Exhibit 10.10


                         VAN HOUTEN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Agreement is made effective as of April 13, 1999,  among Bank West
Financial  Corporation,  a Michigan corporation ("BWFC"),  Bank West, a Michigan
savings bank,  both with offices at 2185 Three Mile Road,  NW, Grand Rapids,  MI
49544-1451  (collectively  referred to as "BW") and Ronald A. Van Houten,  whose
address is 1841 Lonsdale NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 ("Van Houten").

                               Factual Background

         Van Houten has been  employed in the banking  industry for more than 45
years,  during which time he has  developed  considerable  skills  regarding the
marketing  of bank  products  and the  management  of banking  institutions.  BW
desires to employ Van Houten in the capacity of interim Chief Executive  Officer
and to receive the benefits of his knowledge and  expertise.  Van Houten desires
to serve BW in that capacity. Because of the nature of BW's business, Van Houten
may acquire valuable confidential  information  concerning BW, BW=s products and
programs, or BW's customers.

                              Terms and Conditions

         1. Term. BW retains Van Houten for an indefinite term commencing  April
13,  1999,  (the  "Effective   Date").   This  Agreement  shall  continue  until
terminated.  Either  party may  terminate  this  Agreement  for any reason or no
reason upon providing 30 days written notice to the other.

         2.  Duties.  Van Houten  shall be employed as interim  Chief  Executive
Officer of BW. His duties shall be  designated  by the Boards of Directors of BW
from time to time. Van Houten and BW acknowledge  that Van Houten is expected to
be a full-time  employee but recognize this may not always require his full-time
presence at the BW offices.

         3. Compensation.  As compensation for the services which Van Houten may
render to BW, BW shall pay Van Houten a salary,  initially at the annual rate of
$9,600 per year (the "Compensation"). The Compensation shall be payable in equal
biweekly installments of $369.23 commencing April 16, 1999, and continuing every
other  Friday  after that until the end of the Term.  The $9,600 is the  current
limit  which  Van  Houten  can earn and  still  draw  his full  Social  Security
retirement  benefits.  Each  time  that  limit  is  raised  by  Social  Security
regulations while this Agreement remains in effect, the annual salary rate shall
be increased to the amount of the new limit, effective with the date of increase
in the limit.  In no event shall the salary amount  exceed that limit.  BW shall
withhold  from the  payments  to Van  Houten  under this  Agreement  any and all
applicable withholding, payroll, and other taxes and similar charges as required
by  law,  as  well  as  appropriate  employee  deductions  or  contributions  to
continuing employee benefit plans.

         4. Travel & Motor Vehicle Allowance. BW shall provide Van Houten with a
monthly motor vehicle  allowance of $400 (the "Motor  Vehicle  Allowance").  The
Motor Vehicle Allowance shall be applied toward the lease, purchase, maintenance
and operating  expenses  (including  insurance,  road service,  etc.) of a motor
vehicle of sufficient size,  appearance and quality  consistent with that of Van
Houten's  professional  position  with BW. It is expected that the Motor Vehicle
Allowance will not be sufficient to completely  reimburse Van Houten for all his
motor vehicle expenses.  Any motor vehicle expenses incurred by Van Houten which
are not  covered  by the Motor  Vehicle  Allowance  shall be paid by Van  Houten
without reimbursement by BW.
<PAGE>
         5.  Entertainment  and Other Travel Expenses.  In addition to the Motor
Vehicle Allowance,  BW shall also reimburse Van Houten for reasonable  customary
expenditures  incurred  for  travel  and  entertainment  on behalf of BW.  These
expenses shall be subject to approval of the Chairman of BW.

         6. Health Insurance;  Retirement Benefits.  BW shall attempt to include
Van Houten in all benefits of life insurance and retirement plans provided by BW
for its other  full-time  employees.  BW shall have the right to change carriers
and coverage without incurring an obligation to Van Houten. With the


<PAGE>
exception of dental coverage, Van Houten waives the right to participate in BW=s
medical  plan.  BW shall attempt to include Van Houten in BW=s dental plan under
the same terms as those offered to other full-time employees.

