Exhibit 32

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

      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 annual report of the Company on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 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.

      The purpose of this statement is solely to comply with Title 18, Chapter
63, