Exhibit 99.4 - Press Release



PRESS RELEASE
September 22, 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 5.98% 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 $2,599,088 in open market transactions. The
repurchase program began on September 2, 1999. Upon settlement of the last
transaction on or about September 27, 1999, there will be 2,357,242 shares of
North Central Bancshares, Inc. common stock outstanding.

North Central Bancshares, Inc., with over $343 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.