<PAGE> 1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2000
                                                Registration No. 333-______

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                EFC BANCORP, INC.
   (exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate of incorporation)

       DELAWARE                           6036                  36-4193304
(state or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard         (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)  Classification Code Number)  Identification No.)

                               1695 LARKIN AVENUE
                              ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60123
                                 (847) 741-3900
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                    EFC BANCORP, INC. 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                    ----------------------------------------

                                          COPIES TO:
BARRETT J. O'CONNOR                       LORI M. BERESFORD, ESQ.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER     THOMAS P. HUTTON, ESQ.
EFC BANCORP, INC.                         MULDOON, MURPHY & FAUCETTE LLP
1695 LARKIN AVENUE                        5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60123                     WASHINGTON, DC 20016
(847) 741-3900                            (202) 362-0840
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)

      APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon
       as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
    delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
                    of 1933, check the following box. / X /
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=====================================================================================================
   Title of each Class of     Amount to be   Proposed Purchase   Estimated Aggregate   Registration
Securities to be Registered   Registered(1)   Price Per Share      Offering Price         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>                        <C>              <C>                 <C>                  <C>
     Common Stock               254,256
    $.01 par Value             Shares (2)       $9.375(3)           $2,386,088           $630
=====================================================================================================
</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 EFC Bancorp,  Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") as the result of
     a stock split,  stock  dividend or similar  adjustment  of the  outstanding
     Common  Stock  of  EFC  Bancorp,   Inc.,  pursuant  to  17  C.F.R.  Section
     230.416(a).
(2)  Represents  the  total number of shares currently reserved or available for
     issuance as options pursuant to the Plan.
(3)  Weighted  average  price  determined by the average exercise price of $9.50
     per  share at which  options  for  19,500  shares  under the Plan have been
     granted  to date and by $9.375  the  market  value of the  Common  Stock on
     October  23,  2000,  as  determined  by the average of the high and low bid
     prices  reported  on the  American  Stock  Exchange as reported in the Wall
     Street  Journal,  for 234,756  shares for which  options  have not yet been
     granted under the Plan.

THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE  IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,  (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SECTION 230.462.

Number of Pages 14
Exhibit Index begins on Page 10


<PAGE> 2



EFC BANCORP, INC.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The document  containing the information for the EFC Bancorp,  Inc.
(the "Company" or the "Registrant") 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") required
by  Part  I of  the  Registration  Statement  will  be  sent  or  given  to  the
participants  in the Plan as  specified by Rule  428(b)(1).  The document is not
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") either as a part
of this  Registration  Statement or as a  prospectus  or  prospectus  supplement
pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

      The following documents filed or to be filed with the SEC are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement:

      (a) The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended
December  31,  1999,  (File No.  001-13605),  which  includes  the  consolidated
statements of financial  condition of EFC Bancorp,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related  consolidated  statements of income,
changes  in  stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended  December 31, 1999,  together with the related notes and
the report of the independent auditors, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2000.

      (b) The Form 10-Q  reports  filed by the Company  for the fiscal  quarters
ended March 31 and June 30, 2000 (File No. 001-13605), filed with the SEC on May
12 and August 11, 2000, respectively.

      (c)  The  description  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  contained  in the
Registrant's Form 8-A (File No.  001-13605),  as filed with the SEC, pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange  Act") and
Rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder,  on November 14, 1997 and declared effective
on  February  12,  1998,  as   incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company's
Registration  Statement  on Form S-1 (SEC File No.  333-38637)  as  amended  and
declared effective on December 15, 1997.

      (d) All documents  filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Sections 13(a) and
(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date  hereof  and prior to the
filing of a  post-effective  amendment  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  INCORPORATED  OR 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.


                                        2

<PAGE> 3



ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      The common  stock to be offered  pursuant to the Plan has been  registered
pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.  Accordingly,  a description  of the
common stock is not required herein.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      None.

      The  validity of the Common Stock  offered  hereby has been passed upon by
Muldoon,  Murphy &  Faucette  LLP,  Washington,  D.C.,  special  counsel  to the
Registrant.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Directors and officers of the Registrant are indemnified and held harmless
against liability to the fullest extent  permissible by the general  corporation
law of Delaware as it  currently  exists or as it may be amended,  provided  any
such amendment provides broader indemnification provisions than currently exist.
This indemnification applies to the Board of Directors who administer the Plan.

      In accordance  with the General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(being  Chapter 1 of Title 8 of the  Delaware  Code),  Articles 10 and 11 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

TENTH:
-----

A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
or is  otherwise  involved in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether  civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (hereinafter a  "proceeding"),  by
reason  of the fact that he or she is or was a  Director  or an  Officer  of the
Corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
Director, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an  "indemnitee"),  whether the basis of such
proceeding  is alleged  action in an official  capacity as a Director,  Officer,
employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer,
employee or agent,  shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to
the fullest extent  authorized by the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the  extent  that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide
broader  indemnification  rights  than such law  permitted  the  Corporation  to
provide  prior to such  amendment),  against  all  expense,  liability  and loss
(including  attorneys' fees,  judgments,  fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and  amounts  paid  in  settlement)  reasonably  incurred  or  suffered  by such
indemnitee in connection therewith;  provided, however, that, except as provided
in  Section  C  hereof  with  respect  to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to
indemnification,   the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  such  indemnitee  in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only
if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.

B. The right to  indemnification  conferred in Section A of this  Article  TENTH
shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation  the expenses  incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final  disposition  (hereinafter
an "advancement of expenses");  provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires,  an advancement of expenses  incurred by an indemnitee
in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer  (and not in any other  capacity
in which  service  was or is  rendered by such  indemnitee,  including,  without
limitation,  services  to an  employee  benefit  plan)  shall be made  only upon
delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so

                                        3

<PAGE> 4



advanced if it shall  ultimately be determined by final  judicial  decision from
which there is no further right to appeal  (hereinafter a "final  adjudication")
that such  indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified  for such expenses under
this Section or otherwise.  The rights to indemnification and to the advancement
of  expenses  conferred  in  Sections  A and B of this  Article  TENTH  shall be
contract  rights and such  rights  shall  continue as to an  indemnitee  who has
ceased to be a  Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent  and shall  inure to the
benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C. If a claim under  Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in full by
the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation,  except in the case of a claim for an advancement  of expenses,  in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any
time thereafter  bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim.  If  successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit
brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the indemnitee  shall be entitled to be paid also the
expenses of  prosecuting  or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to  indemnification  hereunder  (but not in a suit
brought by the  indemnitee to enforce a right to an  advancement of expenses) it
shall be a defense that;  and (ii) in any suit by the  Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses  pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation
shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final  adjudication  that, the
indemnitee has not met any applicable  standard for indemnification set forth in
the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including  its  Board  of  Directors,   independent   legal  counsel,   or  its
stockholders)  to have made a  determination  prior to the  commencement of such
suit that  indemnification  of the  indemnitee  is  proper in the  circumstances
because the indemnitee  has met the applicable  standard of conduct set forth in
the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  nor an  actual  determination  by the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders)  that the  indemnitee  has not met  such  applicable  standard  of
conduct,  shall  create  a  presumption  that  the  indemnitee  has  not met the
applicable  standard  of conduct  or, in the case of such a suit  brought by the
indemnitee,  be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to indemnification  or to an advancement of expenses  hereunder,
or by the  Corporation  to recover an  advancement  of expenses  pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the  burden of  proving  that the  indemnitee  is not
entitled to be  indemnified,  or to such  advancement  of  expenses,  under this
Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in
this  Article  TENTH shall not be  exclusive of any other right which any person
may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,  the Corporation's  Certificate
of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  agreement,  vote of stockholders  or  Disinterested
Directors or otherwise.

E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and
any Director,  Officer,  employee or agent of the  Corporation  or subsidiary or
Affiliate or another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other
enterprise  against  any  expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the
Corporation  would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

F. The Corporation may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by the Board
of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to any  employee  or agent  of the  Corporation  to the  fullest  extent  of the
provisions  of this  Article  TENTH  with  respect  to the  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of the Corporation.




