Registration No. 333-
                                                          Filed January 27, 1997

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Articles of Incorporation)

      Michigan                                              38-3203447
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)                                  (IRS Employer
                                                        Identification No.)


            2185 Three Mile Road, N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                        1995 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                  1995 KEY EMPLOYEE STOCK COMPENSATION PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                                Paul W. Sydloski
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                         Bank West Financial Corporation
                           2185 Three Mile Road, N.W.
                           Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1451
                                 (616) 785-3400
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

                                   copies to:

                           Gerald F. Heupel, Jr., Esq.
                      Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P.
                              734 15th Street, N.W.
                              Washington D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 347-0300

                               Pages 1 of 13 pages
                    Index to Exhibits is located on page 6.
                        










<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE 

       Title of                                       Proposed              Proposed
      Securities                                       Maximum              Maximum               Amount of
         to be                 Amount to be         Offering Price           Aggregate          Registration
      Registered               Registered(1)           Per Share          Offering Price             Fee
      ----------               -------------           ---------          --------------             ---
<S>                              <C>                   <C>                  <C>                    <C>
Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           96,900(2)             $10.59(3)            $1,026,171             $310.96

Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           65,106(2)             $10.75(4)            $  699,890             $212.09

Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           69,426(5)             $10.55(6)            $  732,444             $221.95

Common Stock, par
   value $.01 per share               5(5)             $10.75(7)            $       54             $   .02
                                -------                ------               ----------             ------- 
Total                           231,437                $10.62               $2,458,559             $745.02
                                =======                ======               ==========             =======
</TABLE>

(1)      Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be
         necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant
         to the Bank West Financial  Corporation (the "Company" or "Registrant")
         1995 Key Employee Stock  Compensation  Program ("1995 Program") and the
         1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan ("Directors'  Plan") as a result of a
         stock split,  stock dividend or similar  adjustment of the  outstanding
         common  stock,  par  value  $.01 per  share  ("Common  Stock"),  of the
         Company.

(2)      Represents  a portion of the  162,006  shares  currently  reserved  for
         issuance pursuant to the 1995 Program.

(3)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee,
         which has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1)  promulgated under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"). The Proposed
         Maximum  Offering  Price Per Share with respect to which stock  options
         have been  granted  under the 1995  Program is $10.59  per  share,  the
         weighted  average  exercise price for the options which are outstanding
         under the 1995 Program as of the date hereof.

(4)      Estimated  solely for the purposes of calculating the  registration fee
         in accordance  with Rule 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities Act.
         The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share for the 65,106 shares for
         which stock  options  have not been  granted  under the 1995 Program is
         equal  to the  average  of the  high  and  low  ($10.875  and  $10.625,
         respectively)  prices of the Common Stock of the Company on January 20,
         1997 on the Nasdaq National Market.





                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
(5)      Represents  a portion  of the  69,431  shares  currently  reserved  for
         issuance pursuant to the Directors' Plan.

(6)      Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration  fee,
         which has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1)  promulgated under
         the Securities Act. The Proposed  Maximum Offering Price Per Share with
         respect to which stock options have been granted  under the  Directors'
         Plan is $10.55 per share,  the weighted  average exercise price for the
         options which are outstanding  under the Directors' Plan as of the date
         hereof.

(7)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
         accordance with Rule 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities Act. The
         Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share for the five shares for which
         stock options have not been granted under the Directors'  Plan is equal
         to the average of the high and low ($10.875 and $10.625,  respectively)
         prices of the Common  Stock of the  Company on January  20, 1997 on the
         Nasdaq National Market.

                            ------------------------- 

     This Registration  Statement shall become effective  automatically upon the
date of filing in  accordance  with  Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act and 17
C.F.R. ss. 230.462.























                                                         










                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The  following  documents  filed or to be filed  with  the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  are  incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:

     (a) The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
     1996;

     (b) All reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since
     the end of the fiscal year covered by the  Company's  Annual Report on Form
     10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 through the date of this filing;

     (c) The description of the Common Stock of the Company  contained in Item 4
     in  the  Company's   Registration   Statement  on  Form  8-A  ("Form  8-A")
     (Commission  File No. 0- 25666) filed with the Commission on March 7, 1995;
     and

     (d) All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
     14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act  after the date  hereof  and prior to the
     filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which indicates that all securities
     offered have been sold or which  deregisters  all securities then remaining
     unsold.

     Any statement  contained in this Registration  Statement,  or in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference  herein,  shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration  Statement to the
extent that a statement  contained  herein, or in any other  subsequently  filed
document  which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein,
modifies  or  supersedes  such  statement.  Any such  statement  so  modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

     Not applicable since the Company's Common Stock is registered under Section
12 of the Exchange Act.

Item. 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not applicable.




                                                         







                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     In accordance with the Michigan Business  Corporation Act, Article 9 of the
Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provides as follows:

     A. Personal Liability of Directors. A director of the Corporation shall not
be personally  liable for monetary  damages for any action taken, or any failure
to take any action,  as a director except to the extent that by law a director's
liability for monetary damages may not be limited.

     B.  Indemnification.  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or
completed  action,  suit or proceeding,  including actions by or in the right of
the Corporation,  whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative and
whether  formal or informal,  by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at
the  request  of the  Corporation  as a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,
employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments,  penalties,  fines  and  amounts  paid  in  settlement  actually  and
reasonably  incurred  by such person in  connection  with such  action,  suit or
proceeding to the full extent permissible under Michigan law.

     C.  Advancement of Expenses.  Reasonable  expenses  incurred by an officer,
director,  employee or agent of the Corporation in defending an action,  suit or
proceeding  described  in  Section  B of  this  Article  9 may  be  paid  by the
Corporation  in  advance  of the  final  disposition  of  such  action,  suit or
proceeding  if  authorized  by  the  board  of  directors,  upon  receipt  of an
undertaking  by or on behalf of such  person  to repay  such  amount if it shall
ultimately be determined  that the person is not entitled to be  indemnified  by
the  Corporation  and a written  affirmation  by such  person of his or her good
faith  belief  that they  have met the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  under
Michigan law.

     D. Other Rights. The  indemnification  and advancement of expenses provided
by or  pursuant  to this  Article 9 shall not be deemed  exclusive  of any other
rights to which those seeking  indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled under any bylaw, insurance or other agreement,  vote of stockholders or
directors or otherwise,  both as to actions in their official capacity and as to
actions in another capacity while holding an office,  and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs,  personal  representatives and administrators
of such person.

     E. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
as  a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,  employee  or  agent  of  another
corporation,  partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any
liability  asserted  against or incurred by him or her in any such capacity,  or








                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>
arising out of his or her status as such,  whether or not the Corporation  would
have the  power  to  indemnify  him or her  against  such  liability  under  the
provisions of this Article 9.

     F.  Security  Fund;  Indemnity  Agreements.  By  action  of  the  Board  of
Directors,  the  Corporation  may  create and fund a trust fund or other fund or
form of self-insurance  arrangement of any nature, and may enter into agreements
with its officers,  directors,  employees and agents for the purpose of securing
or  insuring  in any manner its  obligation  to  indemnify  or advance  expenses
provided for in this Article 9.

     G. Modification.  The duties of the Corporation to indemnify and to advance
expenses to any person as provided in this Article 9 shall be in the nature of a
contract  between the  Corporation  and each such  person,  and no  amendment or
repeal of any  provision of this Article 9, and no amendment or  termination  of
any trust or other fund or form of self-insurance  arrangement  created pursuant
to Section F of this Article 9, shall alter to the  detriment of such person the
right of such person to the advance of expenses or indemnification  related to a
claim  based  on an act or  failure  to act  which  took  place  prior  to  such
amendment, repeal or termination.

     H. Proceedings Initiated by Indemnified Persons.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of this  Article 9, the  Corporation  shall not  indemnify a director,
officer,  employee or agent for any  liability  incurred  in an action,  suit or
proceeding  initiated  (which shall not be deemed to include  counter-claims  or
affirmative  defenses) or  participated  in as an intervenor or amicus curiae by
the person seeking indemnification unless such initiation of or participation in
the  action,  suit or  proceeding  is  authorized,  either  before  or after its
commencement, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable  since no restricted  securities will be reoffered or resold
pursuant to this Registration Statement.

Item 8. Exhibits

     The following  exhibits are filed with or  incorporated  by reference  into
this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

      No.                      Exhibit                                      
      ---                      -------                                      
  
      4                Common Stock Certificate*                            

      5                Opinion of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick            
                       L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities


                                              







                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>



      23.1             Consent of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick            
                       L.L.P. (contained in the opinion included
                       as Exhibit 5)

      23.2             Consent of Crowe, Chizek and Company                 

      24               Power of attorney for any subsequent                 
                       amendments is located in the signature pages

      99.1             1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan**                  

      99.2             1995 Key Employee Stock Compensation                 
                       Program**


*        Incorporated  by reference  from the  Company's  Form 10-K for the year
         ended June 30, 1995, filed by the Company with the SEC on September 28,
         1995.

**       Incorporated  by reference  from the  Company's  Form 10-K for the year
         ended June 30, 1996, filed by the Company with the SEC on September 23,
         1996.

Item 9. Undertakings.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         1. To file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a  post-effective  amendment to this  Registration  Statement (i) to include any
prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, (ii) to reflect
in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after the effective date of the
Registration  Statement (or the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)
which,  individually or in the aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the  Registration  Statement,  and (iii) to include any
material  information  with respect to the plan of  distribution  not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  in  such
information in the Registration Statement;  provided,  however, that clauses (i)
and  (ii)  do  not  apply  if  the  information  required  to be  included  in a
post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed
by the  Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section  15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

         2.  That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.


                                                         




                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>



         3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         4. That,  for the  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities  Act,  each  filing of the  Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to
Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act that is  incorporated  by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         5.  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the  Commission  such
indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for  indemnification
against  liabilities  (other  than the  payment by the  Registrant  of  expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.























                                                          




                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>



                                                    SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the  Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Grand Rapids, State of Michigan on January 27, 1997.


                                         BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                         By:   /s/ Paul W. Sydloski
                                               --------------------
                                                   Paul W. Sydloski
                                                   President and Chief 
                                                   Executive Officer


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
hereby  makes,  constitutes  and appoints  Paul W.  Sydloski his true and lawful
attorney,  with full power to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity  indicated  below,  and with  full  power of  substitution  any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement,  hereby ratifying and confirming such
person's  signature  as it may be  signed  by  said  attorney  to  any  and  all
amendments.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


      Name                                     Title                                 Date
      ----                                     -----                                 ----
<S>                                       <C>                                   <C>
/s/Paul W. Sydloski                       President and Chief                   January 27, 1997
-------------------                       Executive Officer
Paul W. Sydloski                          (principal executive
                                          officer)
                                         


/s/Kevin A. Twardy                        Vice President and                    January 27, 1997
------------------                        Chief Financial Officer
Kevin A. Twardy                           (principal financial and
                                          accounting officer)
                                        


/s/George A. Jackoboice                   Director                              January 27, 1997
-----------------------  
George A. Jackoboice


                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>
<CAPTION>



      Name                                     Title                                 Date
      ----                                     -----                                 ----
<S>                                       <C>                                   <C>
/s/Carl A. Rossi                          Director                              January 27, 1997
----------------  
Carl A. Rossi


/s/Jacob Haisma                           Director                              January 27, 1997
---------------   
Jacob Haisma


/s/Thomas D. DeYoung                      Director                              January 27, 1997
--------------------  
Thomas D. DeYoung


/s/Robert J. Stephan                      Director                              January 27, 1997
--------------------  
Robert J. Stephan


/s/Richard L. Bishop                      Director                              January 27, 1997
-------------------- 
Richard L. Bishop


/s/John H. Zwarensteyn                    Director                              January 27, 1997
----------------------  
John H. Zwarensteyn
</TABLE>


















                                                         



                                     - 10 -
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24298}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000934598", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "383203447", "state-of-incorporation": "MI", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-20439", "film-number": "97510896"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2185 THREE MILE RD N W", "city": "GRAND RAPIDS", "state": "MI", "zip": "49544-1451", "phone": "6164597254"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2185 THREE MILE RD N W", "city": "GRAND RAPIDS", "state": "MI", "zip": "49544-1451"}}
Registration No. 333-
                                                          Filed January 27, 1997

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Articles of Incorporation)

      Michigan                                              38-3203447
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)                                  (IRS Employer
                                                        Identification No.)

