UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2000 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to ___________ Commission File Number 0-28312 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Texas 71-0785261 ------------------------------- ---------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification Number) 200 West Stephenson Harrison, Arkansas 72601 - ------------------------------------------ -------------------- (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code) (870) 741-7641 ---------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ---- ---- Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: As of August 10, 2000, there were issued and outstanding 3,658,481 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition As of June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999 1 Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and 1999 (unaudited) 2 Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2000 (unaudited) 3 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and 1999 (unaudited) 4 Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 6 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 9 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 14 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 15 Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 15 Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 15 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 15 Item 5. Other Information 16 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 16 SIGNATURES 17 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (In Thousands) June 30, December 31, ASSETS 2000 1999 (Unaudited) --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,621 $ 9,983 Investment securities - held to maturity 191,806 189,263 Federal Home Loan Bank stock 4,556 4,258 Loans receivable, net of allowance 483,574 459,978 Accrued interest receivable 6,463 5,977 Real estate acquired in settlement of loans, net 372 3,940 Office properties and equipment, net 7,297 6,809 Prepaid expenses and other assets 486 511 --------- --------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 704,175 $ 680,719 ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES: Deposits $ 535,849 $ 507,875 Federal Home Loan Bank advances 88,866 83,972 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance 538 1,089 Other liabilities 2,427 8,146 --------- --------- Total liabilities 627,680 601,082 --------- --------- MINORITY INTEREST 14 822 --------- --------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued Common stock, $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 5,153,751 shares issued, 3,693,481 and 4,039,374 shares outstanding at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively 52 52 Additional paid-in capital 50,886 50,793 Employee stock benefit plans (3,246) (3,867) Retained earnings-substantially restricted 54,839 52,598 --------- --------- 102,531 99,576 Treasury stock, at cost, 1,460,270 and 1,114,377 shares at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively (26,050) (20,761) --------- --------- Total stockholders' equity 76,481 78,815 --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 704,175 $ 680,719 ========= ========= See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements. 1 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands, except earnings per share) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, ------------------- -------------------- 2000 1999 2000 1999 ------- ------- ------- ------- INTEREST INCOME: Loans receivable $ 9,434 $ 8,772 $18,581 $17,582 Investment securities 3,458 2,634 6,812 4,878 Other 17 121 50 390 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total interest income 12,909 11,527 25,443 22,850 ------- ------- ------- ------- INTEREST EXPENSE: Deposits 6,727 6,090 13,147 12,072 Other borrowings 1,280 599 2,505 1,263 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total interest expense 8,007 6,689 15,652 13,335 ------- ------- ------- ------- NET INTEREST INCOME 4,902 4,838 9,791 9,515 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES -- -- -- 20 ------- ------- ------- ------- NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 4,902 4,838 9,791 9,495 ------- ------- ------- ------- NONINTEREST INCOME: Deposit fee income 268 239 495 459 Other 183 274 341 447 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total noninterest income 451 513 836 906 ------- ------- ------- ------- NONINTEREST EXPENSES: Salaries and employee benefits 1,860 1,722 3,857 3,473 Net occupancy expense 276 219 531 436 Federal insurance premiums 26 70 53 140 Provision for real estate losses 9 310 9 312 Data processing 254 214 460 417 Postage and supplies 101 101 242 215 Other 483 406 989 778 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total noninterest expenses 3,009 3,042 6,141 5,771 ------- ------- ------- ------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 2,344 2,309 4,486 4,630 INCOME TAX PROVISION 772 727 1,484 1,530 ------- ------- ------- ------- NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $ 1,572 $ 1,582 $ 3,002 $ 3,100 ======= ======= ======= ======= EARNINGS PER SHARE: Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.39 $ 0.82 $ 0.75 ======= ======= ======= ======= Diluted $ 0.44 $ 0.39 $ 0.82 $ 0.75 ======= ======= ======= ======= Cash Dividends Declared $ 0.10 $ 0.08 $ 0.20 $ 0.16 ======= ======= ======= ======= See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements. 