                                        4

<PAGE> 5



ELEVENTH:
--------

A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation
or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a
Director,  except for liability:  (i) for any breach of the  Director's  duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its  stockholders;  (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law; or (iv)
for any  transaction  from  which the  Director  derived  an  improper  personal
benefit.  If the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law is  amended  to  authorize
corporate  action  further  eliminating  or limiting the  personal  liability of
Directors,  then  the  liability  of a  Director  of the  Corporation  shall  be
eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the Delaware  General
Corporation Law, as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the
Corporation  shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of
the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.

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

      4        Stock Certificate of EFC Bancorp, Inc.1

      5        Opinion of Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette LLP  as  to the legality of
               the Common Stock to be issued.

      10       EFC Bancorp, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan.2

      23.1     Consent of KPMG LLP.

      23.2     Consent of Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette LLP (contained in the
               opinion included in Exhibit 5).

      24       Power of Attorney (located on the signature page).


--------------------------
1 Incorporated  herein by reference  from Exhibit 3.1 contained in the Company's
  Registration  Statement  on Form S-1  (SEC No.  333-38637),  as  amended,  and
  declared effective on December 15, 1997.

2 Incorporated  herein by  reference  from  Appendix  A to the  Company's  Proxy
  Statement  on Form DEF 14A (SEC  001-13605)  filed  with the SEC on March  23,
  2000.


                                        5

<PAGE> 6




ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a
            post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to:

            (i)   Include  any  Prospectus required  by  Section 10(a)(3) of the
                  Securities Act;

            (ii)  Reflect  in  the   Prospectus   any  facts  or  events  which,
                  individually  or together,  represent a fundamental  change in
                  the information in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                  the   foregoing,   any  increase  or  decrease  in  volume  of
                  securities  offered (if the total dollar  value of  securities
                  offered  would not exceed that which was  registered)  and any
                  deviation  from the low or high end of the  estimated  maximum
                  offering  range  may be  reflected  in the form of  Prospectus
                  filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
                  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent no more
                  than a 20 percent  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering
                  price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
                  in the effective Registration Statement; and

            (iii) Include any additional or changed material  information on the
                  plan  of   distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information   in  the   Registration   Statement   unless  the
                  information  required by (i) and (ii) is contained in periodic
                  reports  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant  to  Section 13 or
                  15(d) of the Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference
                  into this Registration Statement.

      (2)   For  determining  liability  under the Securities Act, to treat each
            post-effective  amendment  as a new  Registration  Statement  of the
            securities offered,  and the offering of the securities at that time
            to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   To file a post-effective  amendment to remove from  registration any
            of the securities that remain unsold at the end of the offering.

      (4)   That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
            Act,  each filing of the  Registrant's  or the Plan's  annual report
            pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 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.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  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  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a trustee,  officer or controlling  person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
trustee,  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

                                        6

<PAGE> 7



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 Act and will be  governed  by the final  adjudication  of such
issue.









                                        7

<PAGE> 8



                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, EFC Bancorp,  Inc.
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 Elgin, State of Illinois, on October 17, 2000.

                                       EFC BANCORP, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Barrett J. O'Connor
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Barrett J. O'Connor
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, this  Registration
Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below (other than Mr. O'Connor) constitutes and appoints Barrett J. O'Connor and
Mr.  O'Connor  hereby  constitutes  and appoints James J. Kovac, as the true and
lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent  with  full  power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution,  for him (or her) and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and
all  capacities  to sign any or all  amendments  to the  Form  S-8  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in  connection  therewith,  with the U.S.  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,
respectively,  granting  unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent  full  power and
authority  to do and  perform  each  and  every  act and  things  requisite  and
necessary  to be done as fully to all intents and  purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or his substitute or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.