            2185 Three Mile Road, N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                        1995 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                  1995 KEY EMPLOYEE STOCK COMPENSATION PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                                Paul W. Sydloski
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                         Bank West Financial Corporation
                           2185 Three Mile Road, N.W.
                           Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1451
                                 (616) 785-3400
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

                                   copies to:

                           Gerald F. Heupel, Jr., Esq.
                      Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P.
                              734 15th Street, N.W.
                              Washington D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 347-0300

                               Pages 1 of 13 pages
                    Index to Exhibits is located on page 6.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE 

       Title of                                       Proposed              Proposed
      Securities                                       Maximum              Maximum               Amount of
         to be                 Amount to be         Offering Price           Aggregate          Registration
      Registered               Registered(1)           Per Share          Offering Price             Fee
      ----------               -------------           ---------          --------------             ---
Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           96,900(2)             $10.59(3)            $1,026,171             $310.96

Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           65,106(2)             $10.75(4)            $  699,890             $212.09

Common Stock, par
  value $.01 per share           69,426(5)             $10.55(6)            $  732,444             $221.95

Common Stock, par
   value $.01 per share               5(5)             $10.75(7)            $       54             $   .02
                                -------                ------               ----------             ------- 
Total                           231,437                $10.62               $2,458,559             $745.02
                                =======                ======               ==========             =======
(1)      Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be
         necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant
         to the Bank West Financial  Corporation (the "Company" or "Registrant")
         1995 Key Employee Stock  Compensation  Program ("1995 Program") and the
         1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan ("Directors'  Plan") as a result of a
         stock split,  stock dividend or similar  adjustment of the  outstanding
         common  stock,  par  value  $.01 per  share  ("Common  Stock"),  of the
         Company.

(2)      Represents  a portion of the  162,006  shares  currently  reserved  for
         issuance pursuant to the 1995 Program.

(3)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee,
         which has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1)  promulgated under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"). The Proposed
         Maximum  Offering  Price Per Share with respect to which stock  options
         have been  granted  under the 1995  Program is $10.59  per  share,  the
         weighted  average  exercise price for the options which are outstanding
         under the 1995 Program as of the date hereof.

(4)      Estimated  solely for the purposes of calculating the  registration fee
         in accordance  with Rule 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities Act.
         The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share for the 65,106 shares for
         which stock  options  have not been  granted  under the 1995 Program is
         equal  to the  average  of the  high  and  low  ($10.875  and  $10.625,
         respectively)  prices of the Common Stock of the Company on January 20,
         1997 on the Nasdaq National Market.

                                     - 2 -
(5)      Represents  a portion  of the  69,431  shares  currently  reserved  for
         issuance pursuant to the Directors' Plan.

(6)      Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration  fee,
         which has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1)  promulgated under
         the Securities Act. The Proposed  Maximum Offering Price Per Share with
         respect to which stock options have been granted  under the  Directors'
         Plan is $10.55 per share,  the weighted  average exercise price for the
         options which are outstanding  under the Directors' Plan as of the date
         hereof.

(7)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
         accordance with Rule 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities Act. The
         Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share for the five shares for which
         stock options have not been granted under the Directors'  Plan is equal
         to the average of the high and low ($10.875 and $10.625,  respectively)
         prices of the Common  Stock of the  Company on January  20, 1997 on the
         Nasdaq National Market.

                            ------------------------- 

     This Registration  Statement shall become effective  automatically upon the
date of filing in  accordance  with  Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act and 17
C.F.R. ss. 230.462.

