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Exhibit 10.10

Short-term note with American National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago as of 
April 30, 1998, setting forth the terms of the Parent Company's $5,000,000 
short-term debt agreement. 
     69

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April 30, 1998

Brenton Banks, Inc.
Capital Square, Suite 300
P.O. Box 961
Des Moines, Iowa 50304


Gentlemen:

This letter will replace the previous Letter Agreement regarding 
the negative pledge on Brenton Bank stock dated April 30, 1997. 
This letter is in reference to the certain Promissory Note 
(Unsecured) dated April 30, 1998, both by Brenton Banks, Inc. 
("Brenton") in favor of American National Bank and Trust Company 
of Chicago ("ANB") in connection with a commitment in the amount 
of Five Million and 00/100 Dollars to be extended by ANB to 
Brenton and any subsequent renewals and modification 
("Commitment").

In consideration of ANB providing the Commitment, Brenton hereby 
covenants that it will not create, assume or suffer to exist, any 
Lien upon the stock of a Subsidiary bank.

For the purpose of this Letter Agreement, the following 
definitions shall apply:

"Lien" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, 
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement 
to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title 
retention agreement, and the filing of or agreement to give any 
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any 
jurisdiction).

"Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation with respect to which more 
than 50% of the outstanding shares of stock of each class having 
ordinary voting power (other than stock having such power only by 
reason of the happening of a contingency) is at the time owned by 
Brenton or by one or more Subsidiaries of Brenton.

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Page 2

If the foregoing correctly states your understanding of our 
agreement, please execute the enclosed copy of the Letter 
Agreement in the space indicated and return it to Tim Ruby, 
Officer of ANB.

AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY OF CHICAGO

BY:    /s/
ITS:   Correspondent Banking Officer

Accepted and agreed to this 30th day of April, 1998.

BRENTON BANKS, INC.
an Iowa corporation

BY:    /s/ Steven T. Schuler (written)  Steven T. Schuler 
(printed)
ITS:   CFO/Treasurer/Secretary

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American National Bank
And Trust Company of Chicago

PROMISSORY NOTE (UNSECURED)
$5,000,000.00
Chicago, Illinois
April 30, 1998
Due April 30, 1999

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (jointly and severally if 
more than one) ("Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of 
AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO ("Bank"), at 
its principal place of business in Chicago, Illinois or such other 
place as Bank may designate from time to time hereafter, the 
principal sum of FIVE MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS, or such lesser 
principal sum as may then be owed by Borrower to Bank hereunder.

     Borrower's obligations and liabilities to Bank under this 
Note ("Borrower's Liabilities") shall be due and payable on April 
30, 1999.

     This Note restates and replaces a Promissory Note (Unsecured) 
in the principal amount of $2,000,000.00, dated April 30, 1997 
executed by Borrower in favor of Bank (the "Prior Note") and is 
not a repayment or novation of the Prior Note.

     The unpaid principal balance of Borrower's Liabilities due 
hereunder shall bear interest from the date of disbursement until 
paid, computed at a daily rate equal to the daily rate equivalent 
of 1.00% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year and 
actual days elapsed) below the rate of interest announced or 
published publicly from time to time by Bank as its prime or base 
rate of interest (the "Base Rate"); provided, however, that in the 
event that any of Borrower's Liabilities are not paid when due, 
the unpaid amount of Borrower's Liabilities shall bear interest 
after the due date until paid at a rate equal to the stun of the 
rate that would otherwise be in effect plus 3%.

     The rate of interest to be charged by Bank to Borrower shall 
fluctuate hereafter from time to time concurrently with, and in an 
amount equal to, each increase or decrease in the Base Rate, 
whichever is applicable.

     Accrued interest shall be payable by Borrower to Bank on the 
same day of each month, and at maturity, commencing with the last 
day of May, 1998 or as billed by Bank to Borrower, at Bank's 
principal place of business, or at such other place as Bank may 
designate from time to time hereafter. After maturity, accrued 
interest on all of Borrower's Liabilities shall be payable on 
demand.

     Borrower warrants and represents to Bank that Borrower shall 
use the proceeds represented by this Note solely for proper 
business purposes and consistently with all applicable laws and 
statutes.

     Any deposits or other sums at any time credited by or payable 
or due from Bank to Borrower, or any monies, cash, cash 
equivalents, securities, instruments, documents or other assets of 
Borrower in the possession or control of Bank or its bailee for 
any purpose, may be reduced to cash and applied by Bank to or 
setoff by Bank against Borrower's Liabilities.

     The occurrence of any one of the following events shall 
constitute a default by the Borrower ("Event of Default") under 
this Note: (a) if Borrower fails to pay any of Borrower's 
Liabilities when due and payable or declared due and payable 
(whether by scheduled maturity, required payment, acceleration, 
demand or otherwise); (b) if Borrower or any guarantor of any of 
Borrower's Liabilities fails or neglects to perform, keep or 
observe any term, provision, condition, covenant, warranty or 
representation contained in this Note; (c) occurrence of a default 
or an event of default under any agreement, instrument or document 
heretofore, now or at any time hereafter delivered by or on behalf 
of Borrower to Bank; (d) occurrence of a default or an event of 
default under any agreement, instrument or document heretofore, 
now or at any time hereafter delivered to Bank by any guarantor of 
Borrower's Liabilities or by any person or entity which has 
granted to Bank a security interest or lien in and to some or all 
such person's or entity's real or personal property to secure the 
payment of Borrower's Liabilities; (e) if any of Borrower's assets 
are attached, seized, subjected to a writ, or are levied upon or 
become subject to any lien or come within the possession of any 
receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee for the benefit of 
creditors; (f) if a notice of lien, levy or assessment is filed of 
record or given to Borrower with respect to all or any of 
Borrower's assets by any federal, state or local department or 
agency; (g) if Borrower or any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities 
becomes insolvent or generally fails to pay or admits in writing 
its inability to pay debts as they become due, if a petition under 
Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar law or 
regulation is filed by or against Borrower or any such guarantor, 
if Borrower or any such guarantor

