SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  Form 8-K (A)


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 6, 2003


                         First Federal Bankshares, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                           0-25509              42-1485449
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(State or other jurisdiction)       (Commission File No.)    (I.R.S. Employer
        of incorporation)                                    Identification No.)


Address of principal executive offices:329 Pierce Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51101
                                       -----------------------------------------


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (712) 277-0200
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                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address if changed since last report)






Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountants

     On April  17,  2003,  the  Audit  Committee  of the  Company  approved  the
     dismissal of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the Company's  independent  accountants,
     effective for fiscal year 2004.

     The audit  reports of KPMG on the  financial  statements of the Company for
     the years ended June 30,  2003 and 2002 did not contain an adverse  opinion
     or disclaimer of opinion,  nor were the reports qualified or modified as to
     uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

     During the two most recent fiscal years and the interim  period through the
     date of the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     June 30, 2003 (the "Annual Report"),  there were no disagreements with KPMG
     on any matter of accounting  principles or practices,  financial  statement
     disclosure or auditing  scope or  procedure,  which  disagreements,  if not
     resolved to KPMG's  satisfaction,  would have caused KPMG to make reference
     to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports.

     During the two most recent  fiscal years,  there were no reportable  events
     (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304 (a)(1)(v)).

     The Company  requested that KPMG furnish it with a letter  addressed to the
     Securities  and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  stating  whether or not KPMG
     agreed with the above  statements,  which  appeared in Item 9 of the Annual
     Report.  A copy of KPMG's  letter to the SEC dated October 6, 2003 is filed
     as Exhibit 16 to this Form 8-K/A.

     On April 17,  2003,  the Company  engaged  McGladrey  & Pullen,  LLP as the
     Company's new independent  accountants for the fiscal year 2004. During the
     two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent  interim period through the
     date of the Annual  Report,  the Company did not consult  with  McGladrey &
     Pullen, LLP regarding any matters described in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of
     Regulation S-K.







                                   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, hereunto duly authorized.

                                                 FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC.


DATE:  October 6, 2003                           By: /s/Colin D Anderson
                                                   ---------------------
                                                  Colin D. Anderson
                                                  Senior Vice President and CFO