                                                         

                                     - 3 -
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The  following  documents  filed or to be filed  with  the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  are  incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:

     (a) The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
     1996;

     (b) All reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since
     the end of the fiscal year covered by the  Company's  Annual Report on Form
     10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 through the date of this filing;

     (c) The description of the Common Stock of the Company  contained in Item 4
     in  the  Company's   Registration   Statement  on  Form  8-A  ("Form  8-A")
     (Commission  File No. 0- 25666) filed with the Commission on March 7, 1995;
     and

     (d) All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
     14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act  after the date  hereof  and prior to the
     filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which indicates that all securities
     offered have been sold or which  deregisters  all securities then remaining
     unsold.

     Any statement  contained in this Registration  Statement,  or in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference  herein,  shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration  Statement to the
extent that a statement  contained  herein, or in any other  subsequently  filed
document  which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein,
modifies  or  supersedes  such  statement.  Any such  statement  so  modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

     Not applicable since the Company's Common Stock is registered under Section
12 of the Exchange Act.

Item. 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not applicable.

                                                         

                                     - 4 -
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     In accordance with the Michigan Business  Corporation Act, Article 9 of the
Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provides as follows:

     A. Personal Liability of Directors. A director of the Corporation shall not
be personally  liable for monetary  damages for any action taken, or any failure
to take any action,  as a director except to the extent that by law a director's
liability for monetary damages may not be limited.

     B.  Indemnification.  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or
completed  action,  suit or proceeding,  including actions by or in the right of
the Corporation,  whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative and
whether  formal or informal,  by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at
the  request  of the  Corporation  as a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,
employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments,  penalties,  fines  and  amounts  paid  in  settlement  actually  and
reasonably  incurred  by such person in  connection  with such  action,  suit or
proceeding to the full extent permissible under Michigan law.

     C.  Advancement of Expenses.  Reasonable  expenses  incurred by an officer,
director,  employee or agent of the Corporation in defending an action,  suit or
proceeding  described  in  Section  B of  this  Article  9 may  be  paid  by the
Corporation  in  advance  of the  final  disposition  of  such  action,  suit or
proceeding  if  authorized  by  the  board  of  directors,  upon  receipt  of an
undertaking  by or on behalf of such  person  to repay  such  amount if it shall
ultimately be determined  that the person is not entitled to be  indemnified  by
the  Corporation  and a written  affirmation  by such  person of his or her good
faith  belief  that they  have met the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  under
Michigan law.

     D. Other Rights. The  indemnification  and advancement of expenses provided
by or  pursuant  to this  Article 9 shall not be deemed  exclusive  of any other
rights to which those seeking  indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled under any bylaw, insurance or other agreement,  vote of stockholders or
directors or otherwise,  both as to actions in their official capacity and as to
actions in another capacity while holding an office,  and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs,  personal  representatives and administrators
of such person.

     E. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
as  a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,  employee  or  agent  of  another
corporation,  partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any
liability  asserted  against or incurred by him or her in any such capacity,  or

                                     - 5 -
arising out of his or her status as such,  whether or not the Corporation  would
have the  power  to  indemnify  him or her  against  such  liability  under  the
provisions of this Article 9.

     F.  Security  Fund;  Indemnity  Agreements.  By  action  of  the  Board  of
Directors,  the  Corporation  may  create and fund a trust fund or other fund or
form of self-insurance  arrangement of any nature, and may enter into agreements
with its officers,  directors,  employees and agents for the purpose of securing
or  insuring  in any manner its  obligation  to  indemnify  or advance  expenses
provided for in this Article 9.

     G. Modification.  The duties of the Corporation to indemnify and to advance
expenses to any person as provided in this Article 9 shall be in the nature of a
contract  between the  Corporation  and each such  person,  and no  amendment or
repeal of any  provision of this Article 9, and no amendment or  termination  of
any trust or other fund or form of self-insurance  arrangement  created pursuant
to Section F of this Article 9, shall alter to the  detriment of such person the
right of such person to the advance of expenses or indemnification  related to a
claim  based  on an act or  failure  to act  which  took  place  prior  to  such
amendment, repeal or termination.

