Exhibit 99.4   Press Release



PRESS RELEASE
June 17, 1999


                              For further information contact:
                              David M. Bradley
                              President and Chief Executive Officer
                              North Central Bancshares, Inc.
                              825 Central Avenue
                              Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
                              515-576-7531


           NORTH CENTRAL BANCSHARES, INC. COMPLETES STOCK REPURCHASE


Fort Dodge, Iowa - North Central Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:  "FFFD") announced
that it has completed a 5.34% stock repurchase program today. The Company said
it repurchased 150,000 shares of its outstanding common stock, par value $.01
per share, at the aggregate cost of $2,736,625, in open market transactions. The
repurchase program began on May 6, 1999. Upon settlement of the last transaction
on or about June 22, 1999, there will be 2,657,242 shares of North Central
Bancshares, Inc. common stock outstanding.

North Central Bancshares, Inc., with over $334 million in assets, is the holding
company for First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa, a federally chartered stock
savings bank. First Federal is a community-oriented institution serving Iowa
through 8 full service locations in Fort Dodge, Nevada, Ames, Perry, Burlington
and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. First Federal's deposits are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation.