8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 10, 2003



                           HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           COLORADO                      0-23409              84-1438612
- -------------------------------         ---------            ------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of        (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation)                         File Number)         Identification No.)


  7360 WEST US HIGHWAY 50, SALIDA, COLORADO  81201
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)      (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (719) 539-2516
                                                           --------------


                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)






ITEM 5.      OTHER EVENTS AND REQUIRED FD DISCLOSURE.
- -----------------------------------------------------

     On November 10, 2003 High Country Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company")  announced
     the payment date of its semi-annual cash dividend.  The dividend will be in
     the amount of $0.25 per share  payable  on or about  November  17,  2003 to
     stockholders  of record at the close of business on November 10,  2003.  In
     addition,  the Company  announced  that its Board of Directors had approved
     the  implementation  of a stock repurchase  program to acquire up to 89,472
     shares of the Company's common stock, which represents approximately 10% of
     the outstanding common stock. For more information, see the Company's press
     release,  which is  attached  hereto as Exhibit 99 and is  incorporated  by
     reference herein.



ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
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            Exhibit 99           Press Release dated November 10, 2003



                                 SIGNATURES



     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                         HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.



                                      By:/s/ Larry D. Smith
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Larry D. Smith
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer


Date:  November 10, 2003

EX-99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact: Larry D. Smith
                                             719-539-2516

                HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES THE PAYMENT
                 OF CASH DIVIDENDS AND STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Salida,  Colorado ---November 10, 2003: High Country Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ Small
Cap: HCBC)  announced the payment date of its  semi-annual  cash  dividend.  The
dividend will be in the amount of $0.25 per share  payable on or about  November
17, 2003 to  stockholders  of record at the close of  business  on November  10,
2003.

Larry D. Smith,  President  of the  Company,  stated that the Board of Directors
determined  that the  payment  of a  dividend  was  appropriate  in light of the
Company's  financial  condition and results of operations.  He noted that future
earnings and payment of dividends are subject to certain risks and uncertainties
including changes in economic  conditions in the Company's market area,  changes
in policies by regulatory  agencies,  fluctuations in interest rates, demand for
loans in the Company's market area, and competition.

The  Company  also  announced  today that it is  commencing  a stock  repurchase
program to acquire up to 89,472  shares of the  company's  common  stock,  which
represents  approximately 10% of the outstanding  common stock. The program will
be dependent  upon market  conditions  and there is no guarantee as to the exact
number of shares to be repurchased  by the Company,  or as to the timing of such
repurchases.

Mr. Smith  stated that the Board of  Directors  has  authorized  the  repurchase
program,  which is expected to be completed  within the next twelve months.  Mr.
Smith explained that the Board of Directors considers the Company's common stock
to be an attractive investment. It is expected that a reduction in the amount of
the  Company's  outstanding  stock  would  have the  effect  of  increasing  the
Company's per share earnings and book value. In addition, the repurchase program
is  designed  to offset the future  dilution  incurred  in  connection  with the
Company's equity incentive plan.

According to Mr. Smith, the repurchase  generally would be effected through open
market  purchases,  although he did not rule out the  possibility of unsolicited
negotiated transactions or other types of repurchases.

High Country Bancorp,  Inc., is the holding company for High Country Bank, which
conducts business through its main office in Salida, Colorado, branch offices in
Salida,  Leadville and Buena Vista,  Colorado.  At November 10, 2003 the Company
had 894,717 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

This report  contains  certain  forward-looking  statements made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including changes
in economic  conditions  in the  Company's  market area,  changes in policies by
regulatory  agencies,  fluctuations  in  interest  rates,  loan  demand  in  the
Company's market area, and competition that could cause actual results to differ
materially  from  historical   earnings  and  those  presently   anticipated  or
projected.  The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on
any such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as
the date made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly  revise
these  forward-looking  statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise
after the date of such statements.