EXHIBIT 10




                         FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                       FOR
                               MICHAEL W. DOSLAND

     This Agreement is made effective as of the 4th day of January,  2006 by and
between First Federal Bankshares,  Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
with its principal  administrative office at 329 Pierce Street, Sioux City, Iowa
51101, and Michael W. Dosland ("Executive").

     WHEREAS,  it is the desire of Executive to accept  employment  as the Chief
Executive  Officer of the Company and of First Federal  Bank,  the federal stock
savings bank subsidiary of the Company (the "Bank"), and it is the desire of the
Company  to obtain  the  services  of  Executive  pursuant  to the terms of this
Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  also  wishes  to  provide  Executive  with  certain
protections  and  benefits in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or
the Bank, as provided in this Agreement.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and conditions  hereinafter set forth, the Company and Executive hereby agree as
follows:

1.   POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

     During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
President and Chief Executive Officer and, if elected,  as a director of each of
the Company and of the Bank. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve,
if  appointed,  as an  officer  and,  if  elected,  as a  director  of any other
subsidiary  or  affiliate  of the  Company.  Failure to  reappoint  Executive as
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company and the Bank without the
consent of Executive during the term of this Agreement shall constitute a breach
of this Agreement.

2.   TERM AND DUTIES

     (a) The period of Executive's  employment  under this Agreement shall begin
as of the date first above  written.  Commencing no later than January 31, 2007,
and  continuing  no  later  than  January  31  of  each  year   thereafter  (the
"Anniversary Date"), this Agreement shall renew for an additional year such that
the  remaining  term  shall  be  twenty-four  (24)  calendar  months  from  such
Anniversary Date unless written notice of non-renewal  ("Non-Renewal Notice") is
provided  to  Executive  at least  thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60)
days prior to any such Anniversary  Date, that this Agreement shall terminate at
the end of twenty-four  (24) months  following such  Anniversary  Date. Prior to
each notice period for non-renewal,  the  disinterested  members of the Board of
Directors  of the Company  ("Board")  will conduct a  comprehensive  performance
evaluation and review of Executive for purposes of determining whether to extend
this Agreement,  and the results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the
Board's meeting.

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     (b)  Executive's  duties as President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company  and the Bank are set forth on  Exhibit A  attached  hereto.  During the
period of his employment hereunder,  except for periods of absence occasioned by
illness,   reasonable  vacation  periods,  and  reasonable  leaves  of  absence,
Executive shall faithfully perform his duties hereunder including activities and
services  related to the  organization,  operation and management of the Company
and the Bank. For these purposes,  "reasonable" shall be determined by reference
to similarly  situated  financial  institutions  or in accordance  with industry
standards.

3.   COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT

     (a) The  compensation  specified under this Agreement shall  constitute the
salary  and  benefits  paid  for  the  duties  described  in  Section  2(b).  In
consideration of the services to be rendered by Executive hereunder, the Company
and/or its subsidiaries shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less
than  $230,000  per year  ("Base  Salary").  Such Base  Salary  shall be payable
bi-weekly, or in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices.  During
the period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least
annually;  the first such review will be made no later than  December 31 of each
year during the term of this Agreement and shall be effective from the first day
of the next  calendar  year.  Such  review  shall be  conducted  by a  Committee
designated  by the Board of  Directors of the Company and the Board of Directors
of the Bank  (collectively the "Boards"),  and the Boards may increase,  but not
decrease,  Executive's Base Salary (any increase in Base Salary shall become the
"Base  Salary" for purposes of this  Agreement).  In addition to the Base Salary
provided in this Section 3(a), the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall provide
Executive at no cost to Executive  with all such other  benefits as are provided
uniformly  to  permanent   full-time   employees  of  the  Company   and/or  its
subsidiaries.

