NEWS RELEASE                                               EXHIBIT NO. 99
April 24, 1997
                     [LANDMARK BANCSHARES, INC. LETTERHEAD]




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Larry Schugart, President
                                                  James F. Strovas, Sr VP
                                                  Phone:  316-227-8111


                            Landmark Bancshares, Inc.
                       Adopts New Stock Repurchase Program



Dodge City,  Kansas,  March 20, 1997 -- Landmark  Bancshares,  Inc., the holding
company for Landmark  Federal  Savings  Bank,  has  announced  its  intention to
repurchase  up to  473,316  shares or 15% of the  Company's  common  stock.  The
Companny previously  discontinued a stock repurchase plan adopted on October 16,
1996 to repurchase up to 5% of its  outstanding  Common Stock by March 27, 1997.
The prior four  repurchase  programs  implemented by the Company were subject to
regulatory  restrictions  governing stock  repurchases by financial  institution
holding companies having a subsidiary which converted from  mutual-to-stock form
for a period  of three  years  after the stock  conversion.  These  restrictions
expired on March 28, 1997, the third anniversary of the Bank's stock conversion.

The repurchases may be made  periodically  throughout the next year from time to
time as stock is available,  based upon various factors,  including the price of
the stock, the market and the Company's financial  performance.  Repurchases may
be  made  through  privately-negotiated  transactions,  odd  lot  purchases  and
open-market  transactions.  Depending  upon the  availability  and  price of the
stock,  there is no assurance  that shares of Common Stock will be  repurchased.
Repurchased  shares will become treasury shares and will be utilized for general
corporate  purposes,  including  the issuance of shares in  connection  with the
exercise of stock options and other Company and Bank stock benefit plans.

The Bank is a  federally-chartered  stock  savings bank  headquartered  in Dodge
City,  Kansas.  In addition,  the Bank has four branch offices located in Garden
City, Great Bend,  Hoisington,  and La Crosse,  Kansas.  The Bank's deposits are
federally-insured  by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation  ("FDIC").  The
Bank  is  a  community-oriented,  full  service  retail  savings  bank  offering
traditional mortgage loan products. At March 31, 1997, Landmark Bancshares, Inc.
had total  assets and  stockholders'  equity of  $223,779,333  and  $32,749,886,
respectively.  The Corporation's  common stock is traded in the over-the-counter
market on the NASDAQ National System under the symbol "LARK."



             STOCK TRADED ON NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET SYSTEM UNDER THE
                                  SYMBOL "LARK"
  CENTRAL AND SPRUCE/P.O. BOX 1437/DODGE CITY, KANSAS 67801-1437/(316)227-8111
    OFFICES IN: DODGE CITY - GARDEN CITY - GREAT BEND - HOISINGTON - LACROSSE