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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 17, 2004


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                          First Midwest Financial, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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          Delaware                         0-22140               42-1406262
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission File)      (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)             Number            Identification No.)

                       Fifth at Erie, Storm Lake, IA 50588
               (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (712) 732-4117

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 5.  Other Events

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Other Exhibits

Item 11. Temporary  Suspension of Trading Under  Registrant's  Employee Benefits
         Plans

Signatures

Exhibit Index

Exhibit 99.1






Item 5.  Other Events

     On February 17,  2004,  First  Midwest  Financial,  Inc.  received a notice
regarding  a  blackout  period  from  March  22,  2004  through  May 9, 2004 for
transactions  in the First Federal  Savings Bank of the Midwest  Profit  Sharing
401(k)  Plan  during  which  period the plan will  convert to a new  Trustee and
Records Administrator.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c) Exhibits

             99.1 - Notice to Directors and Executive Officers dated
                    February 20, 2004.


Item 11. Temporary  Suspension of Trading Under  Registrant's  Employee Benefits
         Plans

     On February 17, 2004, the Registrant  received notice  regarding a blackout
period,  as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation  BTR. The notice  required by Rule
104 of Regulation  BTR was provided to directors  and executive  officers by the
Company on February 20, 2004. A copy of such notice is filed herewith as Exhibit
99.1, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.






                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                  FIRST MIDWEST FINANCIAL, INC.

                                  By:     /s/ Ronald J. Walters
                                          ---------------------
                                          Ronald J. Walters
                                          Senior Vice President, Secretary,
                                           Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  February 20, 2004








                                  Exhibit Index
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Exhibit
Number                        Description of Exhibit
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99.1         Notice to Directors and Executive Officers dated February 20, 2004.