    Name                            Title                           Date
    ----                            -----                           ----


/s/ Barrett J. O'Connor       President and                    October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
Barrett J. O'Connor           (principal executive officer)



/s/ James J. Kovac            Executive Vice President, Chief  October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Financial Officer and Director
James J. Kovac                (principal accounting
                              and financial officer)



/s/ John J. Brittain          Chairman of the Board of         October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Directors
John J. Brittain






                                        8

<PAGE> 9



/s/ James A. Alpeter          Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
James A. Alpeter



/s/ Thomas I. Anderson        Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Thomas I. Anderson



/s/ Leo M. Flanagan, Jr.      Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Leo M. Flanagan, Jr.



/s/ Ralph W. Helm, Jr.        Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Ralph W. Helm, Jr.



/s/ Vincent C. Norton         Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Vincent C. Norton



/s/ Peter A. Traeger          Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Peter A. Traeger





                                      9

<PAGE> 10
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                                                 Sequentially
                                                                                                    Numbered
                                                                                                      Page
 Exhibit No.     Description                 Method of Filing                                       Location
------------     -----------------------     ------------------------------------------------      ----------

    <S>          <C>                         <C>                                                        <C>
      4          Stock Certificate of        Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibit          --
                 EFC Bancorp, Inc.           3.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                                             Form S-1 (SEC No.  333-38637) filed with
                                             the  SEC  on   November   14,  1997  and
                                             declared effective on December 15, 1997.

     10          EFC Bancorp, Inc.           Incorporated herein by reference from Appendix             --
                 2000 Stock Option           to the Proxy Statement on form DEF 14A (SEC
                 Plan                        No. 001-13605) filed with the SEC on March 23,
                                             2000.

      5          Opinion of Muldoon,         Filed herewith.                                            12
                 Murphy & Faucette,
                 LLP

    23.1         Consent of Muldoon,         Contained in Exhibit 5.                                    --
                 Murphy & Facuette,
                 LLP

    23.2         Consent of KPMG             Filed herewith.                                            14
                 LLP

     24          Power of Attorney           Located on the signature page.                             --

</TABLE>




                                       10
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 28263}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EFC BANCORP INC", "cik": "0001047947", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "364193304", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-48742", "film-number": "747117"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1695 LARKIN AVE", "city": "ELGIN", "state": "IL", "zip": "60123", "phone": "8477413900"}}
1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2000
                                                Registration No. 333-______

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                EFC BANCORP, INC.
   (exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate of incorporation)

       DELAWARE                           6036                  36-4193304
(state or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard         (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)  Classification Code Number)  Identification No.)

                               1695 LARKIN AVENUE
                              ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60123
                                 (847) 741-3900
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                    EFC BANCORP, INC. 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                    ----------------------------------------

                                          COPIES TO:
BARRETT J. O'CONNOR                       LORI M. BERESFORD, ESQ.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER     THOMAS P. HUTTON, ESQ.
EFC BANCORP, INC.                         MULDOON, MURPHY & FAUCETTE LLP
1695 LARKIN AVENUE                        5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60123                     WASHINGTON, DC 20016
(847) 741-3900                            (202) 362-0840
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)

      APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon
       as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
    delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
                    of 1933, check the following box. / X /
=====================================================================================================
   Title of each Class of     Amount to be   Proposed Purchase   Estimated Aggregate   Registration
Securities to be Registered   Registered(1)   Price Per Share      Offering Price         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock               254,256
    $.01 par Value             Shares (2)       $9.375(3)           $2,386,088           $630
=====================================================================================================
(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 EFC Bancorp,  Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") as the result of
     a stock split,  stock  dividend or similar  adjustment  of the  outstanding
     Common  Stock  of  EFC  Bancorp,   Inc.,  pursuant  to  17  C.F.R.  Section
     230.416(a).
(2)  Represents  the  total number of shares currently reserved or available for
     issuance as options pursuant to the Plan.
(3)  Weighted  average  price  determined by the average exercise price of $9.50
     per  share at which  options  for  19,500  shares  under the Plan have been
     granted  to date and by $9.375  the  market  value of the  Common  Stock on
     October  23,  2000,  as  determined  by the average of the high and low bid
     prices  reported  on the  American  Stock  Exchange as reported in the Wall
     Street  Journal,  for 234,756  shares for which  options  have not yet been
     granted under the Plan.

THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE  IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,  (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SECTION 230.462.

Number of Pages 14
Exhibit Index begins on Page 10
2

EFC BANCORP, INC.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The document  containing the information for the EFC Bancorp,  Inc.
(the "Company" or the "Registrant") 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") required
by  Part  I of  the  Registration  Statement  will  be  sent  or  given  to  the
participants  in the Plan as  specified by Rule  428(b)(1).  The document is not
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") either as a part
of this  Registration  Statement or as a  prospectus  or  prospectus  supplement
pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

      The following documents filed or to be filed with the SEC are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement:

      (a) The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended
December  31,  1999,  (File No.  001-13605),  which  includes  the  consolidated
statements of financial  condition of EFC Bancorp,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related  consolidated  statements of income,
changes  in  stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended  December 31, 1999,  together with the related notes and
the report of the independent auditors, filed with the SEC on March 21, 2000.

      (b) The Form 10-Q  reports  filed by the Company  for the fiscal  quarters
ended March 31 and June 30, 2000 (File No. 001-13605), filed with the SEC on May
12 and August 11, 2000, respectively.

      (c)  The  description  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  contained  in the
Registrant's Form 8-A (File No.  001-13605),  as filed with the SEC, pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange  Act") and
Rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder,  on November 14, 1997 and declared effective
on  February  12,  1998,  as   incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company's
Registration  Statement  on Form S-1 (SEC File No.  333-38637)  as  amended  and
declared effective on December 15, 1997.

      (d) All documents  filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Sections 13(a) and
(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date  hereof  and prior to the
filing of a  post-effective  amendment  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  INCORPORATED  OR 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.

                                        2
3

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      The common  stock to be offered  pursuant to the Plan has been  registered
pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.  Accordingly,  a description  of the
common stock is not required herein.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      None.

      The  validity of the Common Stock  offered  hereby has been passed upon by
Muldoon,  Murphy &  Faucette  LLP,  Washington,  D.C.,  special  counsel  to the
Registrant.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Directors and officers of the Registrant are indemnified and held harmless
against liability to the fullest extent  permissible by the general  corporation
law of Delaware as it  currently  exists or as it may be amended,  provided  any
such amendment provides broader indemnification provisions than currently exist.
This indemnification applies to the Board of Directors who administer the Plan.

      In accordance  with the General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(being  Chapter 1 of Title 8 of the  Delaware  Code),  Articles 10 and 11 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

TENTH:
-----

A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
or is  otherwise  involved in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether  civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (hereinafter a  "proceeding"),  by
reason  of the fact that he or she is or was a  Director  or an  Officer  of the
Corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
Director, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an  "indemnitee"),  whether the basis of such
proceeding  is alleged  action in an official  capacity as a Director,  Officer,
employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer,
employee or agent,  shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to
the fullest extent  authorized by the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the  extent  that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide
broader  indemnification  rights  than such law  permitted  the  Corporation  to
provide  prior to such  amendment),  against  all  expense,  liability  and loss
(including  attorneys' fees,  judgments,  fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and  amounts  paid  in  settlement)  reasonably  incurred  or  suffered  by such
indemnitee in connection therewith;  provided, however, that, except as provided
in  Section  C  hereof  with  respect  to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to
indemnification,   the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  such  indemnitee  in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only
if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.

B. The right to  indemnification  conferred in Section A of this  Article  TENTH
shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation  the expenses  incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final  disposition  (hereinafter
an "advancement of expenses");  provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires,  an advancement of expenses  incurred by an indemnitee
in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer  (and not in any other  capacity
in which  service  was or is  rendered by such  indemnitee,  including,  without
limitation,  services  to an  employee  benefit  plan)  shall be made  only upon
delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so

                                        3
4

advanced if it shall  ultimately be determined by final  judicial  decision from
which there is no further right to appeal  (hereinafter a "final  adjudication")
that such  indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified  for such expenses under
this Section or otherwise.  The rights to indemnification and to the advancement
of  expenses  conferred  in  Sections  A and B of this  Article  TENTH  shall be
contract  rights and such  rights  shall  continue as to an  indemnitee  who has
ceased to be a  Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent  and shall  inure to the
benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C. If a claim under  Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in full by
the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation,  except in the case of a claim for an advancement  of expenses,  in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any
time thereafter  bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim.  If  successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit
brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the indemnitee  shall be entitled to be paid also the
expenses of  prosecuting  or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to  indemnification  hereunder  (but not in a suit
brought by the  indemnitee to enforce a right to an  advancement of expenses) it
shall be a defense that;  and (ii) in any suit by the  Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses  pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation
shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final  adjudication  that, the
indemnitee has not met any applicable  standard for indemnification set forth in
the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including  its  Board  of  Directors,   independent   legal  counsel,   or  its
stockholders)  to have made a  determination  prior to the  commencement of such
suit that  indemnification  of the  indemnitee  is  proper in the  circumstances
because the indemnitee  has met the applicable  standard of conduct set forth in
the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  nor an  actual  determination  by the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders)  that the  indemnitee  has not met  such  applicable  standard  of
conduct,  shall  create  a  presumption  that  the  indemnitee  has  not met the
applicable  standard  of conduct  or, in the case of such a suit  brought by the
indemnitee,  be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to indemnification  or to an advancement of expenses  hereunder,
or by the  Corporation  to recover an  advancement  of expenses  pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the  burden of  proving  that the  indemnitee  is not
entitled to be  indemnified,  or to such  advancement  of  expenses,  under this
Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in
this  Article  TENTH shall not be  exclusive of any other right which any person
may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,  the Corporation's  Certificate
of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  agreement,  vote of stockholders  or  Disinterested
Directors or otherwise.

E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and
any Director,  Officer,  employee or agent of the  Corporation  or subsidiary or
Affiliate or another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other
enterprise  against  any  expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the
Corporation  would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

F. The Corporation may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by the Board
of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to any  employee  or agent  of the  Corporation  to the  fullest  extent  of the
provisions  of this  Article  TENTH  with  respect  to the  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of the Corporation.

                                        4
5

ELEVENTH:
--------

A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation
or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a
Director,  except for liability:  (i) for any breach of the  Director's  duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its  stockholders;  (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law; or (iv)
for any  transaction  from  which the  Director  derived  an  improper  personal
benefit.  If the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law is  amended  to  authorize
corporate  action  further  eliminating  or limiting the  personal  liability of
Directors,  then  the  liability  of a  Director  of the  Corporation  shall  be
eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the Delaware  General
Corporation Law, as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the
Corporation  shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of
the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.

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

      4        Stock Certificate of EFC Bancorp, Inc.1

      5        Opinion of Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette LLP  as  to the legality of
               the Common Stock to be issued.

      10       EFC Bancorp, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan.2

      23.1     Consent of KPMG LLP.

      23.2     Consent of Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette LLP (contained in the
               opinion included in Exhibit 5).

      24       Power of Attorney (located on the signature page).

--------------------------
1 Incorporated  herein by reference  from Exhibit 3.1 contained in the Company's
  Registration  Statement  on Form S-1  (SEC No.  333-38637),  as  amended,  and
  declared effective on December 15, 1997.

2 Incorporated  herein by  reference  from  Appendix  A to the  Company's  Proxy
  Statement  on Form DEF 14A (SEC  001-13605)  filed  with the SEC on March  23,
  2000.