         7. Vacation.  Van Houten shall be entitled to paid annual  vacations in
accordance  with the policies as  established  from time to time by the Board of
Directors of BW but in any event not less than three weeks per year.

         8. Incentive Stock Option.

                  a. Grant and Vesting of Option.  On the Effective  Date,  BWFC
granted to Van Houten an incentive stock option for 33,334 shares of BWFC common
stock (the "Option").  The Option has been granted pursuant to the BWFC 1995 Key
Employee Stock  Compensation  Program,  and all addendums to it (the "Program").
The Option  exercise  price is $8.656 per share.  The Program  provides that the
stock vests at a rate of 20% per year (the "Plan Vesting Rate"). For purposes of
this Agreement,  a vesting calculation shall also be computed assuming the stock
shall  vest  monthly  based  upon a rate of 33.33%  per year  (the  "Termination
Vesting Rate") (The monthly vesting calculation shall be made on the 14th day of
each month,  commencing  with the 14th day of May,  1999,  and shall vest at the
rate of 2.78% per month).

                  b. Payment upon  Termination  - Before April 14, 2004.  In the
event Van Houten's  employment is  terminated  prior to April 14, 2004 (which is
the date on which all of the 33,334  shares  would be vested at the Plan Vesting
Rate of 20% per  year),  BW shall pay Van Houten an amount to be  determined  as
follows:

                           1. The unrealized gain on the number of shares vested
at the Termination  Vesting Rate in excess of the number of shares vested at the
Plan Vesting Rate. Specifically, the payment shall be calculated as follows:

                   o   No. of shares vested per the Termination Vesting Rate,
                   o   Less no. of shares vested per the Plan Vesting Rate,
                   o   Mutiplied by the difference between:
                       o  The  Fair  Market  Value  per  share,  as
                       defined  in  paragraph  9  below,  and
                       o The $8.656 per share Option exercise price.

The calculations are to be made as of the effective date of the termination, and
the payment  shall be made to Van Houten  within  thirty days of that  effective
date.  Also,  Van Houten  would  retain his right to exercise the Option for all
shares which were vested per the Plan Vesting Rate.

                           2.  For  example,  if Van  Houten's  employment  were
terminated  on April 14, 2002,  all 33,334  Option shares would be vested at the
Termination Vesting Rate, and 20,000 of the Option shares would be vested at the
Plan Vesting Rate. Assume a Fair Market Value of $16 per share. The Option price
is $8.656 per  share.  In this  illustration,  BW would be  required  to pay Van
Houten:
<PAGE>

                   No. of shares vested per Termination Vesting Rate      33,334
                   Less no. of shares vested per the Plan Vesting Rate    20,000
                                                                        --------
                     Difference                                           13,334
                   Fair Market Value per share                           $16.000
                   Option exercise price per share                         8.656
                                                                        --------
                     Unrealized gain per share                          $  7.344
                   Payment amount: 13,334 shares X $7.344 per share = $97,925





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<PAGE>
Van  Houten  would  retain his vested  right to  exercise  the Option for 20,000
shares, which would have an unrealized gain of $146,880. Van Houten's total gain
from the Option would be $97,925 + $146,880 = $244,805.

                  c. Payment upon  Termination  - On or After April 14, 2004. In
the event Van Houten's  employment is terminated on or after April 14, 2004, Van
Houten  shall be solely  entitled  to his right to  exercise  the option for the
33,334 shares which would be vested at that time.

                  d. Payment upon  Termination due to Change in Control.  In the
event a Change in Control of BW, as defined in section  10,  shall occur and Van
Houten=s  employment is terminated as a result of the Change in Control or after
that event,  the Option shares shall be deemed to be 100% vested for purposes of
the Termination Vesting Rate.

