed upon the savings institution's total assets,
including consolidated subsidiaries, as reported in the Association's latest
quarterly thrift financial report. The assessments paid by the Association for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 totaled $79,000.

     Branching. OTS regulations permit nationwide branching by federally
chartered savings institutions to the extent allowed by federal statute. This
permits federal savings institutions to establish interstate networks and to
geographically diversify their loan portfolios and lines of business. The OTS
authority preempts any state law purporting to regulate branching by federal
savings institutions.

     Transactions with Related Parties. The Association's authority to engage in
transactions with related parties or "affiliates" (e.g., any company that
controls or is under common control with an institution, including the Company
and its non-savings institution subsidiaries) is limited by Sections 23A and 23B
of the Federal Reserve Act ("FRA"). Section 23A limits the aggregate amount of
covered transactions with any individual affiliate to 10% of the capital and
surplus of the savings institution. The aggregate amount of covered transactions
with all affiliates is limited to 20% of the savings institution's capital and
surplus. Certain transactions with affiliates are required to be secured by
collateral in an amount and of a type described in Section 23A and the purchase
of low quality assets from affiliates is generally prohibited. Section 23B
generally provides that certain transactions with affiliates, including loans
and asset purchases, must be on terms and under circumstances, including credit
standards, that are substantially the same or at least as favorable to the
institution as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with
non-affiliated companies. In addition, savings institutions are prohibited from
lending to any affiliate that is 


                                      28

 
engaged in activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies and no
savings institution may purchase the securities of any affiliate other than a
subsidiary.

     The Association's authority to extend credit to executive officers,
directors and 10% shareholders ("insiders"), as well as entities such persons
control, is governed by Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the FRA and Regulation O
thereunder. Among other things, such loans are required to be made on terms
substantially the same as those offered to unaffiliated individuals and to not
involve more than the normal risk of repayment. Recent legislation created an
exception for loans made pursuant to a benefit or compensation program that is
widely available to all employees of the institution and does not give
preference to insiders over other employees. Regulation O also places individual
and aggregate limits on the amount of loans the Association may make to insiders
based, in part, on the Association's capital position and requires certain board
approval procedures to be followed.

     Enforcement. Under the FDI Act, the OTS has primary enforcement
responsibility over savings institutions and has the authority to bring actions
against the institution and all institution-affiliated parties, including
stockholders, and any attorneys, appraisers and accountants who knowingly or
recklessly participate in wrongful action likely to have an adverse effect on an
insured institution. Formal enforcement action may range from the issuance of a
capital directive or cease and desist order to removal of officers and/or
directors to institution of receivership, conservatorship or termination of
deposit insurance. Civil penalties cover a wide range of violations and can
amount to $25,000 per day, or even $1 million per day in especially egregious
cases. Under the FDI Act, the FDIC has the authority to recommend to the
Director of the OTS enforcement action to be taken with respect to a particular
savings institution. If action is not taken by the Director, the FDIC has
authority to take such action under certain circumstances. Federal law also
establishes criminal penalties for certain violations.

     Standards for Safety and Soundness. The federal banking agencies have
adopted Interagency Guidelines Prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness
("Guidelines") and a final rule to implement safety and soundness standards
required under the FDI Act. The Guidelines set forth the safety and soundness
standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems
at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. The
standards set forth in the Guidelines address internal controls and information
systems; internal audit system; credit underwriting; loan documentation;
interest rate risk exposure; asset growth; asset quality; earnings; and
compensation, fees and benefits. If the appropriate federal banking agency
determines that an institution fails to meet any standard prescribed by the
Guidelines, the agency may require the institution to submit to the agency an
acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard, as required by the FDI
Act. The final rule establishes deadlines for the submission and review of such
safety and soundness compliance plans when such plans are required.

Federal Reserve System

     The Federal Reserve Board regulations require savings institutions to
maintain non-interest earning reserves against their transaction accounts
(primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). The Federal Reserve Board
regulations generally required for most of 1997 that reserves be maintained
against aggregate transaction accounts as follows: for accounts aggregating
$49.3 


                                      29

 
million or less (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board) the
reserve requirement was 3%; and for accounts aggregating greater than $49.3
million, the reserve requirement was $1.48 million plus 10% (subject to
adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board between 8% and 14%) against that portion
of total transaction accounts in excess of $49.3 million. The first $4.4 million
of otherwise reservable balances (subject to adjustments by the Federal Reserve
Board) were exempted from the reserve requirements. The Association maintained
compliance with the foregoing requirements. For 1998, the Federal Reserve Board
has decreased from $49.3 to $47.8 million the amount of transaction accounts
subject to the 3% reserve requirement and to increase the amount of exempt
reservable balances from $4.4 million to $4.7 million. The balances maintained
to meet the reserve requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve Board may be
used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the OTS.


