EXHIBIT 10.10
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                            LANDMARK BANCSHARES, INC.

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
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         This  Agreement  constitutes  the award of STOCK OPTIONS for a total of
2,053 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of Landmark  Bancshares,
Inc. (the  "Corporation"),  to Richard A. Ball (the "Participant") on such terms
and conditions as are set forth hereinafter.

     1. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply.

     "Award" means the grant by the Board of the  Corporation  of a Stock Option
as detailed hereinafter.

     "Bank"  shall  mean  Landmark  Federal  Savings  Bank,  or any  predecessor
corporation thereto.

     "Board"  shall  mean the  Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation,  or any
successor or parent corporation thereto.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     "Committee" shall mean the Board or the Stock Option Committee which may be
appointed by the Board from time to time.

     "Common Stock" shall mean common stock,  par value $0.10 per share,  of the
Corporation, or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

     "Corporation" shall mean Landmark Bancshares,  Inc., the parent corporation
for the Bank, or any predecessor or Parent thereof.

     "Director"  shall  mean a member  of the Board of the  Corporation,  or any
successor or parent corporation thereto.

     "Director  Emeritus"  shall mean a person  serving as a director  emeritus,
advisory  director,  consulting  director  or other  similar  position as may be
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Bank or the Corporation  from time to
time.

     "Disability"  means any  physical or mental  impairment  which  renders the
Participant  incapable of continuing in the employment or service of the Bank or
the Parent in his then current capacity as determined by the Committee.

     "Date of Grant" shall mean January 15, 1998.


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     "Employee"  shall mean a person  employed by the Corporation or any present
or future Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation.

     "Fair Market Value" shall mean: (i) if the Common Stock is traded otherwise
than on a national  securities  exchange,  then the Fair Market  Value per Share
shall be equal to the mean  between  the last bid and ask  price of such  Common
Stock on such date or, if there is no bid and ask  price on said  date,  then on
the immediately prior business day on which there was a bid and ask price. If no
such  bid and ask  price is  available,  then the  Fair  Market  Value  shall be
determined by the Committee in good faith; or (ii) if the Common Stock is listed
on a national securities exchange, then the Fair Market Value per Share shall be
not less than the average of the highest and lowest selling price of such Common
Stock on such  exchange  on such  date,  or if there were no sales on said date,
then the Fair Market  Value shall be not less than the mean between the last bid
and ask price on such date.

     "Option" or "Stock Option" shall mean an option to purchase  Shares awarded
herein which option is not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

     "Optioned  Stock"  shall mean  Common  Stock  subject to an Option  granted
pursuant to the Agreement.

     "Parent"  shall mean any  present or future  corporation  which  would be a
"parent corporation" as defined in Subsections 424(e) and (g) of the Code.

     "Participant" means Richard A. Ball.

     "Share" shall mean one share of Common Stock.

     "Subsidiary"  shall mean any present or future corporation which would be a
"subsidiary corporation" as defined in Subsections 424(f) and (g) of the Code.

     2.  Option  Price.  The Option  exercise  price is $23.625  for each Share,
representing  100% of the Fair Market  Value of the Common  Stock on the Date of
Grant as determined by the Board of the Corporation.

     3. Exerciseability of Options.

          (a) Schedule of Exercise. This Option shall be immediately exercisable
     as of the Date of Grant for a period of not more that ten years thereafter,
     as noted herein.

          (b) Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by a written
     notice which shall:

                             (i) State the election to exercise the Option,  the
         number of  Shares  with  respect  to which it is being  exercised,  the
         person in whose name the stock  certificate  or  certificates  for such
         Shares of Common  Stock is to be  registered,  his  address  and Social
         Security  Number (or if more than one, the names,  addresses and Social
         Security Numbers of such persons);


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                            (ii) Contain such  representations and agreements as
         to the  Participant's  investment intent with respect to such shares of
         Common Stock as may be satisfactory to the Corporation's counsel;

                           (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to
         exercise the Option and, if the Option is being exercised by any person
         or  persons  other  than the  Participant,  be  accompanied  by  proof,
         satisfactory  to  counsel  for the  Corporation,  of the  right of such
         person or persons to exercise the Option; and

                            (iv) Be in  writing  and  delivered  in person or by
         certified mail to the Treasurer of the Corporation.

         Payment of the  purchase  price of any Shares with respect to which the
Option is being  exercised  shall be by certified or bank  cashier's or teller's
check.  The certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option shall be exercised  shall be  registered in the name of the person or
persons exercising the Option.

