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): February 5, 2004



                           HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC.
               --------------------------------------------------
               (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
           -----------------------------------------------------------
           (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 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (a)  Not applicable.


     (b)  Not applicable.


     (c)  The following exhibit is filed herewith:


          Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated February 5, 2004


ITEM 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
- -------------------------------------------------------

     On February 5, 2004,  High Country  Bancorp,  Inc.  issued a press  release
announcing its unaudited  financial results for the quarter and six months ended
December 31, 2004. A copy of the press  release is attached to this Report as an
exhibit and is furnished herewith.









                                   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:  February 6, 2004

EX-99

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

HIGH COUNTRY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY EARNINGS


Salida,  Colorado  ---  February 4, 2004:  High Country  Bancorp,  Inc.  (Nasdaq
SmallCap:  HCBC), the parent company of High Country Bank,  announced a net loss
of $132,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 as compared to net income of
$531,000 for the prior year comparable period.

The reduction in earnings for the quarter is largely  attributable to a $326,000
increase in the  provision  for loan losses,  a $216,000  write-down in the book
value of real estate owned and a $229,000 decline in gains from loan sales.

Net  income was  $306,000,  or $.36 basic  earnings  per share and $.33  diluted
earnings  per share,  for the  six-month  period ended  December  31,  2003,  as
compared  to  $970,000,  or $1.13  basic  earnings  per share and $1.07  diluted
earnings per share, for the prior year comparable period.

As of December 31,  2003,  the Company  reported  assets of $194.7  million,  an
increase of $7.3  million,  or 3.75%,  from the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
Total  stockholders'  equity of High Country Bancorp,  Inc. was $17.5 million at
December 31, 2003.

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.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is
defined by the Private  Securities  Litigation Act of 1995 or the Securities and
Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations, and releases. The Company intends
that such  forward-looking  statements  be subject to the safe  harbors  created
thereby.  All  forward-looking  statements  are  based on  current  expectations
regarding  important  risk  factors  including,  but not limited to, real estate
values in our market area,  the impact of changes in economic  conditions in our
market  area,  changes in  policies  by  regulatory  agencies,  fluctuations  in
interest  rates,  demand  for  loans  in our  market  area and  competition  and
information  provided by third-party  vendors.  Accordingly,  actual results may
differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of
such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any
other person that results expressed therein will be achieved.