<PAGE>

================================================================================

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

                                  FORM 10-K

              ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                     THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000                 COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-26350

                           ALLEGIANT BANCORP, INC.
           (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                 MISSOURI                                 43-1519382
         (STATE OF INCORPORATION)                       (IRS EMPLOYER
                                                      IDENTIFICATION NO.)

            2122 KRATKY ROAD                                63114
           ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI                            (ZIP CODE)
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

     REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: 314-692-8200

 SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: TRUST PREFERRED
   SECURITIES, $10 LIQUIDATION VALUE, ISSUED BY ALLEGIANT CAPITAL TRUST I
        NAME OF EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED: AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE

         SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
                        COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE

      INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL
           REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
               THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE
            PRECEDING 12 MONTHS, AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH
                  FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS.
                               YES X    NO
                                  ---      ---

 INDICATE BY CHECK MARK IF DISCLOSURE OF DELINQUENT FILERS PURSUANT TO ITEM
405 OF REGULATION S-K IS NOT CONTAINED HEREIN, AND WILL NOT BE CONTAINED, TO
   THE BEST OF REGISTRANT'S KNOWLEDGE, IN DEFINITIVE PROXY OR INFORMATION
 STATEMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PART III OF THIS FORM 10-K OR ANY
                      AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM 10-K. [ ]

  AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF THE VOTING STOCK HELD BY NON-AFFILIATES OF THE
 REGISTRANT AS OF MARCH 1, 2000: COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE, $93,804,008

      NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING OF EACH OF THE REGISTRANT'S CLASSES
            OF COMMON STOCK, AS OF MARCH 1, 2000: COMMON STOCK,
               $0.01 PAR VALUE, 8,933,715 SHARES OUTSTANDING

                   DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
   AS PROVIDED HEREIN, PORTIONS OF THE DOCUMENTS BELOW ARE INCORPORATED
                             BY REFERENCE:

                        DOCUMENT                             PART--FORM 10-K
                        --------                             ---------------

 2000 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE REGISTRANT TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS    PARTS I, II AND IV

 REGISTRANT'S PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2001
 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS                              PART III

================================================================================

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

         The terms "Allegiant," "company," "we," "our" and "corporation"
as used in this report refer to Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as a consolidated entity, except where it is made clear that
it means only Allegiant. Also, sometimes we refer to our bank subsidiary
as the "bank."

                                   PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

         We are a bank holding company headquartered in St. Louis,
Missouri. Our bank subsidiary, Allegiant Bank, offers full-service
banking and personal trust services to individuals, commercial
businesses and municipalities in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Our services include commercial, real estate and installment loans,
checking, savings and time deposit accounts, personal trust and
other fiduciary services and various other financial services such
as securities brokerage, insurance and safe deposit boxes. As of
December 31, 2000, we reported, on a consolidated basis, total
assets of $1.1 billion, loans of $814.0 million, deposits of $858.1
million and shareholders' equity of $77.8 million.

         Since 1989, when we were organized, we have been committed
to building a strong, customer-friendly community bank. As a
community bank, we are able to respond quickly to our customers
through local decision-making and to tailor products and services
to meet their needs. We believe this customer-friendly approach
provides us with a competitive advantage over many of the larger
financial institutions in the St. Louis metropolitan area. In
addition, we believe that we have benefited from recent
acquisitions of locally headquartered financial institutions by
larger regional or national out-of-town financial institutions.
Recent acquisitions of financial institutions in our market area
include: Bank America Corporation's acquisition of Boatmen's
Bancshares, Inc.; Union Planters Corporation's acquisition of Magna
Group, Inc.; and Firstar Corporation's acquisition of Mercantile
Bancorporation Inc.

         We currently are the second largest publicly owned bank
holding company headquartered in St. Louis which is the 17th largest
metropolitan area in the United States with a population of
approximately 2.45 million. We are also the seventh largest bank
holding company in the St. Louis area. We have expanded rapidly
through internal growth and acquisitions. We believe that market
coverage is necessary, and our goal is to have a banking facility
within a 20-minute drive from all principal sectors of the St.
Louis metropolitan area.

         In 1989, we acquired Allegiant State Bank located in
Northeastern Missouri. We acquired Allegiant Bank in St. Louis,
Missouri in 1990. In January 1995, Allegiant State Bank was merged
into Allegiant Bank. We acquired Reliance Savings and Loan
Association of St. Louis County in August 1997 and later merged it
into Allegiant Bank. In September 1997, Allegiant Bank acquired two
branches in Union and Warrenton, Missouri from Roosevelt Bank.

         On November 15, 2000, we completed the acquisition of
Equality Bancorp, Inc. Equality Bancorp was the parent of Equality
Savings Bank which was founded in 1884 and was the oldest thrift in
the State of Missouri. At the time of closing, Equality Bancorp had
consolidated assets of approximately $300.4 million. In connection
with our acquisition of Equality Bancorp, we issued approximately
2.7 million shares of our common stock. Based upon the net book
value of the Equality Bancorp assets at closing, no goodwill was
recorded. Our acquisition of Equality Bancorp increased the number
of our outstanding common shares to approximately 8.9 million at
December 31, 2000. Also, during November, Equality Bancorp's
systems were successfully integrated into Allegiant's, including
the conversion of all computer systems and records.

         In addition to our acquisitions, we have opened several new
branches in Missouri with a view toward covering all sectors of the
St. Louis metropolitan area. Recent branch openings include Town &
Country in 1998, a downtown St. Louis branch in March 1999, Ballwin
in August 1999, Chesterfield in May 2000 and our 23rd location in
the Jefferson Arms Community in downtown St. Louis in August 2000.

                                 1


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

         Since the beginning of 1998, we have focused primarily on
improving the profitability of our banking operations. As a result,
we have reduced the amount of one- to four-family mortgages that we
hold in our loan portfolio and increased the amount of higher
yielding commercial loans. We also have hired several banking
professionals with experience in the St. Louis metropolitan area to
help us grow our commercial loans and deposits. We have refined our
market focus to concentrate exclusively on opportunities in the
higher growth St. Louis metropolitan area and, accordingly, we sold
three retail banking offices outside the St. Louis metropolitan
area in December 1998. We also have implemented company-wide,
cost-control efforts to enhance efficiencies throughout our entire
operation.

         Our management team is comprised of experienced individuals
who average more than 15 years in the banking or financial
services industries. As of March 1, 2000, our directors and
executive officers owned approximately 31% of our outstanding
common stock.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY OF THE COMPANY

         A consolidated financial summary of our company and
subsidiaries, included on page 6 in our 2000 Annual Report to
Shareholders, is incorporated herein by reference.

SUBSIDIARIES

         The table setting forth the names and states of incorporation
or organization, as the case may be, of our subsidiaries is included as
Exhibit 21 hereto.

OPERATIONS

         Allegiant Bank offers complete banking and trust services to
individuals, businesses and municipalities in the St. Louis
metropolitan area. Services include commercial, real estate and
installment loans, checking, savings and time deposit accounts,
trust and other fiduciary services, private banking and various
other customer services such as brokerage, insurance and safe
deposit boxes.

COMPETITION

         We operate in a competitive environment. In the St. Louis
metropolitan area, other commercial banks, savings and loan
associations, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds,
insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking firms and
other financial intermediaries offer similar services. Many of
these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending
limits and may offer certain services we do not currently provide.
In addition, some of our non-bank competitors are not subject to
the same extensive regulations that govern us, Allegiant Bank and
our subsidiaries. Our profitability depends upon the ability of
Allegiant Bank to compete in our market area.

                               2

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

         Financial institutions and their holding companies are
extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result,
our growth and earnings performance can be affected not only by
management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by
the requirements of applicable state and federal statutes and
regulations and the policies of various government regulatory
authorities, including the Missouri Division of Finance, the
Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
the Internal Revenue Service, state taxing authorities and the
Securities and Exchange Commission. We cannot predict with a high
degree of certainty the effect of applicable statutes, regulations
and regulatory policies on us, but believe that it could be
significant.

         Federal and state laws and regulations generally applicable
to financial institutions regulate, among other things, the scope of
business, investments, reserves against deposits, capital levels
relative to operations, the nature and amount of collateral for
loans, the establishment of branches, mergers, consolidations and
dividends. The system of supervision and regulation applicable to
us establishes a comprehensive framework for our operations and is
intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC's deposit
insurance funds and the depositors of Allegiant Bank rather than
our shareholders.

         This summary of the material elements of this regulatory
framework does not describe all applicable statutes, regulations and
regulatory policies, nor does it restate all of the requirements of
the statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that are
described. You should review the applicable statutes, regulations
and regulatory policies. Any changes in applicable law, regulations
or regulatory policies may have a material effect on our business.

         Legislation recently enacted by Congress allows bank holding
companies to engage in a wider range of non-banking activities,
including additional securities and insurance activities. The
expanded powers generally would be available to a bank holding
company only if the bank holding company and its bank subsidiaries
remain well-capitalized and well-managed. At this time, we are
unable to predict the full impact that this legislation may have on
us.

EMPLOYEES

         As of December 31, 2000, we had approximately 287 full-time
equivalent employees. None of our employees are subject to a
collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with
our employees and those of Allegiant Bank to be good.

                                  3


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

STATISTICAL DISCLOSURES

         The following statistical disclosures, except as noted, are
included in our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, and are incorporated
herein by reference.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                ANNUAL REPORT
         SCHEDULE                                                                 REFERENCE
         --------                                                               -------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>

I.       DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
         INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL
         A.     Average Balance Sheets                                              p.  9
         B.     Analysis of Net Interest Earnings                                   p.  8
         C.     Taxable-Equivalent Rate-Volume Analysis                             p. 10
II.      INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
         A.     Book Value by Type of Security                                      p. 12
         B.     Maturity Distribution                                               p. 12
III.     LOAN PORTFOLIO
         A.     Types of Loans                                                      p. 13
         B.     Maturities and Sensitivities of Loans                               p. 14
         C.     Risk Elements
                1.  Non-accrual, Past Due and Restructured Loans                    p. 15
                2.  Potential Problem Loans                                         p. 15
                3.  Foreign Outstandings                                              n/a
IV.      SUMMARY OF LOAN LOSS EXPERIENCE
         A.     Allowance for Loan Losses                                           p. 17
         B.     Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses                         p. 16
V.       DEPOSITS*
         A.     Average Balances and Rates Paid by Deposit Category                 p.  9
         B.     Maturity Distribution of Certain CDs and Time Deposits              p. 18
VI.      RETURN ON EQUITY AND ASSETS                                                p.  7
VII.     SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS                                                      p. 22

<FN>
--------------------
* There were no interest-bearing deposits with foreign banks at December 31,
2000, 1999 or 1998.
</TABLE>

                                    4


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

         Our principal executive, administrative and operational
office are located at 2122 Kratky Road in St. Louis, Missouri. As
of December 31, 2000, Allegiant Bank conducted its business and
operations out of 23 locations in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan
area. Management believes that our physical properties, of which 17
are owned and 6 are leased, are in satisfactory condition, adequately
insured and suitable and adequate for present operations.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         Various claims and lawsuits, incidental to our ordinary
course of business, are pending against us, Allegiant Bank or our
subsidiaries. In the opinion of management, after consultation with
legal counsel, resolution of these matters is not expected to have
a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         At a special meeting held on October 19, 2000, the shareholder
of our company approved a proposal to issue shares of our common stock
in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 26, 2000, by and among
us, Allegiant Acquisition Corporation and Equality Bancorp, Inc.,
including among other things, our acquisition of Equality Bancorp, Inc.
and its subsidiary bank, Equality Savings Bank. Such proposal was approved
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
of our common stock that were present at such meeting. The voting
results on this matter were as follows:

            FOR            AGAINST         ABSTAIN
         4,132,881         157,596          3,889

ITEM 4a. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

     The following is a list, as of March 1, 2001, of the names and
ages of our executive officers and all positions and offices with us
presently held by the person named. There is no family relationship
between any of the named persons.