2 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Issued Employee Common Stock Additional Stock Treasury Stock Total ------------------ Paid-In Benefit Retained ------------------- Stockholders' Shares Amount Capital Plans Earnings Shares Amount Equity ------ ------ ---------- --------- --------- ------ ----- ------------- Balance, December 31, 1999 5,153,751 $52 $50,793 $(3,867) $52,598 1,114,377 $(20,761) $78,815 Net income 3,002 3,002 Release of ESOP shares 160 208 368 Stock compensation expense 413 413 Shares released from restricted stock trust (67) (67) Purchase of treasury stock, at cost 345,893 (5,289) (5,289) Dividends paid (761) (761) --------- ---- ------- ------- ------- --------- -------- ------- Balance, June 30, 2000 5,153,751 $ 52 $50,886 $(3,246) $54,839 1,460,270 $(26,050) $76,481 ========= ==== ======= ======= ======= ========= ======== ======= See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements. 3 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, ----------------------- 2000 1999 -------- -------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 3,002 $ 3,100 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Provision for loan losses -- 20 Provision for real estate losses 9 312 Deferred tax provision (benefit) 348 (183) Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends (207) (105) Loss (gain) on sale of repossessed assets, net (2) 9 Originations of loans held for sale (2,298) (11,125) Proceeds from sales of loans 2,714 11,821 Gain on sale of mortgage loans originated to sell (28) (147) Depreciation 328 256 Depreciation on real estate owned 32 64 Accretion of deferred loan fees, net (250) (439) Release of ESOP shares 312 360 Stock compensation expense 413 377 Changes in operating assets & liabilities: Accrued interest receivable (486) (591) Prepaid expenses & other assets 22 (360) Other liabilities (150) 456 -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities 3,759 3,825 -------- -------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of investment securities-held to maturity (10,633) (65,693) Proceeds from maturities of investment securities-held to maturity 2,000 26,432 Loan originations, net of repayments (23,027) (1,379) Proceeds from sales of real estate owned 2,885 125 Purchases of office properties and equipment (830) (902) -------- -------- Net cash used by investing activities (29,605) (41,417) -------- -------- (Continued) 4 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, ----------------------- 2000 1999 -------- -------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net increase in deposits 27,974 21,631 Advances from FHLB 85,375 14,450 Repayment of advances from FHLB (80,481) (10,456) Net decrease in advance payments by borrowers for taxes & insurance (551) (522) Purchase of treasury stock (5,289) (4,382) Dividends paid (761) (698) Distributions related to minority interest (783) -- -------- -------- Net cash provided by financing activities 25,484 20,023 -------- -------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (362) (17,569) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: Beginning of period 9,983 26,163 -------- -------- End of period $ 9,621 $ 8,594 ======== ======== SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Cash paid for: Interest $ 15,579 $ 13,229 ======== ======== Income taxes $ 1,245 $ 1,634 ======== ======== SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Real estate acquired in settlement of loans $ 240 $ 343 ======== ======== Loans to facilitate sales of real estate owned $ 948 $ 102 ======== ======== (Concluded) See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements. 5 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. (the "Corporation") is a unitary holding company which owns all of the stock of First Federal Bank of Arkansas, FA (the "Bank"). The Bank provides a broad line of financial products to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, First Harrison Service Corporation ("FHSC"), whose activities are limited to owning an interest in a repossessed commercial property. During the first quarter of 1998, in settlement of a loan, FHSC obtained 75% ownership of a partnership that owned and operated a 202 room hotel in Oklahoma. The financial position and results of operations of this hotel property have been consolidated in the financial statements. The remaining 25% ownership is reflected in the consolidated statements of financial condition as minority interest. Such property was sold in the second quarter of 2000. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation have been prepared in accordance with instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, such information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and the Bank. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2000. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 1999, contained in the Corporation's 1999 Annual Report to Stockholders. NOTE 2 - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement No. 133, ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES ("SFAS 133"). SFAS 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as "derivatives"), and for hedging activities. It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial condition and measure those instruments at fair value. SFAS 133 was originally effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. However, in June 1999 FASB issued Statement No. 137, ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - DEFERRAL OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF FASB STATEMENT NO. 133 ("SFAS 137"). SFAS 137 deferred the effective date of SFAS 133 for all fiscal quarters of all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. 6 Management has not yet made a determination as to the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS 133 will have on the Company's financial position or results of operations. NOTE 3 - EARNINGS PER SHARE The weighted average number of common shares used to calculate earnings per share for the periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 were as follows: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, ------------------------ ------------------------ 2000 1999 2000 1999 --------- --------- --------- --------- Basic weighted - average shares 3,569,403 4,092,848 3,640,909 4,118,953 Effect of dilutive securities -- -- -- -- --------- --------- --------- --------- Diluted weighted - average shares 3,569,403 4,092,848 3,640,909 4,118,953 NOTE 4 - DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS At their meeting on May 23, 2000, the Board of Directors declared a $.10 (ten cent) per share cash dividend on the common stock of the Corporation. The cash dividend was paid on June 23, 2000 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2000. NOTE 5 - INVESTMENT SECURITIES Investment securities consisted of the following (in thousands): June 30, 2000 ---------------------- Amortized Fair HELD TO MATURITY Cost Value -------- -------- U. S. Government and Agency obligations $191,806 $181,183 ======== ======== 7 NOTE 6 - LOANS RECEIVABLE Loans receivable consisted of the following (in thousands): June 30, 2000 December 31, 1999 ------------- ----------------- First mortgage loans: One- to four- family residences $ 375,917 $ 368,589 Other properties 33,292 28,830 Construction 30,317 25,797 Less: Unearned discounts (212) (233) Undisbursed loan funds (13,370) (10,437) Deferred loan fees, net (2,850) (2,972) --------- --------- Total first mortgage loans 423,094 409,574 --------- --------- Consumer and other loans: Commercial 19,325 14,171 Automobile 14,598 13,205 Consumer 4,901 4,285 Home equity and second mortgage 17,499 15,009 Savings 2,170 1,887 Other 2,490 2,405 Add deferred loan costs 224 194 --------- --------- Total consumer and other loans 61,207 51,156 --------- --------- Allowance for loan losses (727) (752) --------- --------- Loans receivable, net $ 483,574 $ 459,978 ========= ========= Non-accrual loans at June 30, 2000 were $953,000. All loans 90 days or more past due are recorded as non-accrual. A summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows (in thousands): Balance at December 31, 1999 $752 Provisions for estimated losses -- Recoveries 16 Losses charged off (41) ---- Balance at June 30, 2000 $727 ==== 8 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FINANCIAL CONDITION At June 30, 2000, the Corporation's assets amounted to $704.2 million as compared to $680.7 million at December 31, 1999. The $23.5 million or 3.5% increase was primarily due to an increase of $23.6 million or 5.1% in net loans receivable. The effect of these increases on total assets was partially offset by a $3.6 million or 90.6% decrease in real estate acquired in settlement of loans, net. Loan originations for the six month period ended June 30, 2000 consisted of $42.1 million in one-to four- family residential loans, $800,000 in multi-family residential, $13.3 million in commercial loans, $18.4 million in construction loans and $19.4 million in consumer installment loans, of which $6.9 million consisted of home equity loans and $7.1 million consisted of automobile loans. At June 30, 2000, the Bank had outstanding loan commitments of $2.4 million, unused lines of credit of $6.8 million, and the undisbursed portion of construction loans of $13.4 million. Liabilities increased $26.6 million or 4.4% to $627.7 million at June 30, 2000 compared to $601.1 million at December 31, 1999. The increase in liabilities was primarily due to an increase of $28.0 million or 5.5% in deposits and an increase of $4.9 million or 5.8% in advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas ("FHLB of Dallas"). Such increase was primarily used to fund the increase in net loans receivable. Stockholders' equity amounted to $76.5 million or 10.9% of total assets at June 30, 2000 compared to $78.8 million or 11.6% of total assets at December 31, 1999. The decrease in stockholders' equity was primarily due to the purchase of 345,893 shares of treasury stock totaling $5.3 million in connection with the Corporation's stock repurchase plan and to a lesser extent due to the payment of cash dividends aggregating $761,000. Such decrease during the six months ended June 30, 2000 was partially offset by net income of $3.0 million resulting from continued profitable operations. Non-performing assets, consisting of non-accruing loans and repossessed assets, amounted to $1.3 million or .19% of total assets at June 30, 2000, compared to $5.3 million or .78% of total assets at December 31, 1999. Such decrease in non-performing assets was primarily due to a sale of a commercial real estate property in the second quarter of 2000. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 GENERAL. The Corporation reported net income of $1.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to net income of $1.6 million for the same period in 1999. The decrease of $10,000 in net income in the 2000 period compared to the same period in 1999 was primarily due to an increase in income tax expense and a decrease in noninterest income which was offset by an increase in net interest income and a decrease in noninterest expenses. Net interest income rose from $4.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 1999 to $4.9 million for the same period in 2000. Net interest income is determined by the Corporation's interest rate spread (i.e., the difference between the yields earned on its interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities) and the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The Corporation's interest rate spread and net interest margin decreased to 2.46% and 2.92%, 9 respectively, for the 2000 three month period compared to 2.66% and 3.17%, respectively, for the 1999 three month period. These and other significant fluctuations in operations are discussed below. INTEREST INCOME. Interest income amounted to $12.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $11.5 million for the same period in 1999. The increase of $1.4 million or 12.0% was primarily due to an increase in the average balances of investment securities and net loans receivable and in the average yield earned on investment securities. The increase in the average balance of investment securities was due to additional purchases of investment securities. The increase in the average balance of net loans receivable was due to the continued origination of loans. Such increase was partially offset by a decline in the average balance of other interest-earning assets, primarily interest-bearing deposits with banks. INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense increased $1.3 million or 19.7% to $8.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $6.7 million for the same period in 1999. Such increase was primarily due to an increase in the average balance of FHLB of Dallas advances, an increase in interest rates paid on advances replacing maturing advances, an increase in the average balance of deposits and an increase in interest rates paid on such deposits. NONINTEREST INCOME. Noninterest income decreased $62,000 or 12.1% to $451,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $513,000 for the three months ended June 30, 1999. The decrease for the three month comparable periods was primarily due to decreases in gain on the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market and loan fees related to the origination of such loans as well as a decline from a net profit to a net loss recognized from the operations of real estate owned. The gain on the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market decreased $58,000 from $74,000 to $16,000 and loan fees related to the origination of such loans decreased $14,000 from $22,000 to $8,000. The decrease in noninterest income for the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to the three months ended June 30, 1999 was also due to a decline from a net profit to a net loss recognized from the operations of real estate owned in the amount of $80,000 to a net loss of $64,000 from a net profit of $16,000. The property primarily incurring such losses was disposed of in June 2000. The decrease in noninterest income for the three month comparable periods ended June 30 was partially offset by an increase of $29,000 or 12.0% from $239,000 to $268,000 in deposit fee income and an increase of $43,000 from $11,000 to $54,000 in gross revenue from full service brokerage operations. NONINTEREST EXPENSE. Noninterest expenses decreased $33,000 or 1.1% between the 2000 and 1999 three month periods ended June 30. The decrease in noninterest expenses during the three month period in 2000 compared to 1999 was primarily due to a decrease in provision for real estate losses. Provision for loss on real estate owned amounted to $9,000 compared to $310,000 for the three month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The provision provided for in 1999 was due to a write-down of a commercial real estate property. Such property was disposed of in June 2000. Such decrease in noninterest expenses was also due to a decrease of $44,000 from $70,000 to $26,000 in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance premiums as a result of a decline in the deposit assessment rate. The decrease in noninterest expense was minimized due to an increase 10 in salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy expense, data processing expense and advertising expense. Salaries and employee benefits amounted to $1.9 million compared to $1.7 million resulting in an increase of $138,000 or 8.0% for the three month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Such increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to an increase in personnel as well as salary and merit increases. Net occupancy expense for the three months ended June 30, 2000 was $276,000 compared to $219,000 for the same period in 1999 resulting in an increase of $57,000 or 26.0%. Data processing expense increased $40,000 or 18.7% to $254,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $214,000 for the same period in 1999. Such increases were primarily due to growth and additional product offerings. The increase of $23,000 or 37.5% from $62,000 to $85,000 in advertising costs for the three month comparable periods was due to promotion of new locations and product offerings. INCOME TAXES. Income taxes amounted to $772,000 and $727,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively, resulting in effective tax rates of 32.9% and 31.5%, respectively. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 GENERAL. The Corporation reported net income of $3.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 1999. The decrease of $98,000 in net income in the 2000 period compared to the same period in 1999 was due to an increase in noninterest expenses which was partially offset by an increase in net interest income. Net interest income increased by $296,000 or 3.1% from $9.5 million to $9.8 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 1999 and 2000, respectively. The Corporation's net interest margin and interest rate spread was 2.94% and 2.48%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to 3.15% and 2.62%, respectively, for the same period in 1999. INTEREST INCOME. Interest income amounted to $25.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $22.9 million for the same period in 1999. The increase of $2.6 million or 11.4% was primarily due to increases in the average balance of investment securities and net loans receivable and in the average yield earned on investment securities. The increase in the average balance of investment securities was due to additional purchases of investment securities. The increase in the average balance of net loans receivable was due to the continued origination of loans. Such increase was partially offset by a decline in the average yield earned on loans receivable. In addition, the average balance of other interest earning assets, primarily overnight funds, decreased during the comparable periods. INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense increased $2.3 million or 17.4% to $15.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $13.3 million for the same period in 1999. Such increase was primarily due to an increase in the average balance of FHLB of Dallas advances, an increase in interest rates paid on advances replacing maturing advances, an increase in the average balance of deposits and an increase in interest rates paid on such deposits. 11 NONINTEREST INCOME. Noninterest income decreased $70,000 or 7.7% to $836,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $906,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1999. The decrease for the six month comparable periods was primarily due to decreases in gain on the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market and loan fees related to the origination of such loans as well as an increase in the net loss recognized from the operations of real estate owned. The gain on the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market decreased $119,000 from $147,000 to $28,000 and loan fees related to the origination of such loans decreased $33,000 from $44,000 to $11,000. The decrease in noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to the six months ended June 30, 1999 was also due to an increase of $68,000 from $43,000 to $111,000 in the net loss recognized from the operations of real estate owned. The property primarily incurring such losses was disposed of in June 2000. The decrease in noninterest income for the six month comparable periods ended June 30 was partially offset by an increase of $36,000 or 7.9% from $459,000 to $495,000 in deposit fee income and an increase of $78,000 from $14,000 to $92,000 in gross revenue from full service brokerage operations. NONINTEREST EXPENSE. Noninterest expenses increased $370,000 or 6.4% between the 2000 and 1999 six month periods ended June 30. Noninterest expense increased primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy expense, data processing expense and advertising expense. Salaries and employee benefits amounted to $3.9 million compared to $3.5 million resulting in an increase of $384,000 or 11.1% for the six month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Such increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to an increase in personnel as well as salary and merit increases. Net occupancy expense for the six months ended June 30, 2000 was $531,000 compared to $436,000 for the same period in 1999 resulting in an increase of $95,000 or 21.7%. Data processing expense increased $43,000 or 10.3% to $460,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $417,000 for the same period in 1999. Such increase was primarily due to growth and additional product offerings. The increase of $59,000 or 52.6% from $112,000 to $171,000 in advertising costs for the six month comparable periods was due to promotion of new locations and product offerings. The increase in noninterest expenses during the six month period in 2000 compared to 1999 was partially offset by a decrease in provision for real estate losses. Provision for loss on real estate owned amounted to $9,000 compared to $312,000 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The provision provided for in 1999 was due to a write-down of a commercial real estate property. Such property was disposed of in June 2000. The increase in noninterest expenses was also partially offset by a decrease of $87,000 from $140,000 to $53,000 in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance premiums as a result of a decline in the deposit assessment rate. INCOME TAXES. Income taxes amounted to $1.5 million and $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and June 30, 1999, respectively, resulting in effective tax rates of 33.1% and 33.0%, respectively. 