West Bancorporation Inc., parent company of West Bank, reported a net income of $8.36 million, or 48 cents per share, for the first half of 2012, up from a year ago, when it stood at $6.07 million, or 35 cents per share.

For the second quarter of 2012, net income was reported at $4.38 million, or 25 cents per share, up from $2.11 million, or 12 cents per share, during the second quarter 2011.

The company attributes its improvement in earnings to no longer having preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount, which totaled $2.39 million in 2011.

The preferred stock was redeemed on June 29, 2011, so there were no such dividends and accretion of discount in 2012.