EX-10.1

                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                          BREMER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                   1996 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                             Chief Financial Officer
                              Chief Credit Officer
                            Human Resources Director

Contained herein is a detailed outline of the Executive Incentive Compensation
Plan which has been designed for the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Credit
Officer, and Human Resources Director of Bremer Financial Services, Inc.

A.       Purpose

         1)       To provide an annual incentive award to the Chief Financial
                  Officer, Chief Credit Officer, and Human Resources Director of
                  Bremer Financial Services, Inc. for the achievement of Bremer
                  Financial Corporation's goals and objectives.


         2)       To focus attention on those activities which will positively
                  affect the Corporation's financial well-being.

B.       Eligibility

         1)       The Chief Financial Officer, Chief Credit Officer, and Human
                  Resources Director of Bremer Financial Services, Inc. are the
                  participants in this plan.

C.       Plan Year

         1)       The Executive Incentive Compensation program will begin on
                  January 1 and will end on December 31.

D.       Payment of Award

         1)       At year end, formal reviews will be conducted by the
                  appropriate designated management to determine and measure
                  performance. Upon completion of the measurement of the
                  participant's goals and objectives, an award will be approved.

         3)       Award payments will be made in the first quarter, following
                  the end of defined incentive plan year.

E.       Potential Awards

         1)       The target (planned) and maximum potential award, stated as a
                  percentage of base salary, will be:

                                 Target    Maximum
                                 ------    -------
                                   10%       20%

F.       Performance Measures and Determination of Award

         1)       100% of the target incentive award will be based upon
                  Corporate RORE*. The following table will be utilized to
                  determine the actual percentage of salary to be granted. When
                  performance falls between the RORE percentages shown,
                  interpolation will be utilized to determine the actual
                  percentage of salary to be awarded.

                      Corporate RORE                  Percentage Award
                      --------------                  ----------------
                           11.00                             -0-
                           12.00                             5.0%
                           13.00            TARGET          10.0%
                           14.00                            12.5%
                           15.00                            15.0%
                           16.00                            17.5%
                           17.00 and over                   20.0%

                  *        Restructuring costs will be amortized over the years
                           1996 and 1997 when calculating incentive.


         2)       Other Measures

                  Will be included in Corporate RORE performance measure.

G.       Administration

         1)       The plan shall be subject to the approval of the Board of
                  Directors of Bremer Financial Corporation which shall have
                  sole authority to establish the terms and conditions under
                  which the plan will be administered.

         2)       The Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and awards are not
                  transferable or assignable.

         3)       Award may not be deferred.

H.       Administrative Procedures

         1)       Additions to Plan -- Eligible individuals will be added to the
                  plan at any time upon the approval of the Board of Directors
                  of Bremer Financial Corporation. However, the size of their
                  awards will be prorated by the number of months they were
                  eligible to receive an award. An example would be:

                  - Employee "A" is added to plan in mid-year so s/he has six
                    (6) months of eligible service.
                  - Calculated incentive award is $15,000
                  - $15,000 X 6/12 = $7,500

         2)       Terminations -- If the eligible participant terminates during
                  the plan year, the incentive award will be handled as follows:
                  

                  - Voluntary resignations -- no incentive award.
                  - Involuntary terminations for cause -- no incentive award.
                  - Involuntary termination without cause -- incentive award
                  prorated by number of months service during current incentive
                  plan year, based on approval by President of BFC. 
                  - Retirement/disability -- incentive award prorated by number 
                  of months of service during current incentive plan year.

         3)       Change in Position -- If the eligible participant has a change
                  in position during a plan year, their incentive award will be
                  calculated under both plan award levels and prorated by the
                  months of service at each level.

         4)       Interpolation -- When actual performance falls between cells
                  on the appropriate element, the individual completing the
                  formula should interpolate to the actual percentage to be
                  awarded.

         5)       Performance -- If a participant's performance rating for the
                  plan year is less than fully competent and/or certain
                  performance goals are not met, the President of Bremer
                  Financial Corporation has the authority to reduce partially or
                  totally the incentive payout that would normally be due the
                  participant.

         6)       Exceptions -- Upon occasion, there may be specific reasons for
                  exceptions to the incentive compensation program for events
                  beyond the control of the participant in the plan. The
                  President of Bremer Financial Corporation has the authority to
                  determine and approve all such exceptions.

I.       Amendment and termination

         1)       The Board of Bremer Financial Corporation may at any time
                  amend the plan for the purposes of satisfying the requirements
                  of any changes in applicable laws or for any purpose which may
                  be permitted by law. The Board of Bremer Financial Corporation
                  may also terminate the plan at any time. No such amendment or
                  termination shall, however, adversely affect the rights of any
                  participant (without his/her prior consent) to any award
                  previously approved.

________________________________________________________________________________
NAME                                                          TITLE

                    CALCULATION OF EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE AWARD
                    ----------------------------------------
                                 Plan Year 1996

                                                            Percentage of Salary
                                                               To Be Awarded
F-1 - Corporate RORE                                        --------------------
--------------------
         Corporate RORE   __________%                                __________%






Total Award Earned as % of Salary                                    __________%
---------------------------------                                         

X 1996 Salary                                                       $___________

= 1996 INCENTIVE AWARD                                              $___________







Approved:

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