Bear State Financial 8-K Other Events

EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE

1401 Highway 62/65 North	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
P. O. Box 550	Larry J. Brandt/CEO
Harrison, AR 72602	Tommy Richardson/COO
	Sherri Billings/CFO
	870.741.7641

FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC.

ANNOUNCES A QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

Harrison, Arkansas — August 27, 2009 - (NASDAQ GM:FFBH) First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a unitary savings and loan holding company for First Federal Bank (the “Bank”) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a $0.01 (one cent) cash dividend on the common stock of the Corporation payable on September 22, 2009 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on September 8, 2009. This will be the Corporation’s 51st consecutive cash dividend.

First Federal is a community bank serving consumers and businesses in Northcentral and Northwest Arkansas with a full range of checking, savings, investment, and loan products and services. The Bank, founded in 1934, conducts business from 20 full-service branch locations, one stand-alone loan production office, and 31 ATMs. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ffbh.com.