DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationally renowned investment banking firm Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P. has named West Bancorporation, Inc., parent company of West Bank, to its 2014 Sm-All Stars list. The list is comprised of top performing small-cap banks and thrifts in the United States. West Bancorporation, Inc. is on the elite list for the third consecutive year.

"At West Bank we know we have something very special, but it does feel good to have someone who understands our industry validate our position as a leader in our industry," said Dave Nelson, CEO and President - West Bancorporation; Chairman and CEO - West Bank.

Out of 443 comparable banks across America, only 35 were named as 2014 Sm-All Stars. West Bank is the sole Iowa or Minnesota bank on the list and one of very few in the Midwest. Only one other bank in the nation has received this honor three years running.

The criteria used to determine the 2014 Sm-All Stars concentrates on growth, profitability, credit quality and capital strength. The intention of Sandler O'Neill's Sm-All Stars is to identify top performing small-cap banks before they are discovered by the rest of the world.

About West Bancorporation, Inc. (NASDAQ: WTBA)
West Bancorporation, Inc. is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. Serving Iowans since 1893, West Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Bancorporation, Inc., is a community bank that focuses on lending, deposit services, and trust services for consumers and small- to medium-sized businesses. West Bank has eight full-service offices in the Des Moines metropolitan area (central Iowa market), two full-service offices in Iowa City and one full-service office in Coralville (eastern Iowa market) and an office in Rochester, Minnesota (Rochester market).

Certain statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this press release. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "projects," "future," "may," "should," "will," "strategy," "plan," "opportunity," "will be," "will likely result," "will continue," or similar references, or references to estimates, predictions or future events. Such forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Because of the possibility that the underlying assumptions are incorrect or do not materialize as expected in the future, actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect future results include: interest rate risk; competitive pressures; pricing pressures on loans and deposits; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company's loan and investment portfolios, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values or changes in the allowance for loan losses dictated by new market conditions or regulatory requirements; actions of bank and non-bank competitors; changes in local and national economic conditions; changes in regulatory requirements, limitations and costs; changes in customers' acceptance of the Company's products and services; and any other risks described in the "Risk Factors" sections of reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements to reflect current or future events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE West Bancorporation, Inc.