     (b) The  Company  and/or  its  subsidiaries  will  provide  Executive  with
employee benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to
those in which Executive was  participating  or otherwise  deriving benefit from
immediately  prior  to the  beginning  of the  term of this  Agreement,  and the
Company and/or its  subsidiaries  will not,  without  Executive's  prior written
consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements or perquisites which would
adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits thereunder. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing  provisions of this Section 3(b),  Executive will be
entitled to participate in or receive  benefits under any employee benefit plans
including but not limited to, retirement plans,  supplemental  retirement plans,
pension plans, profit-sharing plans, health-and-accident plans, medical coverage
or any other employee  benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company
and/or  its  subsidiaries  in  the  future  to its  senior  executives  and  key
management  employees,  subject  to and on a basis  consistent  with the  terms,
conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.  Executive
will be entitled to incentive  compensation  and bonuses as provided in any plan
of the  Company  and/or its  subsidiaries  in which  Executive  is  eligible  to
participate  (and he shall be  entitled  to a pro rata  distribution  under  any
incentive  compensation  or bonus plan as to any year in which a termination  of
employment  occurs,  other than  termination  for Just  Cause).  Nothing paid to
Executive  under  any such plan or  arrangement  will be deemed to be in lieu of
other compensation to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement.

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     (c) In addition to the Base Salary  provided for by  paragraph  (a) of this
Section 3, the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall pay or reimburse  Executive
for all reasonable travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in
performing his obligations  under this Agreement and may provide such additional
compensation  in such form and such  amounts  as the Board may from time to time
determine. The Bank shall also provide Executive with a cellular phone, the cost
of which is paid or  reimbursed  by the Bank,  and a credit card for purposes of
Executive's business expenditures.

     (d)  Immediately  upon approval by the Board of  Directors,  the Bank shall
grant  Executive  10,000 options to purchase  Company common stock,  which shall
vest ratably over a two-year  period,  with the vesting of one-half on the first
anniversary  of the date of grant  and the  vesting  of the  second-half  on the
second  anniversary of the date of grant.  In addition,  if the Company adopts a
new stock  option  plan with the  approval  of  shareholders,  additional  stock
options  may be  granted  to  Executive  in the  future,  upon  approval  of the
Company's Board of Directors.

     (e) The Bank  shall  provide  Executive  with  paid  time off and  extended
illness  benefits,  in accordance with such benefit plan  guidelines.  Such paid
time-off  and  extended  illness  benefits  shall begin  accruing  to  Executive
immediately upon his first day of employment.

     (f) The Bank shall pay Executive a $25,000 hiring/relocation/sign-up bonus.
Such amount shall be paid to Executive, subject to applicable withholding taxes,
with Executive's first paycheck.  In the event Executive  terminates  employment
with the Bank for any reason  other  than a Change in  Control  within 18 months
from the date of this Agreement,  Executive agrees to reimburse such amount on a
prorated basis.

4.   OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

     Executive  may  serve as a member of the board of  directors  of  business,
community  and  charitable  organizations  subject to the approval of the Board,
provided that in each case such service shall not materially  interfere with the
performance  of his duties  under this  Agreement  or present  any  conflict  of
interest.  Such service to and participation in outside  organizations  shall be
presumed  for these  purposes  to be for the  benefit  of the  Company,  and the
Company shall reimburse Executive his reasonable expenses associated therewith.

5.   WORKING FACILITIES AND EXPENSES

     Executive's  principal place of employment shall be the Company's principal
executive offices.  The Company shall provide Executive,  at his principal place
of employment,  with a private  office,  secretarial  services and other support
services and facilities  suitable to his position with the Company and necessary
or  appropriate  in  connection  with the  performance  of his duties under this
Agreement.  The Company and/or its subsidiaries  shall provide Executive with an
automobile  suitable to the position of Chief Executive  Officer of the Company,
and such  automobile  may be used by  Executive in carrying out his duties under
this Agreement and for his personal use such as commuting  between his residence
and his principal place of employment. The Company shall reimburse Executive for
the cost of maintenance, use and servicing of such automobile. The Company shall
reimburse Executive for his ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in

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connection with the  performance of his duties under this Agreement,  including,
without  limitation,  fees for memberships in such clubs and organizations  that
Executive and the Board mutually agree are necessary and  appropriate to further
the business of the Company, and travel and reasonable  entertainment  expenses.
Reimbursement of such expenses shall be made upon presentation to the Company of
an itemized  account of the expenses in such form as the Company may  reasonably
require.