                  (c) Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised
if the issuance of the Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the  Participant's  exercise of this Option,  the Corporation may
require  the  person  exercising  this  Option  to make any  representation  and
warranty  to the  Corporation  as  may be  required  by  any  applicable  law or
regulation.

     4. Non-transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any
manner  otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may be
exercised during the lifetime of the Participant  only by the  Participant.  The
terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs,
successors and assigns of the Participant.

     5. Six Month Holding Period.  A total of six months must elapse between the
Date of Grant of an  Option  and the date of the sale of Common  Stock  received
through the exercise of an Option.

     6. Recapitalization,  Merger, Consolidation,  Change in Control and Similar
Transactions.

                  (a)  Adjustment.   Subject  to  any  required  action  by  the
stockholders  of the  Corporation,  within the sole discretion of the Committee,
the aggregate  number of Shares of Common Stock for which Options may be granted
hereunder,  the number of Shares of Common  Stock  covered  by each  outstanding
Option,  and the  exercise  price per Share of Common Stock of each such Option,
shall all be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number
of issued and outstanding Shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or
consolidation   of  Shares   (whether   by  reason  of  merger,   consolidation,
recapitalization,   reclassification,   split-up,   combination  of  shares,  or
otherwise) or the payment of a stock  dividend (but only on the Common Stock) or
any other  increase or  decrease  in the number of such  Shares of Common  Stock
effected  without the receipt of  consideration  by the Corporation  (other than
Shares held by dissenting stockholders).

                  (b)  Change  in  Control.  In the  event of such a  change  in
control or imminent change in control,  the Participant shall, at the discretion
of the  Committee,  be entitled to receive  cash in an amount  equal to the fair
market value of the Common Stock subject to any Stock Option over the Option

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Price of such  Shares,  in exchange  for the  surrender  of such  Options by the
Participant on that date in the event of a change in control or imminent  change
in  control  of the  Corporation.  For  purposes  of the  Agreement,  "change in
control" shall mean: (i) the execution of an agreement for the sale of all, or a
material  portion,  of the assets of the  Corporation;  (ii) the execution of an
agreement for a merger or  recapitalization  of the Corporation or any merger or
recapitalization  whereby the Corporation is not the surviving  entity;  (iii) a
change of control of the Corporation,  as otherwise defined or determined by the
Office of  Thrift  Supervision  or  regulations  promulgated  by it; or (iv) the
acquisition,  directly or indirectly,  of the beneficial  ownership  (within the
meaning of that term as it is used in Section 13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation by
any  person,  trust,  entity or group.  This  limitation  shall not apply to the
purchase  of shares by  underwriters  in  connection  with a public  offering of
Corporation  stock,  or the  purchase  of  shares  of up to 25% of any  class of
securities of the  Corporation  by a  tax-qualified  employee stock benefit plan
which is  exempt  from the  approval  requirements,  set  forth  under 12 C.F.R.
ss.574.3(c)(1)(vi)  as now in effect or as may  hereafter  be amended.  The term
"person"  refers  to  an  individual  or  a  corporation,   partnership,  trust,
association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated
organization  or any other form of entity not  specifically  listed herein.  For
purposes of the Agreement, "imminent change in control" shall refer to any offer
or announcement, oral or written, by any person or persons acting as a group, to
acquire control of the Corporation.  The decision of the Committee as to whether
a change  in  control  or  imminent  change in  control  has  occurred  shall be
conclusive and binding.

                  (c) Extraordinary  Corporate  Action.  Subject to any required
action by the  stockholders  of the  Corporation,  in the event of any change in
control, recapitalization,  merger, consolidation, exchange of Shares, spin-off,
reorganization,   tender  offer,   partial  or  complete  liquidation  or  other
extraordinary  corporate action or event, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall have the power, prior or subsequent to such action or event to:

     (i)  appropriately  adjust the number of Shares of Common Stock  subject to
each Option, the exercise price per Share of Common Stock, and the consideration
to be given or received by the Corporation  upon the exercise of any outstanding
Option;

     (ii)  cancel  any  or  all  previously   granted  Options,   provided  that
appropriate  consideration  is paid to the Participant in connection  therewith;
and/or

     (iii) make such other  adjustments in connection  with the Agreement as the
Committee, in its sole discretion,  deems necessary,  desirable,  appropriate or
advisable.

