Exhibit 2.6
                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                  THIS  AGREEMENT is made and entered  effective this 1st day of
January , 1997, by and between BNC National  Bank,  which  maintains a principal
banking house at 322 East Main Street,  Bismarck, ND 58501 (hereinafter referred
to as  "BNC");  and  the  shareholders  of J.D.  Meier  Insurance  Agency,  Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as "AGENCY"), which maintains an agency headquarters in
Linton, North Dakota, with the shareholders  consisting of GREGORY K. CLEVELAND,
TRACY  SCOTT,   DAVID  ERICKSON  and  TRI-COUNTY   INSURANCE  &  LEASING,   INC.
(hereinafter  collectively  referred  to  as  "SHAREHOLDERS",  unless  otherwise
individually identified).
                  WHEREAS,   SHAREHOLDERS   desire  to  sell  and BNC desires to
acquire all of the outstanding shares of the AGENCY;
                  WHEREAS,  the parties  desire to enter into this Agreement for
the purpose of effectuating the sale and exchange of such shares.
                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual covenants and
conditions as set forth herein, it is agreed as follows:

         1.0      The  SHAREHOLDERS  will sell to BNC the issued and outstanding
                  capital   stock  of  the   AGENCY   held  by  the   individual
                  SHAREHOLDERS as indicated below,  with the transfer being free
                  of all  liens and  encumbrances  and  representing  all of the
                  AGENCY's issued and outstanding  capital stock owned,  held or
                  controlled  by  said  individual  SHAREHOLDERS,  with  BNC  to
                  purchase  the  shares   subject  to  the  provisions  of  this
                  Agreement as follows:

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                  GREGORY K. CLEVELAND
                  Stock Certificate No(s): 1
                  Total Shares:  1,000

                  TRACY SCOTT
                  Stock Certificate No(s): 2
                  Total Shares:  1,000

                  DAVID ERICKSON
                  Stock Certificate No(s): 5
                  Total Shares:  1,000

                  TRI-COUNTY INSURANCE & LEASING, INC.
                  Stock Certificate No(s): 6
                  Total Shares:  1,000

         2.0      The  purchase  price shall be Eight  Dollars  and  Fifty-Seven
                  Cents ($8.57) per share,  for a total  purchase  price for all
                  outstanding capital stock of the AGENCY being in the amount of
                  Thirty-Four  Thousand  Two Hundred  Seventy-Eight  Dollars and
                  Thirty Cents ($34,278.30).

         3.0      The  entire  purchase  price  shall be paid to the  individual
                  shareholders based upon the number of shares being transferred
                  by each of the individuals.

         4.0      To induce BNC to purchase their stocks,  SHAREHOLDERS  jointly
                  and severally represent and warrant the following:

                  4.1      The AGENCY is a  business  corporation  organized  in
                           accordance with the laws of the State of North Dakota
                           and is  authorized  to  engage in the  business  of a
                           general insurance agency.

                  4.2      The  AGENCY  is in  good  standing,  with  all  taxes
                           currently due, including income, employee,  franchise
                           or other taxes,  having been paid and with no pending
                           actions  or   proceedings  to  limit  or  impair  the
                           AGENCY's  power to engage in business or otherwise to
                           carry out the general affairs of a corporation within
                           the State of North Dakota.

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                  4.3      SHAREHOLDER's shares constitute all of the issued and
                           outstanding  shares of the AGENCY's  stock,  with all
                           shares having been properly issued and are fully paid
                           and nonassessable.

                  4.4      SHAREHOLDER's   shares   are   free  of  any   liens,
                           encumbrances  or  agreements  of any kind,  including
                           stockholder's  agreements,  voting  trusts,  buy-sell
                           agreements or other limitations or restrictions.

                  4.5      The AGENCY has  previously  caused to be  provided to
                           BNC a list of all  corporate  assets to be  disclosed
                           and  the  AGENCY  is the  sole  owner  of all of such
                           assets,  none of which  are  subject  to any liens or
                           encumbrances.

                  4.6      The AGENCY has  previously  caused to be  provided to
                           BNC a list of  description  of any and all  debts  or
                           liabilities  as  may  have  then  existed  or as  are
                           anticipated   through  the  effective  date  of  this
                           Agreement, including the name and address of any such
                           creditors,  the amount  owed to each and the  general
                           terms and conditions of such obligations.

                  4.7      The AGENCY has  previously  caused to be  provided to
                           BNC  the  most  recent  financial  statement  for the
                           AGENCY and there  will be no changes in the  AGENCY's
                           financial  condition as  previously  disclosed to BNC
                           between  the  date  of  said  documentation  and  the
                           closing of this transaction, except for those changes
                           that would  otherwise  normally  occur in the regular
                           course of the AGENCY's business.