6.   PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION

     (a) The  provisions of this Section 6 shall apply upon the occurrence of an
Event of Termination (as herein defined) during  Executive's  term of employment
under this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of Termination" shall
mean and include any one or more of the following:

     (i)  the  termination by the Company or the Bank of  Executive's  full-time
          employment  hereunder  for any reason  other than (A)  Disability  (as
          defined in Section 7) or Retirement  (as defined in Section 7), or (B)
          termination for Just Cause (as defined in Section 8); or

     (ii) Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ, upon any

          (A)  failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint  Executive
               as Chief Executive Officer,

          (B)  material   change   in   Executive's   functions,    duties,   or
               responsibilities,  which change would cause Executive's  position
               to become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from
               the  position  and  attributes  thereof  described  in Section 1,
               above,

          (C)  liquidation  or dissolution of the Company or the Bank other than
               liquidations or dissolutions  that are caused by  reorganizations
               that do not affect the status of Executive, or

          (D)  material breach of this Agreement by the Company.

Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (ii) (A), (B), (C) or (D),
above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment under
this  Agreement by  resignation  upon sixty (60) days prior written notice given
within a reasonable  period of time not to exceed four calendar months after the
initial event giving rise to said right to elect.  Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence,  in the event of a continuing breach of this Agreement by the Company,
Executive,  after  giving due  notice  within  the  prescribed  time frame of an
initial event  specified  above,  shall not waive any of his rights solely under
this  Agreement  and this  Section  by  virtue of the fact  that  Executive  has
submitted his  resignation but has remained in the employment of the Company and
is engaged in good faith  discussions  to  resolve  any  occurrence  of an event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D) above.

     (iii) The  termination  of  Executive's  employment by the Company,  or the
          Executive's  voluntary  resignation from the Company's  employ, at any

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          time following a Change in Control during the term of this  Agreement.
          For these  purposes,  a Change in Control  of the Bank or the  Company
          shall mean a change in control of a nature that: (i) would be required
          to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of the current  report on Form
          8-K, as in effect on the date hereof,  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
          of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act"); or (ii)
          results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the  Company  within the
          meaning  of the Home  Owners'  Loan Act and the Rules and  Regulations
          promulgated by the Office of Thrift  Supervision  (or its  predecessor
          agency),  as in effect on the date hereof; or (iii) without limitation
          such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time
          as (a) any "Person"  (as the term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)
          of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial  owner" (as defined
          in Rule 13d-3 under the  Exchange  Act),  directly or  indirectly,  of
          securities of the Bank or the Company  representing 25% or more of the
          Bank's or the Company's outstanding securities; or (b) individuals who
          constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent  Board") cease
          for any reason to  constitute at least a majority  thereof,  provided,
          however,  that this  sub-section  (b) shall not apply if the Incumbent
          Board is replaced by the  appointment by a Federal banking agency of a
          conservator  or receiver for the Bank and,  provided  further that any
          person  becoming  a  director  subsequent  to the  date  hereof  whose
          election  was  approved  by a  vote  of at  least  two-thirds  of  the
          directors  comprising  the  Incumbent  Board or whose  nomination  for
          election  by the  Company's  stockholders  was  approved  by the  same
          Nominating  Committee serving under an Incumbent Board,  shall be, for
          purposes of this clause (b),  considered as though he were a member of
          the Incumbent Board; or (c) a proxy statement  soliciting proxies from
          stockholders  of the  Company,  by  someone  other  than  the  current
          management of the Company,  seeking stockholder  approval of a plan of
          reorganization,  merger or  consolidation  of the  Company  or Bank or
          similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which
          the outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to such
          plan or  transaction  are  exchanged  for or  converted  into  cash or
          property or securities  not issued by the Bank or the Company shall be
          distributed and the requisite number of proxies approving such plan of
          reorganization,  merger or  consolidation  of the  Company or Bank are
          received  and  voted in favor  of such  transactions;  or (d) a tender
          offer is made  for 25% or more of the  outstanding  securities  of the
          Bank or Company and shareholders  owning beneficially or of record 25%
          or more of the  outstanding  securities  of the Bank or  Company  have
          tendered or offered to sell their shares pursuant to such tender offer
          and such tendered shares have been accepted by the tender offeror.