     Marvin S. Wool, 72, has served as a director since 1990 and as our
chairman and as chairman of Allegiant Bank since March 1992.  Mr. Wool
served as our chief executive officer from March 1992 through December
1998.  For more than the past five years, Mr. Wool has served as the
president and chief executive officer of Dash Multi-Corp, the holding
company for subsidiary companies located in Georgia, Mississippi,
Missouri, New Jersey and California that are in the chemical, cloth
coating and carpet industries.  Mr. Wool also serves as chairman of R-B
Rubber Products, Inc., a publicly-held integrated rubber recycler with
headquarters in McMinnville, Oregon.

     Shaun R. Hayes, 41, has served as a director and as our president
since 1989 and president and chief executive officer of Allegiant Bank
since May 1992.  Mr. Hayes became our chief executive officer in January
1999.

     Thomas A. Daiber, 43, has served as our senior vice president and
chief financial officer and as executive vice president and chief
financial officer of Allegiant Bank since May 1999.  Mr. Daiber was
elected to the board of directors of Allegiant Bank in May 2000.   Mr.
Daiber has been employed by us since March 1997 and served as our
director of internal auditing prior to being appointed to his current
position.  Prior to joining us, Mr. Daiber served as an officer of
Pioneer Bank and Trust Company or its holding company, Forbes First
Financial Corporation, for more than five years.

     Paul F. Glarner, 53, has served as our chief lending officer and
as executive vice president of Allegiant Bank since 1997 and has been a
member of the board of directors of Allegiant Bank since 1998.  Prior to
joining Allegiant, Mr. Glarner served as an officer of Mercantile Bank,
St. Louis, Missouri, for more than five years.

     Jeffrey S. Schatz, 43, has served as our chief of operations and
executive vice president of Allegiant Bank since January 2000 and also
has been a member of the board of directors of Allegiant Bank since May
2000.  Prior to joining Allegiant, Mr. Schatz served as an officer of
Sky Financial Group, Inc., Bowling Green, Ohio, for more than five
years.

     The executive officers were appointed by and serve at the pleasure
of our board of directors.


<PAGE>
                                   PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER
        MATTERS

         Information concerning our common stock, included on page 44 in our
2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

         "Selected Financial Data," included under the caption "Financial
Highlights" on page 6 in our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        OF OPERATIONS

         "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations," included on pages 7 through 23 of our 2000 Annual
Report to Shareholders, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

         "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,"
included under the caption "Balance Sheet Analysis - Interest Rate Sensitivity"
on pages 18, 19, 20 and 21 of our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, is
incorporated herein by reference.

                                     5

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

         The following consolidated financial statements, included in
our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, are incorporated herein by reference.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 ANNUAL REPORT
     STATEMENT                                                                     REFERENCE
     ---------                                                                   -------------

<S>                                                                                <C>
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors                                  p. 24

Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2000 and 1999                           p. 25

Consolidated Statements of Income - Years Ended December 31,
   2000, 1999 and 1998                                                             p. 26

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity -
   Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998                                    p. 27

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years Ended
   December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998                                                p. 28

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                         pgs. 29-41
</TABLE>

         Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited), included as Note
22 on page 41 in our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
        FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

         There have been no changes in or disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure relative to the consolidated financial
statements included in our 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which are
incorporated herein by reference. Included in other expense in our consolidated
statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2000, was $191,000 of
fees paid to our independent public accountants, Ernst & Young LLP. These
fees consisted of $95,000 for our annual audit and all other fees of
$96,000 which were comprised of $43,000 for tax related services
and $53,000 for other audit related services including services provided
in connection with our acquisition of Equality Bancorp.

                                  PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

         Information regarding directors is contained under the caption
"Election of Directors" and "Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof"
in our Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is
incorporated herein by reference.

         Information regarding our executive officers is contained in Part I,
Item 4a of this report.


                                     6

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

         Information regarding compliance with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is under the caption
"Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in our
Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         Information regarding executive compensation is under the
caption "Compensation of Executive Officers" in our Proxy Statement for
the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial
owners and management is under the caption "Voting Securities and Principal
Holders Thereof" in our Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         Information regarding certain relationships and related
transactions is under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions" in our Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.