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shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, if any case 
or proceeding is filed by or against Borrower or any such 
guarantor for its dissolution or liquidation, or if Borrower or 
any such guarantor is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented 
by court order from conducting all or any material part of its 
business affairs; (h) the death or incompetency of Borrower or any 
guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities, or the appointment of a 
conservator for all or any portion of Borrower's assets; (i) the 
revocation, termination or cancellation of any guaranty of 
Borrower's Liabilities without written consent of Bank; (j) if a 
contribution failure occurs with respect to any pension plan 
maintained by Borrower or any corporation, trade or business that 
is, along with Borrower, a member of a controlled group of 
corporations or a controlled group of trades or businesses (as 
described in Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 or Section 4001 of the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974, as amended, "ERISA") sufficient to give rise to a 
lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA; (k) if Borrower or any 
guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities is in default in the payment 
of any obligations, indebtedness or other liabilities to any third 
party and such default is declared and is not cured within the 
time, if any, specified therefor in any agreement governing the 
same; (l) if any material statement, report or certificate made or 
delivered by Borrower, any of Borrower's partners, officers, 
employees or agents or any guarantor of Borrower's Liabilities is 
not true and correct; or (m) if Bank is reasonably insecure.

     Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, at Bank's option, 
without notice by Bank to or demand by Bank of Borrower, all of 
Borrower's Liabilities shall be immediately due and payable.

     All of Bank's rights and remedies under this Note are 
cumulative and non-exclusive. The acceptance by Bank of any 
partial payment made hereunder after the time when any of 
Borrower's Liabilities become due and payable will not establish a 
custom or waive any rights of Bank to enforce prompt payment 
hereof. Bank's failure to require strict performance by Borrower 
of any provision of this Note shall not waive, affect or diminish 
any right of Bank thereafter to demand strict compliance and 
performance therewith. Any waiver of an Event of Default hereunder 
shall not suspend, waive or affect any other Event of Default 
hereunder. Borrower and every endorser waive presentment, demand 
and protest and notice of presentment, protest, default, non-
payment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or 
renewal of this Note, and hereby ratify and confirm whatever Bank 
may do in this regard. Borrower further waives any and all notice 
or demand to which Borrower might be entitled with respect to this 
Note by virtue of any applicable statute or law (to the extent 
permitted by law).

     Borrower agrees to pay, immediately upon demand by Bank, any 
and all costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' 
fees, costs and expenses) incurred by Bank (i) in enforcing any of 
Bank's rights hereunder, and (ii) in representing Bank in any 
litigation, contest, suit or dispute, or to commence, defend or 
intervene or to take any action with respect to any litigation, 
contest, suit or dispute (whether instituted by Bank, Borrower or 
any other person) in any way relating to this Note or Borrower's 
Liabilities, and to the extent not paid the same shall become part 
of Borrower's Liabilities.

     This Note shall be deemed to have been submitted by Borrower 
to Bank and to have been made at Bank's principal place of 
business. This Note shall be governed and controlled by the 
internal laws of the State of Illinois and not the law of 
conflicts.

     Advances under this Note may be made by Bank upon oral or 
written request of any person authorized to make such requests on 
behalf of Borrower ("Authorized Person"). Borrower agrees that 
Bank may act on requests which Bank in good faith believes to be 
made by an Authorized Person, regardless of whether such requests 
are in fact made by an Authorized Person. Any such advance shall 
be conclusively presumed to have been made by Bank to or for the 
benefit of Borrower. Borrower does hereby irrevocably confirm, 
ratify and approve all such advances by Bank and agrees to 
indemnify Bank against any and all losses and expenses (including 
reasonable attorneys' fees) and shall hold Bank harmless with 
respect thereto.

     TO INDUCE BANK TO ACCEPT THIS NOTE, BORROWER IRREVOCABLY 
AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO BANK'S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION, ALL 
ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, MANNER OR RESPECT, ARISING OUT 
OF OR FROM OR RELATED TO THIS NOTE SHALL BE LITIGATED IN COURTS 
HAVING SITUS WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY 
LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN SAID CITY AND STATE. 
BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER OR CHANGE 
THE VENUE OF ANY LITIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST BORROWER BY BANK IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PARAGRAPH.

     BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY 
ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR PROCEEDING (I) TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND 
ANY RIGHTS UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTE OR ANY AMENDMENT, 
INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE 
FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR (II) ARISING FROM 
ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATED TO THIS 
NOTE OR ANY SUCH AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR 

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AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR 
PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

Capital Square, Suite 300        BRENTON BANKS, INC.
P.O. Box 961                     an Iowa corporation
Des Moines, Iowa 50304

42-06558989                      By: /s/ Steven T. Schuler
FEIN                                 Steven T. Schuler, 
                                     CFO/Treasurer/Secretary
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