     (b)  Upon  the  occurrence  of an  Event  of  Termination,  on the  Date of
Termination,  as defined in Section 9(b),  the Company  and/or its  subsidiaries
shall pay Executive,  or, in the event of his subsequent  death, his beneficiary
or  beneficiaries,  or his  estate,  as the case  may be,  as  severance  pay or
liquidated  damages,  or both,  a sum equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) Base

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Salary and (ii) the highest rate of bonus awarded to Executive  during the prior
two years.  Payments  hereunder  shall be made in a lump sum within  thirty (30)
days (or if Code  Section  409A is  applicable,  on the first day of the seventh
full month) following Executive's termination of employment.

     (c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination,  the Company will cause
to be continued, at Company's sole expense, life, medical, dental and disability
coverage  substantially  identical  to the  coverage  maintained  by the Company
and/or the Bank for Executive prior to his termination. Such coverage or payment
shall continue for twenty-four (24) months from the Date of Termination.

     (d)  Notwithstanding  the  preceding  paragraphs  of this Section 6, in the
event that:

               (A)  the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to
                    Executive under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits")
                    would be deemed to  include an  "excess  parachute  payment"
                    under Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto, and

               (B)  if such Termination  Benefits were reduced to an amount (the
                    "Non-Triggering  Amount"),  the value of which is one dollar
                    ($1.00)  less  than an amount  equal to the total  amount of
                    payments  permissible  under Section 280G of the Code or any
                    successor thereto,

then the Termination  Benefits to be paid to Executive shall be so reduced so as
to be a Non-Triggering Amount.

     (e) Upon an Event of Termination (as defined in this Section 6),  Executive
shall  immediately  resign from the Board of Directors of the Company and of the
Bank,  and from the Board of Directors  of any  affiliate of the Company and the
Bank.


7.   TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH

     For purposes of this  Agreement,  termination by the Company of Executive's
employment   based  on  "Retirement"   shall  mean  termination  of  Executive's
employment  by the  Company  upon  attainment  of age 65, or such  later date as
determined  to by the Board of  Directors of the Company.  Upon  termination  of
Executive's  employment  upon  Retirement,  Executive  shall be  entitled to all
benefits  under any  retirement  plan of the  Company  and other  plans to which
Executive  is a party but  shall not be  entitled  to the  Termination  Benefits
specified in Section 6(b) through (d) hereof.

     In the event Executive is unable to perform his duties under this Agreement
on a  full-time  basis for a period of six (6)  consecutive  months by reason of
illness or other physical or mental disability  ("Disability"),  the Company may
terminate  this  Agreement,  provided  that the  Company  shall  continue  to be
obligated  to pay  Executive  his  Base  Salary  for the  remaining  term of the
Agreement,  or one year,  whichever is the longer  period of time,  and provided

                                       6


further that any amounts  actually paid to Executive  pursuant to any disability
insurance or other  similar  such program  which the Company has provided or may
provide  on behalf of its  employees  or  pursuant  to any  workman's  or social
security  disability  program  shall  reduce  the  compensation  to be  paid  to
Executive pursuant to this paragraph.

     In the event of  Executive's  death during the term of the  Agreement,  his
estate,  legal  representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive
in writing) shall be paid  Executive's Base Salary as defined in Section 3(a) at
the rate in  effect at the time  Executive's  death for a period of one (1) year
from the date of  Executive's  death,  and the Company will  continue to provide
medical  and  dental  coverage  for  Executive's  family  for one (1) year after
Executive's death.

8.   TERMINATION FOR JUST CAUSE

     In the event that  employment  hereunder is  terminated  by the Company for
Just Cause, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive compensation or other
benefits for any period after such termination,  except as provided by law. Upon
the termination of Executive's  employment  hereunder for Just Cause,  Executive
shall  immediately  resign from the Board of Directors of the Company and of the
Bank,  and from the Board of Directors  of any  affiliate of the Company and the
Bank. The phrase "Just Cause" as used herein,  shall exist when there has been a
good faith determination by the Board that there shall have occurred one or more
of the following events with respect to the Executive: (i) the conviction of the
Executive  of a  felony  or of  any  lesser  criminal  offense  involving  moral
turpitude;  (ii) the willful  commission by the Executive of a criminal or other
act that,  in the judgment of the Board will likely cause  substantial  economic
damage  to the  Company  or the  Bank  or  substantial  injury  to the  business
reputation of the Company or Bank;  (iii) the  commission by the Executive of an
act of fraud in the  performance of his duties on behalf of the Company or Bank;
(iv) the  continuing  willful  failure of the Executive to perform his duties to
the Company or Bank (other than any such failure  resulting from the Executive's
incapacity  due to physical or mental  illness)  after  written  notice  thereof
(specifying  the  particulars  thereof in  reasonable  detail) and a  reasonable
opportunity  to be heard and cure such failure are given to the Executive by the
Board;  or (v) an order of a federal  or state  regulatory  agency or a court of
competent  jurisdiction  requiring the termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Just Cause shall not be deemed to
exist  unless  there  shall have been  delivered  to the  Executive  a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the  affirmative  vote of not less than a majority of
the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for
the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the
Executive to be heard before the Board),  finding that in the good faith opinion
of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct  described above and specifying
the  particulars  thereof.  Prior to  holding a meeting at which the Board is to
make a final determination whether Just Cause exists, if the Board determines in
good faith at a meeting of the Board,  by not less than a majority of its entire
membership,  that there is probable  cause for it to find that the Executive was
guilty of conduct  constituting  Just Cause as  described  above,  the Board may
suspend the Executive from his duties hereunder for a reasonable  period of time
not to  exceed  fourteen  (14)  days  pending  a  further  meeting  at which the
Executive  shall be given the  opportunity  to be heard  before the  Board.  For
purposes of this subparagraph, no act or failure to act, on the Executive's part
shall be considered  "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by him not in
good faith  without  reasonable  believe  that his action or omission was in the

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best  interest of the Company  and the Bank.  Upon a finding of Just Cause,  the
Board  shall  deliver to the  Executive a Notice of  Termination,  as more fully
described in Section 9 below.

9.   NOTICE

     (a) Any  purported  termination  by the  Company or by  Executive  shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this  Agreement,  a "Notice of  Termination"  shall mean a written  notice which
shall indicate the specific termination  provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances  claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.

     (b) "Date of  Termination"  shall  mean (A) if  Executive's  employment  is
terminated  for  Disability,  thirty (30) days after a Notice of  Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties
on a  full-time  basis  during  such  thirty  (30) day  period),  and (B) if his
employment is terminated for any other reason,  the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, except in the case of a termination for Just Cause, shall
not be less than thirty (30) days from the date such  Notice of  Termination  is
given).  In the  event of  termination  for  Just  Cause,  termination  shall be
immediate upon the receipt of a Notice of Termination.

     (c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of  Termination  is given,
the party  receiving such Notice of Termination  notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination, except upon the voluntary termination
by Executive in which case the Date of  Termination  shall be the date specified
in the Notice, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is
finally  determined,  either by mutual  written  agreement of the parties,  by a
binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of
competent  jurisdiction (the time for appeal having expired and no appeal having
been  perfected)  and  provided  further that the Date of  Termination  shall be
extended  by a notice of dispute  only if such notice is given in good faith and
the party  giving  such notice  pursues  the  resolution  of such  dispute  with
reasonable diligence.  Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute,  except
in the  event of  termination  for Just  Cause,  the Bank will  continue  to pay
Executive  his full  compensation  in effect when the notice  giving rise to the
dispute was given  (including,  but not limited  to, Base  Salary) and  continue
Executive as a participant in all  compensation,  benefit and insurance plans in
which he was  participating  when the  notice of dispute  was  given,  until the
dispute is finally  resolved in accordance  with this  Agreement,  provided such
dispute is resolved  within the term of this  Agreement.  If such dispute is not
resolved within the term of the Agreement, the Bank shall not be obligated, upon
final  resolution  of such  dispute,  to pay  Executive  compensation  and other
payments  accruing  beyond the term of the  Agreement.  Amounts  paid under this
Section  following  Notice of Termination  shall be offset against or reduce any
other amounts due under this Agreement.