                                 7


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                   PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         (a)      (1)      Financial Statements: Incorporated herein by
                  reference, are listed in Item 8 hereof.

                  (2)      Financial Statement Schedules: Report of Ernst
                  Young, LLP relating to the consolidated financial statements
                  for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, is found
                  following the signature pages hereto.

                  (3)      Exhibits: See Exhibit Index at pages 11 and 12
                  hereof.

         (b)      Reports on Form 8-K

                           On November 30, 2000, we filed a report on Form
                  8-K to report, pursuant to Item 2 thereof, our acquistion
                  on November 15, 2000 of Equality Bancorp, Inc., and its
                  wholly-owned subsidiary, Equality Savings Bank, pursuant
                  to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 26, 2000,
                  by and among us, Allegiant Acquisition Corporation and
                  Equality Bancorp, Inc. In connection with such acquisition,
                  we issued approximately 2.7 million shares of our common
                  stock, $0.01 par value. In addition, pursuant to such
                  acquisition, options to acquire 94,457 shares of common
                  stock of Equality Bancorp were converted into options to
                  acquire 105,602 shares of our common stock.

                           Pursuant to Item 7 of Form 8-K, we also filed the
                  following financial statements in such report on Form 8-K:

                  (a)      Financial statements of Equality Bancorp, Inc.

                           Independent Auditors' Report, dated June 26, 2000
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2000 and
                               1999
                           Consolidated Statements of Income - Three Years
                               Ended March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
                           Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity -
                               Three Years Ended March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
                           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow - Three Years
                               Ended March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
                           Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
                               (Loss) - Three Years Ended March 31, 2000, 1999
                               and 1998
                           Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                           Consolidated Balance Sheet - September 30, 2000
                               (Unaudited)
                           Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three and
                               Six Months Ended September 30, 2000 and 1999
                               (Unaudited)
                           Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity - Six
                                Months Ended September 30, 2000 (Unaudited)
                           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months
                                Ended September 30, 2000 and 1999 (Unaudited)
                           Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
                                (Loss) - Six Months Ended September 30, 2000
                                and 1999 (Unaudited)
                           Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                (Unaudited)

                  (b)      Pro forma financial information.

                           Pro Forma Combined Consolidated Balance Sheet -
                               September 30, 2000 (Unaudited)
                           Pro Forma Combined Consolidated Income Statements -
                               Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000 and Year
                               Ended December 31, 1999 (Unaudited)

                                       8


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                 SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized as of
the 16th day of March 2001.

                                          ALLEGIANT BANCORP, INC.
                                         (Registrant)



                                          By  /s/ Shaun R. Hayes
                                             --------------------------------
                                              Shaun R. Hayes, President and
                                              Chief Executive Officer

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of Allegiant
Bancorp, Inc., hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint
Shaun R. Hayes and Thomas A. Daiber, and each of them, the true and lawful
attorneys and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead
of each of us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all
amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and all instruments necessary
or advisable in connection therewith and to file the same with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and agents to have the power to
act with or without the others and to have full power and authority to do and
perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act
whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to
all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person,
and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by our
said attorneys and agents or each of them to any and all such amendments
and instruments.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons
on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Signature                                      Title                               Date
         ---------                                      -----                               ----

<S>                                         <C>                                         <C>
/s/ Marvin S. Wool                          Chairman of the Board                       March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Marvin S. Wool


/s/ Shaun R. Hayes                          President, Chief Executive Officer          March 16, 2001
----------------------------                and Director
Shaun R. Hayes


/s/ Thomas A. Daiber                        Senior Vice President and Chief             March 16, 2001
----------------------------                Financial Officer
Thomas A. Daiber


/s/ Robert L. Chambers                      Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Robert L. Chambers


                                    9

<PAGE>
<PAGE>


/s/ Leland B. Curtis                        Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Leland B. Curtis


/s/ Kevin R. Farrell                        Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Kevin R. Farrell


/s/ Richard C. Fellhauer                    Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Richard C. Fellhauer


