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, 2005

                                       OR

[ ]  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 29, 2006                       By: /s/ Thomas E. Stanberry
Dated                                   ----------------------------------------
                                        Thomas E. Stanberry
                                        Chairman, President and
                                        Chief Executive Officer


                                        1



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed herewith:



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