                                        5
6

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a
            post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to:

            (i)   Include  any  Prospectus required  by  Section 10(a)(3) of the
                  Securities Act;

            (ii)  Reflect  in  the   Prospectus   any  facts  or  events  which,
                  individually  or together,  represent a fundamental  change in
                  the information in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                  the   foregoing,   any  increase  or  decrease  in  volume  of
                  securities  offered (if the total dollar  value of  securities
                  offered  would not exceed that which was  registered)  and any
                  deviation  from the low or high end of the  estimated  maximum
                  offering  range  may be  reflected  in the form of  Prospectus
                  filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
                  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent no more
                  than a 20 percent  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering
                  price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
                  in the effective Registration Statement; and

            (iii) Include any additional or changed material  information on the
                  plan  of   distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information   in  the   Registration   Statement   unless  the
                  information  required by (i) and (ii) is contained in periodic
                  reports  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant  to  Section 13 or
                  15(d) of the Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference
                  into this Registration Statement.

      (2)   For  determining  liability  under the Securities Act, to treat each
            post-effective  amendment  as a new  Registration  Statement  of the
            securities offered,  and the offering of the securities at that time
            to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   To file a post-effective  amendment to remove from  registration any
            of the securities that remain unsold at the end of the offering.

      (4)   That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
            Act,  each filing of the  Registrant's  or the Plan's  annual report
            pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 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.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  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  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a trustee,  officer or controlling  person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
trustee,  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

                                        6
7

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 Act and will be  governed  by the final  adjudication  of such
issue.

                                        7
8

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, EFC Bancorp,  Inc.
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 Elgin, State of Illinois, on October 17, 2000.

                                       EFC BANCORP, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Barrett J. O'Connor
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Barrett J. O'Connor
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, this  Registration
Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below (other than Mr. O'Connor) constitutes and appoints Barrett J. O'Connor and
Mr.  O'Connor  hereby  constitutes  and appoints James J. Kovac, as the true and
lawful   attorney-in-fact   and  agent  with  full  power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution,  for him (or her) and in his name,  place and stead,  in any and
all  capacities  to sign any or all  amendments  to the  Form  S-8  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in  connection  therewith,  with the U.S.  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,
respectively,  granting  unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent  full  power and
authority  to do and  perform  each  and  every  act and  things  requisite  and
necessary  to be done as fully to all intents and  purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or his substitute or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

    Name                            Title                           Date
    ----                            -----                           ----

/s/ Barrett J. O'Connor       President and                    October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
Barrett J. O'Connor           (principal executive officer)

/s/ James J. Kovac            Executive Vice President, Chief  October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Financial Officer and Director
James J. Kovac                (principal accounting
                              and financial officer)

/s/ John J. Brittain          Chairman of the Board of         October 17, 2000
--------------------------    Directors
John J. Brittain

                                        8
9

/s/ James A. Alpeter          Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
James A. Alpeter

/s/ Thomas I. Anderson        Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Thomas I. Anderson

/s/ Leo M. Flanagan, Jr.      Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Leo M. Flanagan, Jr.

/s/ Ralph W. Helm, Jr.        Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Ralph W. Helm, Jr.

/s/ Vincent C. Norton         Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Vincent C. Norton

/s/ Peter A. Traeger          Director                         October 17, 2000
-------------------------
Peter A. Traeger

                                      9
10
EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                                                 Sequentially
                                                                                                    Numbered
                                                                                                      Page
 Exhibit No.     Description                 Method of Filing                                       Location
------------     -----------------------     ------------------------------------------------      ----------
4          Stock Certificate of        Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibit          --
                 EFC Bancorp, Inc.           3.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                                             Form S-1 (SEC No.  333-38637) filed with
                                             the  SEC  on   November   14,  1997  and
                                             declared effective on December 15, 1997.

     10          EFC Bancorp, Inc.           Incorporated herein by reference from Appendix             --
                 2000 Stock Option           to the Proxy Statement on form DEF 14A (SEC
                 Plan                        No. 001-13605) filed with the SEC on March 23,
                                             2000.

      5          Opinion of Muldoon,         Filed herewith.                                            12
                 Murphy & Faucette,
                 LLP

    23.1         Consent of Muldoon,         Contained in Exhibit 5.                                    --
                 Murphy & Facuette,
                 LLP

    23.2         Consent of KPMG             Filed herewith.                                            14
                 LLP

     24          Power of Attorney           Located on the signature page.                             --
10