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

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):
September 18, 2008



West Bancorporation, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Iowa
  
0-49677
  
42-1230603
(State or other jurisdiction
  
(Commission
  
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
  
File Number)
  
Identification No.)


1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines, Iowa
  
50266
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
  
515-222-2300


Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 2.06 Material Impairments.

West Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Bancorporation, Inc., will record an other-than-temporary impairment and take a non-cash charge to earnings in third quarter 2008 for an investment in a senior unsecured note issued by Lehman Brothers, Inc. The note is included in West Bank’s securities available for sale at a cost of approximately $2.0 million. It is currently trading at 18 cents on the dollar. The after-tax impact on earnings is estimated to be approximately $1 million.







The information contained in this report may contain forward-looking statements about the Company’s growth and acquisition strategies, new products and services, and future financial performance, including earnings and dividends per share, return on average assets, return on average equity, efficiency ratio and capital ratio. Certain statements in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “should,” or “anticipates,” or references to estimates or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Because of the possibility of change in the underlying assumptions, actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect future results include: interest rate risk; competitive pressures; pricing pressures on loans and deposits; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company’s loan and investment portfolios, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values or changes in the allowance for loan losses dictated by new market conditions or regulatory requirements; actions of bank and non-bank competitors; changes in local and national economic conditions; changes in regulatory requirements, including actions of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the Federal Reserve Board; and customers’ acceptance of the Company’s products and services. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


SIGNATURES

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.


 
West Bancorporation, Inc.
        
September 18, 2008
By:
Douglas R. Gulling
 
 
Name: Douglas R. Gulling
 
 
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer