Exhibit (g)(20)(a)

                  LETTER AGREEMENT TO THE CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

                  (Addition of the Conning Money Market Fund)


Firstar Bank, N.A.
777 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI   53202

Gentlemen:

          Pursuant to Paragraph 16 of the Custodian Agreement dated as of July
29, 1988 and amended as of May 1, 1990, between Firstar Funds, Inc. (formerly,
Portico Funds, Inc. and formerly Elan Funds, Inc.) (the "Company") and Firstar
Trust Company, as assigned to you (formerly Firstar Bank Milwaukee, N.A.) by
assignment dated October 1, 1998, the Company requests that you render services
as Custodian under the terms of said agreement with respect to the Conning Money
Market Fund, an additional portfolio which the Company is establishing.  Your
compensation for the services provided under said agreement for said additional
portfolio shall be determined in accordance with the fee schedule attached
hereto.

          Please sign two copies of this letter where indicated to signify your
agreement to serve as Custodian and to the compensation terms set forth on the
attached fee schedule.

                                          Sincerely,

Dated:  June 14, 2001                     FIRSTAR FUNDS, INC.



                                          By:  /s/ Laura Rauman
                                              -----------------------------
                                                   (Authorized Officer)



ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

FIRSTAR BANK, N.A. (formerly Firstar Bank Milwaukee, N.A.)


By: /s/ Marsha A. Croxton                 Dated: June 27, 2001
   -----------------------------
     (Authorized Officer)



                               FIRSTAR BANK, N.A.

            MUTUAL FUND CUSTODIAL AGENT SERVICE ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE
                                      FOR
                           Conning Money Market Fund
                           -------------------------



Annual Fee  based on total assets of the Firstar Funds:
-----------

0.02% on the first $2 billion
0.015% on the next $2 billion
0.01% on the next $1 billion
0.005% on the balance in excess of $5 billion


Investment Transactions:  Purchase, sale, exchange, tender, redemption
(maturity), receipt and delivery.

$12       per Book Entry Securities (Depository or Federal
          Reserve System).
$25       per Definitive Security (Physical).
$75       per Euroclear.
$8        per Principal reduction on pass-through certificates.
$35       per Option/Futures Contract.
$12       per variation margin transaction.
$25       per Mutual Fund trade.
$15       per Fed Wire deposit or withdrawal.
$12       per Commercial Paper.
$12       per Repurchase Agreement.


Extraordinary expenses based on time and complexity involved.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses:  Charged on the account.

Fees are billed quarterly based on the value at the beginning of the quarter.