                                  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 24, 2002
                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 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure

         On April 24, 2002,  Ames National  Corporation  released its forecasted
earnings for the year ending  December 31, 2002 at $3.33 per share at its annual
meeting held in the Scheman Building in the Iowa State Center,  Ames, Iowa. This
forecast compares to the $3.38 per share earned for the year ending December 31,
2001.  Forecasted  earnings  are lower  primarily  as a result of start up costs
anticipated  with the de novo chartering of United Bank & Trust in Marshalltown,
Iowa.

         The Company's earnings forecast for 2002 is a forward-looking statement
under the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995 that is subject to
certain risks and  uncertainties  that could cause the actual earnings to differ
materially  from  forecasted  earnings.  A number of factors,  many of which are
beyond  the   Company's   control,   could  cause  actual   earnings  to  differ
significantly from those described in this forward-looking statement. Such risks
and  uncertainties  with  respect to the Company  include  those  related to the
economic  environment,  particularly  in the areas in which the  Company and the
Banks operate, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of
the U.S.  government,  changes in governmental  regulations  affecting financial
institutions,  including  regulatory fees and capital  requirements,  changes in
prevailing   interest  rates,   credit  risk   management  and   asset/liability
management,  the financial and securities  markets and the  availability  of and
costs associated with sources of liquidity.


<PAGE>


                                   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 24, 2002                               By:   /s/ Daniel L. Krieger
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Daniel L. Krieger
                                                    Title:    President