                          FEDERAL AND STATE TAXATION

Federal Taxation

     General. The Company and the Association report their income on a
consolidated basis and the accrual method of accounting, and are subject to
federal income taxation in the same manner as other corporations with some
exceptions, including particularly the Association's reserve for bad debts
discussed below. The following discussion of tax matters is intended only as a
summary and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of the tax rules
applicable to the Association or the Company. The Association has not been
audited by the IRS since 1987, which covered the tax years through 1983. For its
1997 taxable year, the Association is subject to a maximum federal income tax
rate of 34%. 

     Bad Debt Reserves. For fiscal years beginning prior to December 31, 1995,
thrift institutions which qualified under certain definitional tests and other
conditions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") were permitted to
use certain favorable provisions to calculate their deductions from taxable
income for annual additions to their bad debt reserve. A reserve could be
established for bad debts on qualifying real property loans (generally secured
by interests in real property improved or to be improved) under (i) the
Percentage of Taxable Income Method (the "PTI Method") or (ii) the Experience
Method. The reserve for nonqualifying loans was computed using the Experience
Method.

     The Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (the "1996 Act"), which was
enacted on August 20, 1996, requires savings institutions to recapture (i.e.,
take into income) certain portions of their accumulated bad debt reserves. The
1996 Act repeals the reserve method of accounting for bad debts effective for
tax years beginning after 1995. Thrift institutions that would be treated as
small banks are allowed to utilize the Experience Method applicable to such
institutions, while thrift institutions that are treated as large banks (those
generally exceeding $500 million in assets) are required to use only the
specific charge-off method. Thus, the PTI Method of accounting for bad debts is
no longer available for any financial institution.

     A thrift institution required to change its method of computing reserves
for bad debts will treat such change as a change in method of accounting,
initiated by the taxpayer, and having been made with the consent of the IRS. Any
Section 481(a) adjustment required to be taken into income 


                                      30

 
with respect to such change generally will be taken into income ratably over a
six-taxable year period, beginning with the first taxable year beginning after
1995, subject to the residential loan requirement.

     Under the residential loan requirement provision, the recapture required by
the 1996 Act will be suspended for each of two successive taxable years,
beginning with the Association's 1996 taxable year, in which the Association
originates a minimum of certain residential loans based upon the average of the
principal amounts of such loans made by the Association during its six taxable
years preceding its current taxable year.

     Under the 1996 Act, for its current and future taxable years, the
Association is not permitted to make additions to its tax bad debt reserves. In
addition, the Association is required to recapture (i.e., take into income) over
a six-year period the excess of the balance of its tax bad debt reserves as of
December 31, 1995 other than its supplemental reserve for losses on loans, if
any over the balance of such reserves as of December 31, 1987. As a result of
such recapture, the Association will not incur an additional tax liability
because the liability has been set up on the books in accordance with SFAS No.
109 as of December 31, 1997.

     Distributions. Under the 1996 Act, if the Association makes "non-dividend
distributions" to the Company, such distributions will be considered to have
been made from the Association's unrecaptured tax bad debt reserves (including
the balance of its reserves as of December 31, 1987) to the extent thereof, and
then from the Association's supplemental reserve for losses on loans, to the
extent thereof, and an amount based on the amount distributed (but not in excess
of the amount of such reserves) will be included in the Association's income.
Non-dividend distributions include distributions in excess of the Association's
current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income
tax purposes, distributions in redemption of stock, and distributions in partial
or complete liquidation. Dividends paid out of the Association's current or
accumulated earnings and profits will not be so included in the Association's
income.

     The amount of additional taxable income triggered by a non-dividend is an
amount that, when reduced by the tax attributable to the income, is equal to the
amount of the distribution. Thus, if the Association makes a non-dividend
distribution to the Company, approximately one and one-half times the amount of
such distribution (but not in excess of the amount of such reserves) would be
includable in income for federal income tax purposes, assuming a 35% federal
corporate income tax rate. The Association does not intend to pay dividends that
would result in a recapture of any portion of its bad debt reserves.

