UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 APRIL 18, 2003

                Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)


                            AMES NATIONAL CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


            IOWA                            0-32637               42-1039071
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                               Identification No.)


                                405 FIFTH STREET
                                AMES, IOWA 50010
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (515) 232-6251

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year,
                         if Changed Since Last Report)



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Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         The following exhibit is filed as part of this Report:

         Exhibit No.                                 Description
         -----------                      ---------------------------------
            99.1                          News Release dated April 18, 2003


Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure

On April 18, 2003, Ames National  Corporation  issued a News Release  announcing
financial  results for the three  months  ended  March 31,  2003 and  forecasted
earnings  for the year ended  December  31,  2003.  A copy of the New Release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  Report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                            AMES NATIONAL CORPORATION

Date:  April 18, 2003                        By:   /s/ Daniel L. Krieger
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   Daniel L. Krieger, President
                                                   (Principal Executive Officer)



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.                                               Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   99.1                                        News Release dated April 18, 2003




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