         9. Fair Market Value  Defined.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Fair
Market  Value"  shall be the mean of the high and low sales prices of the shares
of  common  stock  of BWFC on the  date in  question  (or,  if such day is not a
trading day in the U.S.  markets,  on the nearest  preceding  trading  day),  as
reported with respect to the principal  market (or the composite of the markets,
if more than one) or  national  quotation  system in which such  shares are then
traded, or if no such prices are reported, the mean between the closing high bid
and low ask  prices  of a  share  of  common  stock  of BWFC on that  day on the
principal  market  or  national  quotation  system  then in  use,  or if no such
quotations  are  available,  the price  furnished by a  professional  securities
dealer  making a market in such  shares  selected by the Board of  Directors  of
BWFC,  or if no such prices are  available,  the book value of a share of common
stock of BWFC as determined under generally accepted accounting principles as of
the latest practical date.

         10.  Change in Control  Defined.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  a
"Change in  Control" of BW shall mean a change in control of a nature that would
be  required  to be  reported  in  response  to  Item  6(e) of  Schedule  14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
("Exchange  Act"), or any successor to it, whether or not BW is registered under
the Exchange Act; provided that,  without  limitation,  such a change in control
shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person"  (as such term is used in
Sections  13(d) and 14(d) of the  Exchange  Act) is or becomes  the  "beneficial
owner"  (as  defined  in  Rule  13d-3  under  the  Exchange  Act),  directly  or
indirectly,  of securities of BW representing 25% or more of the combined voting
power of BW's then  outstanding  securities;  or (ii)  during  any period of two
consecutive  years,  individuals who at the beginning of such period  constitute
the Board of Directors of the BW cease for any reason to  constitute  at least a
majority unless the election, or the nomination for election by stockholders, of
each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors
then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period.

         11. Acknowledgment of Confidential Information. Van Houten acknowledges
that during his employment  with BW, he may acquire or be given access to or may
develop or assist in developing confidential information regarding the products,
property,  business and affairs of BW,  including  information  concerning  BW's
customers.  This confidential information may consist of concepts,  ideas, trade
secrets,  marketing and sales  processes or  techniques,  pricing  arrangements,
operating  procedures,  technical data, customer names, customer contact persons
and telephone  numbers,  loan originator  names,  broker names,  investor names,
quotations  or other  confidential  information  not  generally  known or easily
ascertainable by the general public  concerning BW's business.  This information
is referred to in this Agreement simply as "Confidential Information".
<PAGE>
         12.  Restriction  on  Confidential  Information.  Van Houten shall not,
during his employment with BW, use any Confidential  Information  outside of the
scope of his employment by BW. He shall not communicate or disclose orally or in
writing any of the Confidential Information to any person or entity, directly or
indirectly,  under any circumstances  outside the scope of his employment by BW.
Upon termination



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<PAGE>
of his employment  with BW, he shall promptly  return to BW all written or other
tangible evidence of any Confidential Information and any memoranda with respect
to that evidence which is in his possession or under his control.

         13.  Non-Compete.  Van Houten shall not, during his employment with BW,
directly or indirectly,  for himself or for any other person, firm, corporation,
partnership,  limited  liability  company or  association,  either as a partner,
principal,  agent,  employee,  member,  officer,  director,  material beneficial
owner, or in any other capacity,  conduct or engage in, or become interested in,
either wholly or in part,  any other  financial  institution  or affiliate of it
without the consent of BW. For purposes of this  paragraph,  Van Houten shall be
deemed a material  beneficial owner of an enterprise if Van Houten is or becomes
the  "beneficial  owner"  (as  defined in Rule 13d-3  under the  Exchange  Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the company representing 10% or more of
the combined voting power of the company=s then outstanding securities.

         14.  Indemnification.  BW shall  indemnify and hold harmless Van Houten
from and against any and all liability and loss relating to Van Houten=s actions
during the Term of this  Agreement,  except for any liability or loss  resulting
from the gross  negligence of Van Houten and except as BW's ability to indemnify
may  otherwise be limited by its articles of  incorporation  or bylaws or by the
Michigan  Business  Corporation  Act, the Michigan  Banking Code or the Michigan
Savings Bank Act.

         15. Notices. All demands,  notices and communications  required by this
Agreement shall, unless otherwise  specified by the terms of this Agreement,  be
in writing  and shall be deemed to be given (i) upon  personal  delivery  to the
person to whom  addressed  (by  messenger  or  delivery  service),  (ii) the day
following delivery to a nationally  recognized overnight courier service,  (iii)
three days following  deposit in the U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid,  or
(iv) upon transmission of any notice by telecopy (fax).

                  a. For BW,  the notice  shall be  addressed  to the  following
(which address may be changed by written notice):

                                    Bank West
                                    Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                                    2185 Three Mile Road, NW
                                    Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1451

         With a copy to:            Jack A. Siebers
                                    Siebers Mohney PLC
                                    125 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 340
                                    Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2830
<PAGE>
                  b.  For Van  Houten,  the  notice  shall be  addressed  to the
following (which address may be changed by written notice):

                                    Ronald A. Van Houten
                                    1841 Lonsdale NE
                                    Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

         16. Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement states the entire  understanding
between the parties  concerning  the subject  matter and supersedes and replaces
all prior  agreements  written or verbal  between  the  parties  concerning  the
subject matter of the Agreement.

         17. Attorneys' Fees And Costs. If any party commences an action against
the other party as a





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<PAGE>
result of a breach or alleged breach of this  Agreement,  the  prevailing  party
shall be entitled to recover  from the losing party its actual  attorneys'  fees
and costs of suit.

18. Assignment. In entering into this Agreement, BW is relying upon the business
reputation,  experience  and  integrity of Van Houten.  The Agreement may not be
assigned by Van Houten without BW's prior written consent,  which consent may be
withheld arbitrarily and for any reason or no reason.

         19. Good  Faith.  Each party  shall  exercise  the utmost good faith in
performing the terms of this Agreement.

         20.  Remedies.  The  parties  agree  that if there is a breach  of this
Agreement,  the remedies at law will be inadequate and the  non-breaching  party
shall  be  entitled  to seek  redress  by  court  proceedings  in the form of an
injunction  restraining  the  breaching  party  and/or  providing  for  specific
performance without any bond or other security being required. The non-breaching
party  shall  also  be  entitled  to such  damages  as that  party  may  show by
appropriate evidence. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as preventing
the non-  breaching  party from  pursuing,  or seeking  any damages at law or in
equity which it may have, and BW may, in any event,  be entitled upon any breach
to terminate  any payments  remaining to be paid  pursuant to the  provisions of
this Agreement.

         21. Regulatory Prohibition. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement  to the  contrary,  any payments  made to Van Houten  pursuant to this
Agreement,  or otherwise,  are subject to and conditioned  upon their compliance
with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.  ss.1828(k))
and the regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  including 12 C.F.R. Part 359, and
any successor provisions to such statute or regulations.

         22. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of  Michigan.  It may not be  amended  except in  writing,
signed by all  parties.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the  parties and their  respective  successors,  assigns,  executors,
administrators   and  heirs,   including  any  party  that  acquires   stock  or
substantially all of the stock or assets of BWFC or BW.

                                               Bank West Financial Corporation,
                                               a Michigan corporation

Dated: May 24, 1999                            By: /s/ George A. Jackoboice
                                                   ------------------------
                                                   George A. Jackoboice
                                                          Its: Chairman

                                               Bank West,
                                               a Michigan savings bank

Dated: May 24,1999                             By: /s/ George A. Jackoboice
                                                   ------------------------
                                                   George A. Jackoboice
                                                          Its: Chairman

Dated: May 24, 1999                               /s/ Ronald A. Van Houten
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  Ronald A. Van Houten

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