-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 UDRr8luGoUwDdiz4gjzWtw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000846616-05-000001.txt : 20050111
<SEC-HEADER>0000846616-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050111140029
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000846616-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050111
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONOVAN PATRICK J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199970

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16461
		FILM NUMBER:		05523028

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 MINNESOTA ST STE 2000
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55101

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BREMER FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000846616
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				410715583
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 MINNESOTA ST STE 2000
		CITY:			SAINT PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		651-227-7621

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 MINNESOTA STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2000
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>jan05_form4optpjdex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000846616</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BREMER FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DONOVAN PATRICK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 MINNESOTA ST STE 2000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-02-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patrick J. Donovan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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