     SAIF Recapitalization Assessment. The Funds Act levied a 65.7-cent fee on
every $100 of thrift deposits held on March 31, 1995. For financial statement
purposes, this assessment was reported as an expense for the quarter ended
September 30, 1996. The Funds Act includes a provision which states that the
amount of any special assessment paid to capitalize SAIF under this legislation
is deductible under Section 162 of the Code in the year of payment.

     Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax. The Code imposes a tax on alternative
minimum taxable income ("AMTI") at a rate of 20%. The excess of the bad debt
reserve deduction using the percentage of taxable income method over the
deduction that would have been allowable under the 


                                      31

 
experience method is treated as a preference item for purposes of computing the
AMTI. Only 90% of AMTI can be offset by net operating loss carryovers. AMTI is
increased by an amount equal to 75% of the amount by which a corporation's
adjusted current earnings exceeds its AMTI (determined without regard to this
preference and prior to reduction for net operating losses). The Company and the
Association do not expect to be subject to the AMTI.

     Dividends Received Deduction and Other Matters. The Company may exclude
from its income 100% of dividends received from the Association as a member of
the same affiliated group of corporations. The corporate dividends received
deduction is generally 70% in the case of dividends received from unaffiliated
corporations with which the Company and the Association will not file a
consolidated tax return, except that if the Company or the Association own more
than 20% of the stock of a corporation distributing a dividend, 80% of any
dividends received may be deducted.

     Illinois Taxation. The Company and the Association file a combined Illinois
income tax return. For Illinois income tax purposes, savings institutions are
presently taxed at an effective rate equal to 7.18% of income. For these
purposes, "net income" generally means federal taxable income, subject to
certain adjustments (including the addition of interest income on State and
municipal obligations and the exclusion of interest income on United States
Treasury obligations). The exclusion of income on United States Treasury
obligations has the effect of reducing significantly the Illinois taxable income
of savings institutions. The Company was audited by the Illinois Department of
Revenue in 1996 for its tax years through 1994.

Impact of New Accounting Standards

     Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial assets and
Extinguishments of Liabilities. In December 1996, the FASB issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 127 ("SFAS No. 127"), "Deferral of the
Effective Date of Certain Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125". The statement
delays for one year the implementation of SFAS No. 125, as it relates to (1)
secured borrowings and collateral, and (2) for the transfers of financial assets
that are part of repurchase agreements, dollar-rolls, securities lending and
similar transactions. The Company has adopted portions of SFAS No. 125 (those
not deferred by SFAS No. 127) effective January 1, 1997. Adoption of these
portions did not have a significant effect on the Company's financial condition
or results of operations. Based on its review of SFAS No. 125, management does
not believe that adoption of the portions of SFAS No. 125 which have been
deferred by SFAS No. 127 will have a material effect on the Company.

     Reporting Comprehensive Income. In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS
No. 130"). This statement establishes standards for reporting and the display of
comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains, losses) in a
full set of general-purpose financial statements. SFAS No. 130 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. The Company has not yet
determined the impact of adopting this statement.

     Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. In
June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,
"Disclosures about Segments 


                                      32

 
of an Enterprise and Related Information" ("SFAS No. 131") which becomes
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS No. 131
establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report
information about operating segments and requires enterprises to report selected
information about operating segments in interim financial reports. The Company
has not yet determined the impact of adopting this statement.

     The foregoing does not constitute a comprehensive summary of all material
changes or developments affecting the manner in which the Company keeps its
books and records and performs its financial accounting responsibilities. It is
intended only as a summary of some of the recent pronouncements made by the FASB
which are of particular interest to financial institutions.

Additional Item. Executive Officers of the Registrant.
- -----------------------------------------------------

     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive
officers of the Company and/or the Association who are not also Directors.

 
 

             Name                        Age(1)                            Positions Held
- ---------------------------------     ----------          -------------------------------------------------
                                                     
  Richard A. Brechlin                    49                Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the
                                                           Company and the Association

  Gregg P. Goossens                      49                Executive Vice President of the Company and  
                                                           the Association

  Mary S. Suffi                          57                Vice President and Secretary of the Company;  
                                                           Senior Vice President and Secretary of the 
                                                           Association

  Kenneth J. Kaczmarek                   48                Vice President and Controller of the 
                                                           Company;  Senior Vice President and 
                                                           Controller of the Association
 
- -------------------
(1)  As of December 31, 1997.