                  4.8      There   are  no   actions   at  law  or   equity   or
                           administrative proceedings pending against the AGENCY
                           or in which  the  AGENCY is a  plaintiff,  defendant,
                           petitioner  or  respondent  and the  AGENCY  will not
                           commence  an  action  at  law  or  equity  or  in  an
                           administrative  proceeding  in  which  it  would be a
                           plaintiff  or  petitioner  and  there  have  been  no
                           demands, communications or advice that any actions at
                           law or equity or administrative proceedings that will
                           be or may be brought in which it would  otherwise  be
                           anticipated  that  the  AGENCY  will  be  named  as a
                           defendant or otherwise join or be joined as a party.

                  4.9      The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  AGENCY  have  not
                           declared  any  dividends  and there are no  dividends
                           unpaid that were  declared  in an earlier  period nor
                           will  there be any  such  declarations  of  dividends
                           before the closing of this transaction.

                  4.10     From  the  effective  date of this  Agreement  to the
                           closing,  the AGENCY will not increase any employee's
                           salary  or  hire  any  new  employees  without  first
                           obtaining the written consent of BNC.

                  4.11     None of the individual SHAREHOLDERS have any contract
                           of  employment  with the  AGENCY  other than has been
                           expressly   disclosed  to  BNC  nor  do  any  of  the
                           individual SHAREHOLDERS have any contract, agreement,
                           understanding  or otherwise with the AGENCY as to any
                           compensation  due or to be  paid as a  result  of any
                           dealings with the AGENCY other than  compensation  in
                           the ordinary course of business, including director's
                           fees.

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                  4.12     TRI-COUNTY  INSURANCE AND LEASING,  INC. is a validly
                           formed and existing North Dakota corporation  and the
                           undersigned  individual  is  duly  authorized  by the
                           corporation to enter into this agreement and transfer
                           all shares of stock as set forth herein.

         5.0      BNC  represents  and  warrants  that  BNC  has  inspected  the
                  AGENCY's premises, inventory, furnishings, fixtures, equipment
                  or other physical assets,  further representing and warranting
                  that BNC has examined the AGENCY's  books of account and other
                  business  records and is satisfied that they properly  reflect
                  the  AGENCY's   past  and  present   earnings  and   financial
                  condition.

         6.0      The  representations  and  warranties  set  forth herein shall
                  survive the closing.

         7.0      At   the   closing,   SHAREHOLDERS   shall  deliver to BNC the
                  following:

                  7.1      Stock Certificates; and

                  7.2      Certificates  representing  all  of  the  outstanding
                           shares  of  the  AGENCY's capital stock, endorsed for
                           transfer in blank.

                  7.3      The AGENCY's  corporate books of account and business
                           records,  minute book,  stock  transfer  book,  blank
                           stock certificates and seal.

                  7.4      Any  resignation  as  an  officer  or director of the
                           corporation as BNC shall demand.

         8.0      The  closing  shall  take  place at the  banking  house of BNC
                  located in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota on March 15, 1997 at 4:00
                  p.m.,  or such other  time or place  prior to such date as the
                  parties may otherwise agree.

         9.0      This  Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
                  of the  various  parties'  heirs,  executors,  administrators,
                  representatives, successors and assigns.

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        10.0      This Agreement  represents the full and complete  agreement of
                  the  parties,  may not be  modified  or  amended  except  in a
                  writing  signed  by all  parties,  with this  Agreement  to be
                  construed  in  accordance  with the laws of the State of North
                  Dakota.
                                              BNC NATIONAL BANK


Dated:  February 26       , 1997.         By:   /s/ Gregory K. Cleveland
       -------------------                   -----------------------------------

                                          Its:        Secretary


                                          SHAREHOLDERS:

Dated:  February 26      , 1997.           /s/ Gregory K. Cleveland
      -------------------                ---------------------------------------
                                         GREGORY K. CLEVELAND


Dated:  February 26      , 1997.          /s/ Tracy Scott
      -------------------                ---------------------------------------
                                         TRACY SCOTT


Dated:  February 22      , 1997.          /s/ David Erickson
      -------------------                ---------------------------------------
                                         DAVID ERICKSON


Dated:  February 25      , 1997.         TRI-COUNTY INSURANCE & LEASING, INC.
      -------------------

                                         By:      /s/ Duane Huber
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Its:     Director
                                             -----------------------------------

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