         7.       Related Matters. 

                  (a)  Payment.  Full  payment  for each  Share of Common  Stock
purchased  upon the exercise of any Stock Option granted herein shall be made at
the time of  exercise  of each such  Stock  Option and shall be paid in cash (in
United States Dollars),  Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock.
Common Stock utilized in full or partial  payment of the exercise price shall be
valued at its fair market value at the date of exercise.  The Corporation  shall
accept full or partial  payment in Common Stock only to the extent  permitted by
applicable  law. No Shares of Common  Stock shall be issued  until full  payment
therefor has been received by the Corporation, and no Participant shall have any
of the rights of a stockholder of the  Corporation  until Shares of Common Stock
are issued to him.


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                  (b)  Cashless  Exercise.  A  Participant  who has held a Stock
Option  for at least six months may  engage in the  "cashless  exercise"  of the
Option.  In a cashless  exercise,  a Participant  gives the Corporation  written
notice of the  exercise  of the Option  together  with an order to a  registered
broker-dealer  or  equivalent  third party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned
Stock and to deliver enough of the proceeds to the Corporation to pay the Option
price and any applicable withholding taxes. If the Participant does not sell the
Optioned Stock through a registered  broker-dealer or equivalent third party, he
can give the  Corporation  written  notice of the exercise of the Option and the
third party  purchaser of the Optioned Stock shall pay the Option price plus any
applicable withholding taxes to the Corporation.

                  (c) Transferability.  Any Stock Option granted pursuant to the
Agreement  shall  be  exercised  during  a  Participant's  lifetime  only by the
Participant  to whom it was granted and shall not be assignable or  transferable
otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

                  (d) Effect of Termination  of Employment or Service.  Upon the
termination of an  Participant's  employment or service with the  Corporation or
the Bank as a Director,  Director  Emeritus or  Employee,  the  Participant  may
continue  to exercise  such  Options for a period of six months from the date of
termination of employment or service by the Participant,  but not later than the
date on which the Option  would  otherwise  expire.  Such  Options of a deceased
Participant may be exercised within two years from the date of his or her death,
but not later than the date on which the Option would otherwise expire.

                  (e)  Change  in  Applicable  Law.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision contained in the Agreement, in the event of a change in any federal or
state law,  rule or  regulation  which would make the exercise of all or part of
any previously  granted Stock Option  unlawful or subject the Corporation to any
penalty, the Committee may restrict any such exercise without the consent of the
Participant  or other holder  thereof in order to comply with any such law, rule
or regulation or to avoid any such penalty.

                  (f)  Conditions  Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be
issued  with  respect  to any  Option  granted  under the  Agreement  unless the
issuance and  delivery of such Shares shall comply with all relevant  provisions
of law, including,  without limitation,  the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated   thereunder,   any  applicable  state
securities law and the  requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares
may then be listed.

         The inability of the  Corporation to obtain from any regulatory body or
authority  deemed by the  Corporation's  counsel to be  necessary  to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares  hereunder  shall relieve the Corporation of any
liability in respect of the non-issuance or sale of such Shares.

         As a  condition  to the  exercise  of an Option,  the  Corporation  may
require  the  person  exercising  the  Option to make such  representations  and
warranties as may be necessary to assure the  availability  of an exemption from
the registration requirements of federal or state securities law.

                  (g) Withholding  Tax. The Corporation  shall have the right to
deduct from all amounts paid in cash with  respect to the  cashless  exercise of
Options  under the  Agreement  any taxes  required  by law to be  withheld  with
respect to such cash  payments.  Where a Participant or other person is entitled
to  receive  Shares  pursuant  to the  exercise  of an  Option  pursuant  to the
Agreement,  the  Corporation  shall have the right to require the Participant or
such  other  person to pay the  Corporation  the  amount of any taxes  which the
Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such Shares, or,

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in lieu thereof,  to retain,  or to sell without notice, a number of such Shares
sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

                  (h)  Governing  Law.  The  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed  in  accordance  with the laws of the State of  Kansas,  except to the
extent that federal law shall be deemed to apply.

                  (i)   Administration.   All  decisions,   determinations   and
interpretations  of the Committee  shall be final and  conclusive on all persons
affected thereby.

         8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon any corporate or other successor of the Bank or Parent which
shall acquire,  directly or indirectly,  by merger,  consolidation,  purchase or
otherwise,  all or  substantially  all of the  assets  or  stock  of the Bank or
Parent.

         9.  Amendments.  No amendments or additions to this Agreement  shall be
binding  upon the  parties  hereto  unless  made in  writing  and signed by both
parties, except as herein otherwise specifically provided.

         10.  Severability.  The  provisions of this  Agreement  shall be deemed
severable and the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any provision  shall not
affect the validity or enforceablitiy of the other provisions hereof.

         11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with any understanding or
modifications  thereof as agreed to in writing by the parties,  shall constitute
the entire agreement between the parties hereto.


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