UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

(Mark One)

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

 
OR

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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________________________ to                                                              

Commission File Number:   0-49677

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

West Bancorporation, Inc.
Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive officer:

West Bancorporation, Inc.
1601 22nd Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266

REQUIRED INFORMATION

The West Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  Accordingly, the audited financial statements prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 11-K are provided as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 11-K.

SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

West Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
(Registrant)

June 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Thomas E. Stanberry
Dated
  
Thomas E. Stanberry
   
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.
  
Description
23
  
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
99.1
  
Financial Statements

 
 
 

Exhibit 23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement (No. 333-120089) on Form S-8 of West Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan of our report dated June 24, 2009 relating to our audits of the statements of net assets available for benefit which appears in the Annual Report on Form 11-K of West Bancorporation, Inc. Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 
/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
  

Des Moines, Iowa
June 24, 2009