12 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Bank's liquidity, represented by cash and cash equivalents and eligible investment securities, is a product of its operating, investing and financing activities. The Bank's primary source of funds are deposits, collections on outstanding loans, maturities and calls of investment securities and other short-term investments and funds provided from operations. While scheduled loan amortization and maturing investment securities and short-term investments are relatively predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and competition. The Bank manages the pricing of its deposits to maintain a steady deposit balance. In addition, the Bank invests excess funds in overnight deposits and other short-term interest-earning assets which provide liquidity to meet lending requirements. The Bank has generally been able to generate enough cash through the retail deposit market, its traditional funding source, to offset the cash utilized in investing activities. As an additional source of funds, the Bank has borrowed from the FHLB of Dallas. At June 30, 2000, the Bank had outstanding advances from the FHLB of Dallas of $88.9 million. Such advances were used in the Bank's normal operating and investing activities. As of June 30, 2000, the Bank's regulatory capital was well in excess of all applicable regulatory requirements. At June 30, 2000, the Bank's tangible, core and risk-based capital ratios amounted to 10.6%, 10.6% and 20.5%, respectively. IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES The financial statements and related financial data presented herein have been prepared in accordance with instructions to Form 10-Q, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in relative purchasing power over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all of the Bank's assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates generally have a more significant impact on a financial institution's performance than does the effect of inflation. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to the Corporation that are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. In addition, in those and other portions of this document, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "except," "intend," "should" and similar expressions, or the negative thereof, as they relate to the Corporation or the Corporation's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Corporation with respect to future looking events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary from those described herein 13 as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Corporation does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK For a discussion of the Corporation's asset and liability management policies as well as the potential impact of interest rate changes upon the market value of the Bank's portfolio equity, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Corporation's 1999 Annual Report to Stockholders. There has been no material change in the Corporation's asset and liability position or the market value of the Bank's portfolio equity since December 31, 1999. 14 FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. PART II Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Neither the Corporation nor the Bank is involved in any pending legal proceedings other than non-material legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. Item 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES Not applicable. Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES Not applicable. Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS On April 27, 2000, the Corporation held an annual meeting of stockholders for the following purposes: (1) To elect two directors for a term of three years; and (2) To ratify the appointment by the Board of Directors of Deloitte and Touche LLP as the Corporation's independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2000. The results of the voting are set forth below: Proposal One (Election of Directors): AGAINST/ NAME FOR WITHHELD Frank L. Coffman, Jr. 3,247,454 126,359 John Paul Hammerschmidt 3,247,854 125,959 Proposal Two (Ratification of Auditors): FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 3,286,736 78,177 8,900 15 Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION None. Item 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K None. 16 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC. Date: August 14, 2000 By: /s/ LARRY J. BRANDT ------------------------- Larry J. Brandt President Date: August 14, 2000 By: /s/ TOMMY W. RICHARDSON ------------------------- Tommy W. Richardson Chief Financial Officer 17