/s/ Leon A. Felman                          Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Leon A. Felman


/s/ Michael Hogan                           Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Michael Hogan


/s/ C. Virginia Kirkpatrick                 Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
C. Virginia Kirkpatrick


/s/ Jack K. Krause                          Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Jack K. Krause


/s/ Robert Wallace                          Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Robert Wallace


/s/ John L. Weiss                           Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
John L. Weiss


/s/ Lee S. Wielansky                        Director                                    March 16, 2001
----------------------------
Lee S. Wielansky
</TABLE>

                                     10

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                               EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                           DESCRIPTION
-----------                           -----------

   3.1         Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company, filed as
               Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
               10-SB (Reg. No. 0-26350) is hereby incorporated by reference.

   3.1(a)      Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the
               Company, filed as Exhibit 3 to the Company's Quarterly Report
               on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, is
               hereby incorporated by reference.

   3.2         By-laws of the Company, as currently in effect, filed as
               Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
               for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, is hereby incorporated
               by reference.

   4.1         Form of Stock Certificate for Common Stock, filed as Exhibit
               4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10-SB
               (Reg. No. 0-26350) is hereby incorporated by reference.

   4.2         Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of August 2, 1999, by
               and between the Company and Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee,
               filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
               10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, is hereby incorporated
               by reference.

  10.1         Loan Agreement, dated November 12, 1998, by and between LaSalle
               National Bank and the Company, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
               Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
               December 31, 1998, is hereby incorporated by reference.

  10.2         Pledge Agreement, dated November 12, 1998, by and between
               LaSalle National Bank and the Company, filed as Exhibit 10.2
               to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
               ended December 31, 1998, is hereby incorporated by reference.

  10.3         Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit
               10.7 to Company's Registration Statement on Form 10-SB (Reg. No.
               0-26350) is hereby incorporated by reference.*

  10.4         Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit
               4.4 to Company's Form S-8 (Reg. No. 0-26350) is hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

  10.5         Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. Directors Stock Option Plan, filed as
               Exhibit 4.5 to Company's Form S-8 (Reg. No. 0-26350) is hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

  10.6         Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. 1989 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit
               4.6 to Company's Form S-8 (Reg. No. 0-26350) is hereby
               incorporated by reference.*

  10.7         Executive Retention Agreement, dated May 24, 1999, by and between
               the Company and Shaun R. Hayes is hereby incorporated by
               reference.*

  10.8         Underwriting Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1999, by and between
               the Company and Allegiant Capital Trust I and EVEREN Securities,
               Inc. and Wheat First Securities, as representatives of the
               several underwriters, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
               Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
               1999, is hereby incorporated by reference.

  10.9         Guarantee Agreement, dated as of August 2, 1999 between the
               Company, as guarantor, and Bankers Trust Company, as guarantee
               trustee, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report
               on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, is hereby
               incorporated by reference.

  10.10        Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of August 2, 1999,
               among the Company, as depositor, Bankers Trust Company, as
               property trustee, and Shaun R. Hayes and Thomas A. Daiber, as
               administrators, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly
               Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, is
               hereby incorporated by reference.

  10.11        Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 26, 2000, by and
               among the Company, Allegiant Acquisition Corporation and Equality
               Bancorp, Inc., filed as Exhibit 1.2 to the Company's Current
               Report on Form 8-K, dated August 1, 2000, is incorporated herein
               by reference.

  10.12        Equality Bancorp, Inc. 1993 Stock Option and Incentive Plan,
               filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Registration Statement
               on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-44758), is incorporated herein by
               reference.*

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<PAGE>

  10.13        Equality Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
               filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Registration Statement
               on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-44758), is incorporated herein by
               reference.*

  10.14        Form of Executive Retention Agreement, by and between the Company
               and each of Thomas A. Daiber, Paul F. Glarner and Jeffrey S.
               Schatz, is filed herewith.*

  13           Portions of the 2000 Annual Report of the Company to its
               Shareholders are filed herewith.

  21           Subsidiaries of the Company are filed herewith.

  23           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP is filed herewith.

[FN]
--------------------------
  *Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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