Bear State Financial 10-Q 2006 Q3 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350)

The undersigned executive officer of First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. (the “Registrant”) hereby certifies that the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained therein fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

/s/Larry J. Brandt

Larry J. Brandt

Chief Executive Officer

Date: October 26, 2006