     Richard A. Brechlin joined the Association in 1983 and has been Executive
Vice President and Treasurer since 1990. Prior to that, Mr. Brechlin was Vice
President and Controller. Mr. Brechlin also is Executive Vice President and
Treasurer of the Company and is Treasurer of Westco, Inc. He has worked in the
savings and loan industry since 1970 in various capacities. Mr. Brechlin has a
B.S.B.A. degree from Roosevelt University.

     Gregg P. Goossens joined the Association in 1977 and is the Executive Vice
President in charge of lending. Mr. Goossens also is Executive Vice President of
the Company and is Secretary of Westco, Inc. Mr. Goossens has a B.S. degree from
the University of Illinois and an M.S.B.A. degree from DePaul University.

                                      33

 
     Kenneth J. Kaczmarek joined the Association in 1986 and was appointed Vice
President and Controller of the Company in 1995. He also serves as Senior Vice
President & Controller of the Association and is the Association's Compliance
Officer and Security Officer. Mr. Kaczmarek has a B.S. degree from Elmhurst
College.

     Mary S. Suffi joined the Association in 1978 and was appointed Vice
President and Secretary in 1992. Ms. Suffi also serves as the Vice President and
Secretary of the Company.

Item 2. Properties.
- ------------------

     The Association conducts its business through its main office and a limited
service branch office, both of which are located in Westchester, Illinois. The
Company believes that the Association's current facilities are adequate to meet
the present and immediately foreseeable needs of the Association and the
Company.

 
 


                                                                 Net               Leased
                                           Date              Book Value at           or
Location                                 Acquired          December 31, 1997        Owned
- --------                                 --------          -----------------        ----
                                                                            
Main Office (1)                            1963               $1,104,000            Owned
2121 S. Mannheim Road
Westchester, Illinois  60154

Limited Service Office                     1978                  507,000            Owned
10551 W. Cermak Road
Westchester, Illinois  60154

Total net book value                                          $1,611,000
                                                              ==========
 
- --------------------
(1) The Association also owns property at 2103 S. Mannheim Road, Westchester,
    Illinois 60154, with a net book value of $164,000, which is leased to a fast
    food franchise until November 1998.


Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
- -------------------------

     The Association is involved in various legal actions arising in the normal
course of its business. In the opinion of management, the resolutions of these
legal actions are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Association's results of operations.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
- -----------------------------------------------------------

     None. 



                                      34

 
                                    PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

          Information relating to the market for Registrant's common equity and
related stockholder matters appears under "Corporate Information" on page 36 and
the information concerning restrictions on dividends appears in Note 15 to the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 32 in the Registrant's 1997
Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.
- ---------------------------------

          The above-captioned information appears under "Selected Consolidated
Financial Data and Other Data of the Company" in the Registrant's 1997 Annual
Report to Stockholders on page 4 and 5 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results of Operations.
- ----------------------

          The above-captioned information appears under "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the
Registrant's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 6 through 14 and is
incorporated herein by reference.

Items 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risks.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------- 

          The above captioned information appears under the heading "Market Risk
Sensitivity" in the Registrant's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 7
through 9 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
- -----------------------------------------------------

          The Consolidated Financial Statements of Westco Bancorp, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, together with the report thereon by Cobitz, VandenBerg & Fennessy
appears in the Registrant's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 15
through 35 and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.  Change In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Disclosure.
- -------------------- 

          None.

                                   PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
- -------------------------------------------------------------

          The information relating to Directors and Executive Officers of the
Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to 

                                      35

 
be held on April 21, 1998, at pages 4 through 5. Information concerning
Executive Officers who are not directors is contained in Part I of this report
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K in reliance on
Instruction G.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.
- --------------------------------

          The information relating to executive compensation and directors'
compensation (excluding the Compensation Committee Report and Stock Performance
Graph) is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy Statement
for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 21, 1998, at  pages 5
and 7 and pages 11 through 14.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

          The information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial
owners and management is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 21,
1998, at pages 4 through 5.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
- ---------------------------------------------------------

          The information relating to certain relationships and related
transactions is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 21, 1998,
at page 14.

                                    PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a)     The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

(1)     Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are incorporated by
        reference to the following indicated pages of the 1997 Annual Report to
        Stockholders.
                                                                          PAGE
 
      Independent Auditors' Report.....................................    15
 
      Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition,
         December 31, 1997 and 1996....................................    16
 
      Consolidated Statements of Income for the
         Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..................    17
 
      Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
         for the Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........    18
 
      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
         Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..................    19
 
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................    20-35


                                      36

 
     The remaining information appearing in the 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders is not deemed to be filed as part of this report, except as
expressly provided herein.