10.  POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS

     (a) All payments and benefits to Executive  under this  Agreement  shall be
subject to Executive's  compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section during the
term of this  Agreement  and for one (1)  full  year  after  the  expiration  or
termination hereof.

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     (b) Executive shall, upon reasonable  notice,  furnish such information and
assistance  to the Bank as may  reasonably be required by the Bank in connection
with any litigation in which it or any of its  subsidiaries or affiliates is, or
may become, a party.

11.  NON-COMPETITION

     (a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder,  other than a
termination  (whether voluntary or involuntary)  following a Change in Control),
as a result of which the Company is paying Executive benefits under Section 6 of
this Agreement, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank and/or the Company
for a period of one (1) year following such termination  within twenty-five (25)
miles of any  existing  branch of the Bank or any  subsidiary  of the Company or
within twenty-five (25) miles of any office for which the Bank, the Company or a
Bank subsidiary of the Company has filed an application for regulatory  approval
to establish an office, determined as of the effective date of such termination,
except as  agreed  to  pursuant  to a  resolution  duly  adopted  by the  Board.
Executive agrees that during such period and within said area, cities, towns and
counties,  Executive  shall not work for or advise,  consult or otherwise  serve
with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with
the  depository,  lending or other  business  activities  of the Bank and/or the
Company. The parties hereto,  recognizing that irreparable injury will result to
the  Bank  and/or  the  Company,  its  business  and  property  in the  event of
Executive's  breach of this Subsection 11(a) agree that in the event of any such
breach by Executive,  the Bank and/or the Company will be entitled,  in addition
to any other  remedies and damages  available,  to an injunction to restrain the
violation  hereof  by  Executive,   Executive's  partners,   agents,   servants,
employers,  employees and all persons  acting for or with  Executive.  Executive
represents and admits that Executive's experience and capabilities are such that
Executive can obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a
different nature than the Bank and/or the Company, and that the enforcement of a
remedy  by  way  of  injunction  will  not  prevent  Executive  from  earning  a
livelihood.  Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank and/or the
Company  from  pursuing  any other  remedies  available  to the Bank  and/or the
Company for such breach or threatened breach,  including the recovery of damages
from Executive.

     (b)  Executive  recognizes  and  acknowledges  that  the  knowledge  of the
business  activities  and plans  for  business  activities  of the  Company  and
affiliates  thereof,  as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable,  special
and unique asset of the business of the Company.  Executive will not,  during or
after the term of his employment,  disclose any knowledge of the past,  present,
planned or considered  business  activities of the Company or affiliates thereof
to any  person,  firm,  corporation,  or other  entity for any reason or purpose
whatsoever  (except for such disclosure as may be required to be provided to any
federal  banking  agency  with  jurisdiction  over the  Company  or  Executive).
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking,
financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and
exclusively  derived from the business plans and activities of the Company,  and
Executive may disclose any  information  regarding the Bank or the Company which
is otherwise publicly  available.  In the event of a breach or threatened breach
by Executive of the provisions of this Section,  the Company will be entitled to
an injunction  restraining  Executive from disclosing,  in whole or in part, the
knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the
Company or  affiliates  thereof,  or from  rendering any services to any person,
firm, corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has

                                       9


been  disclosed  or is  threatened  to be  disclosed.  Nothing  herein  will  be
construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies  available
to the Company for such breach or threatened  breach,  including the recovery of
damages from Executive.