     H. Proceedings Initiated by Indemnified Persons.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of this  Article 9, the  Corporation  shall not  indemnify a director,
officer,  employee or agent for any  liability  incurred  in an action,  suit or
proceeding  initiated  (which shall not be deemed to include  counter-claims  or
affirmative  defenses) or  participated  in as an intervenor or amicus curiae by
the person seeking indemnification unless such initiation of or participation in
the  action,  suit or  proceeding  is  authorized,  either  before  or after its
commencement, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable  since no restricted  securities will be reoffered or resold
pursuant to this Registration Statement.

Item 8. Exhibits

     The following  exhibits are filed with or  incorporated  by reference  into
this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

      No.                      Exhibit                                      
      ---                      -------                                      
  
      4                Common Stock Certificate*                            

      5                Opinion of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick            
                       L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities

                                              

                                     - 6 -
23.1             Consent of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick            
                       L.L.P. (contained in the opinion included
                       as Exhibit 5)

      23.2             Consent of Crowe, Chizek and Company                 

      24               Power of attorney for any subsequent                 
                       amendments is located in the signature pages

      99.1             1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan**                  

      99.2             1995 Key Employee Stock Compensation                 
                       Program**

*        Incorporated  by reference  from the  Company's  Form 10-K for the year
         ended June 30, 1995, filed by the Company with the SEC on September 28,
         1995.

**       Incorporated  by reference  from the  Company's  Form 10-K for the year
         ended June 30, 1996, filed by the Company with the SEC on September 23,
         1996.

Item 9. Undertakings.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         1. To file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a  post-effective  amendment to this  Registration  Statement (i) to include any
prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, (ii) to reflect
in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after the effective date of the
Registration  Statement (or the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)
which,  individually or in the aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the  Registration  Statement,  and (iii) to include any
material  information  with respect to the plan of  distribution  not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  in  such
information in the Registration Statement;  provided,  however, that clauses (i)
and  (ii)  do  not  apply  if  the  information  required  to be  included  in a
post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed
by the  Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section  15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

         2.  That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                                                         

                                     - 7 -
3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         4. That,  for the  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities  Act,  each  filing of the  Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to
Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act that is  incorporated  by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         5.  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the  Commission  such
indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for  indemnification
against  liabilities  (other  than the  payment by the  Registrant  of  expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                                          

                                     - 8 -
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the  Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Grand Rapids, State of Michigan on January 27, 1997.

                                         BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                         By:   /s/ Paul W. Sydloski
                                               --------------------
                                                   Paul W. Sydloski
                                                   President and Chief 
                                                   Executive Officer

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
hereby  makes,  constitutes  and appoints  Paul W.  Sydloski his true and lawful
attorney,  with full power to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity  indicated  below,  and with  full  power of  substitution  any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement,  hereby ratifying and confirming such
person's  signature  as it may be  signed  by  said  attorney  to  any  and  all
amendments.
Name                                     Title                                 Date
      ----                                     -----                                 ----
/s/Paul W. Sydloski                       President and Chief                   January 27, 1997
-------------------                       Executive Officer
Paul W. Sydloski                          (principal executive
                                          officer)
                                         

/s/Kevin A. Twardy                        Vice President and                    January 27, 1997
------------------                        Chief Financial Officer
Kevin A. Twardy                           (principal financial and
                                          accounting officer)
                                        

/s/George A. Jackoboice                   Director                              January 27, 1997
-----------------------  
George A. Jackoboice

                                      - 9 -
Name                                     Title                                 Date
      ----                                     -----                                 ----
/s/Carl A. Rossi                          Director                              January 27, 1997
----------------  
Carl A. Rossi

/s/Jacob Haisma                           Director                              January 27, 1997
---------------   
Jacob Haisma

/s/Thomas D. DeYoung                      Director                              January 27, 1997
--------------------  
Thomas D. DeYoung

/s/Robert J. Stephan                      Director                              January 27, 1997
--------------------  
Robert J. Stephan

/s/Richard L. Bishop                      Director                              January 27, 1997
-------------------- 
Richard L. Bishop

/s/John H. Zwarensteyn                    Director                              January 27, 1997
----------------------  
John H. Zwarensteyn
- 10 -