(2)       All schedules are omitted because they are not required or applicable,
          or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial
          statements or the notes thereto.

       (3)     Exhibits

          (a)   The following exhibits are filed as part of this report.

                3.1  Certificate of Incorporation of Westco Bancorp, Inc.*
                3.2  Bylaws of Westco Bancorp, Inc.*
                4.0  Stock Certificate of Westco Bancorp, Inc.*
                10.2 First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester
                     Recognition and Retention Plans and Trusts**
                10.3 Westco Bancorp, Inc. 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan**
                10.4 Westco Bancorp, Inc. 1992 Stock Option Plan for Outside
                     Directors**
                10.5 First Federal Savings and Loan Association of
                     Westchester Employee Severance Compensation Plan*
                10.6 (a)  Form of Employment Agreements between First Federal
                          Savings and Loan Association of Westchester and David
                          C. Burba, Richard A. Brechlin and Gregg P. Goossens*
                     (b)  Form of Employment Agreements between Westco Bancorp,
                          Inc. and David C. Burba, Richard A. Brechlin and Gregg
                          P. Goossens*
                10.7 (a)  Form of Special Termination Agreements between First
                          Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester
                          and Rosalyn M. Lesak, Kenneth J. Kaczmarek, Roberta
                          Sramek and Mary S. Suffi*
                     (b)  Form of Special Termination Agreements between Westco
                          Bancorp, Inc. and Rosalyn M. Lesak, Kenneth J.
                          Kaczmarek, Roberta Sramek and Mary S. Suffi*
                10.9 Amendment to the First Federal Savings and Loan Association
                     of Westchester Supplemental Executives' Retirement Plan ***
               10.10 (a)  Executive Salary Continuation Plan between First
                          Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester
                          and David C. Burba****
                     (b)  Executive Salary Continuation Plan between First
                          Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester
                          and Richard A. Brechlin and Gregg P. Goossens ****
               11.0  Computation of earnings per share (filed herewith)
               13.0  Portions of the 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders
                     (filed herewith)
               21.0  Subsidiary information is incorporated herein by reference
                     to "Part I -Subsidiaries"
               23.0  Consent of Cobitz, VandenBerg and Fennessy (filed herewith)


                                      37

 
               27.0  Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith)

        (b)    Reports on Form 8-K
               None
               
               -----------------
               *    Incorporated herein by reference into this document from the
                    Exhibits to Form S-1, Registration Statement, filed on March
                    23, 1992, as amended and declared effective on and any post-
                    effective amendments thereto, Registration No. 33-46441.

               **   Incorporated herein by reference into this document from the
                    Exhibits to the Proxy Statement filed on August 31, 1992 for
                    the Special Meeting of Stockholders held on September 27,
                    1992.

               ***  Incorporated herein by reference into this document from the
                    Exhibits to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                    1995, filed with the SEC on March 25, 1996. 

               **** Incorporated herein by reference into this documents from
                    the Exhibits to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
                    31, 1996, filed with the SEC on March 21, 1997.


                                      38

 
                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 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:  March 31, 1998                       By:  /s/ David C. Burba
                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                 David C. Burba 
                                                 Chief Executive Officer, President
                                                   and Chairman of the Board

Date:  March 31, 1998                       By:  /s/ Richard A. Brechlin
                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                 Richard A. Brechlin
                                                 Chief Financial Officer, Executive
                                                   Vice President and Treasurer

Date:  March 31, 1998                       By:  /s/ Kenneth J. Kaczmarek
                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                 Kenneth J. Kaczmarek
                                                 Chief Accounting Officer,
                                                 Vice President and Controller
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
 
                                                                              
/s/ David C. Burba                  Chief Executive Officer,                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------            President and                                               
David C. Burba                       Chairman of the Board 
                                    


/s/ Rosalyn M. Lesak                Director                                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------                                                  
Rosalyn M. Lesak


/s/ James E. Dick                   Director                                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------                                                  
James E. Dick


/s/ Edward A. Matuga                Director                                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------                                                  
Edward A. Matuga



/s/ Thomas J. Nowicki               Director                                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------                                                  
Thomas J. Nowicki


/s/ Robert E. Vorel, Jr.            Director                                       March 31, 1998
- -------------------------                                                  
Robert E. Vorel, Jr.
 


                                      39