12.  SOURCE OF PAYMENTS; NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS

     (a) All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Company.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  any provision  herein to the contrary,  to the extent
that  payments  and  benefits,  as  provided by this  Agreement,  are paid to or
received by Executive  from the Bank,  such  compensation  payments and benefits
paid by the Bank will be  subtracted  from any amount due  Executive  under this
Agreement.  Payments  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall be paid by the Company
and/or the Bank and shall be  allocated in  proportion  to the level of activity
and the time  expended on such  activities  by  Executive as  determined  by the
Company and the Bank on a quarterly basis.

13.  NO EFFECT ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS OR PROGRAMS

     The termination of Executive's employment during the term of this Agreement
or thereafter,  whether by the Company or by Executive,  shall have no effect on
the vested rights of Executive  under the  Company's or the Bank's  qualified or
non-qualified  retirement,  pension,  savings,  thrift,  profit-sharing or stock
bonus plans,  group life, health (including  hospitalization,  medical and major
medical),  dental,  accident and long term disability  insurance plans, or other
employee benefit plans or programs,  or compensation  plans or programs in which
Executive was a participant.

14.  REQUIRED REGULATORY PROVISIONS

     (a) The Bank's Board of Directors may terminate  Executive's  employment at
any time,  but any  termination  by the Bank's  Board of  Directors,  other than
Termination for Cause, shall not prejudice  Executive's right to compensation or
other  benefits  under  this  Agreement.  Executive  shall not have the right to
receive  compensation  or other  benefits for any period after  Termination  for
Cause as defined in Section 8.

     (b) If Executive is suspended  from office  and/or  temporarily  prohibited
from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) (12 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1818(e)(3)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(g)) of
the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Act, as amended by the  Financial  Institutions
Reform,  Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Bank's obligations under this
contract  shall  be  suspended  as of the  date of  service,  unless  stayed  by
appropriate  proceedings.  If the charges in the notice are dismissed,  the Bank
may in its discretion (i) pay Executive all or part of the compensation withheld
while their contract  obligations were suspended and (ii) reinstate (in whole or
in part) any of the obligations which were suspended.

     (c)  If   Executive  is  removed   and/or   permanently   prohibited   from
participating  in the  conduct of the Bank's  affairs by an order  issued  under
Section 8(e) (12 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C. ss. 1818(g)) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial  Institutions Reform,
Recovery and  Enforcement  Act of 1989,  all  obligations of the Bank under this

                                       10



contract  shall  terminate  as of the  effective  date of the order,  but vested
rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.

     (d) If the Bank is in default as  defined  in Section  3(x) (12 U.S.C.  ss.
1813(x)(1))  of the Federal  Deposit  Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions  Reform,  Recovery and  Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of
the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but this
paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.

     (e) All  obligations  of the Bank under this contract  shall be terminated,
except to the extent  determined that  continuation of the contract is necessary
for the continued operation of the institution, (i) by the Director, at the time
Federal  Deposit  Insurance   Corporation   ("FDIC")  or  the  Resolution  Trust
Corporation  enters into an agreement to provide  assistance  to or on behalf of
the Bank;  or (ii) by the Office of Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS") at the time the
OTS or its District Director  approves a supervisory  merger to resolve problems
related to the  operations of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the OTS
or FDIC to be in an unsafe or unsound condition.  Any rights of the parties that
have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.

     (f)  Any  payments  made  to  Executive  pursuant  to  this  Agreement,  or
otherwise,  are subject to and  conditioned  upon their  compliance  with 12 USC
Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

15.  NO ATTACHMENT

     (a) Except as  required  by law,  no right to receive  payments  under this
Agreement  shall be  subject to  anticipation,  commutation,  alienation,  sale,
assignment,  encumbrance,  charge,  pledge, or  hypothecation,  or to execution,
attachment,  levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt,  voluntary  or  involuntary,  to affect any such action  shall be null,
void, and of no effect.

     (b) This  Agreement  shall be binding  upon,  and inure to the  benefit of,
Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.

16.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

     (a) This instrument  contains the entire  agreement of the parties relating
to the subject matter  hereof,  and supercedes in its entirety any and all prior
agreements,  understandings  or  representations  relating to the subject matter
hereof. No modifications of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing
and signed by the parties hereto.

     (b) This  Agreement may not be modified or amended  except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.

     (c) No term or  condition  of this  Agreement  shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement,  except by written  instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing  waiver
unless specifically  stated therein,  and each such waiver shall operate only as

                                       11


to the specific  term or condition  waived and shall not  constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.

17.  SEVERABILITY

     If, for any reason,  any  provision of this  Agreement,  or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this  Agreement or any part of such  provision not held so invalid,  and each
such other  provision and part thereof shall to the full extent  consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.

18.  HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY

     The headings of sections  and  paragraphs  herein are  included  solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or  interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.

19.  GOVERNING LAW

     This  Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware but
only to the extent not superseded by federal law.

20.  ARBITRATION

     Any  dispute  or  controversy  arising  under or in  connection  with  this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,  conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators,  one of whom shall be selected by the Company, one of whom
shall be  selected by  Executive  and the third of whom shall be selected by the
other two arbitrators. The panel shall sit in a location within fifty (50) miles
from the location of the Company,  in accordance  with the rules of the Judicial
Mediation and Arbitration Systems (JAMS) then in effect. Judgment may be entered
on the arbitrators award in any court having  jurisdiction;  provided,  however,
that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be
paid  until the Date of  Termination  during  the  pendency  of any  dispute  or
controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

21.  PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES

     All  reasonable  legal fees paid or incurred by  Executive  pursuant to any
dispute or question of  interpretation  relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Company,  provided that the dispute or  interpretation  has
been settled by Executive and the Company or resolved in Executive's favor.

22.  INDEMNIFICATION

     During the term of this  Agreement,  the Company  shall  provide  Executive
(including  his heirs,  executors  and  administrators)  with  coverage  under a
standard directors and officers liability  insurance policy at its expense,  and
shall indemnify  Executive (and his heirs,  executors and administrators) to the
fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against all expenses and liabilities
reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit
or  proceeding  in which he may be  involved  by  reason  of his  having  been a
director or officer of the Company (whether or not he continues to be a director
or officer at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses
and liabilities to include,  but not be limited to,  judgments,  court costs and
attorneys fees and the cost of reasonable  settlements (such settlements must be
approved by the Board of Directors  of the  Company).  If such  action,  suit or
proceeding  is  brought  against  Executive  in his  capacity  as an  officer or

                                       12


director  of the  Company,  however,  such  indemnification  shall not extend to
matters as to which  Executive  is  finally  adjudged  to be liable for  willful
misconduct in the performance of his duties.

23.  SUCCESSOR TO THE COMPANY

     The Company  shall  require any  successor or assignee,  whether  direct or
indirect,  by  purchase,   merger,   consolidation  or  otherwise,   to  all  or
substantially  all the business or assets of the Bank or the Company,  expressly
and  unconditionally  to assume and agree to perform the  Company's  obligations
under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company
would be  required  to perform if no such  succession  or  assignment  had taken
place.

                            [Signature Page Follows]



                                       13



                                   SIGNATURES

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by
its duly authorized officer and Executive has signed this Agreement,  on the day
and date first above written.

ATTEST:                                    FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.



/s/ Suzette F. Hoevet                 By:  /s/ Barry Backhaus
- ---------------------------                -------------------------------------
Secretary                                  President and Chief Executive Officer


WITNESS:                                    EXECUTIVE:



/s/ David J. Reinke                   By:  /s/ Michael W. Dosland
- --------------------------------           -------------------------------------











                                    Exhibit A



          Duties of Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer:

The  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  is  responsible  for the  overall
management  of the Company  and the Bank and  establishment  of its  objectives,
policies and strategic plans. The President and Chief Executive Officer provides
leadership and direction to all  departments  and is the primary contact between
the Board of Directors and the Company and Bank staff.