Exhibit 32


                                       29


                                   Exhibit 32

                         STATEMENT FURNISHED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

            Barry E. Backhaus, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
and Colin D. Anderson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
First Federal Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") each certify in his capacity as
an officer of the Company that he has reviewed the quarterly report of the
Company on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 (the "Report") and
that to the best of his knowledge:

      (1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      (2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Company as of the dates and for the periods covered by the
            Report.

      This statement is authorized to be attached as an exhibit to the Report so
that this statement will accompany the Report at such time as the Report is
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. It is not intended that this
statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.


May 14, 2004                   /s/ Barry E. Backhaus
- -----------------              -------------------------------------------------
Date                           Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


May 14, 2004                   /s/ Colin D. Anderson
- -----------------              -------------------------------------------------
Date                           Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


                                       30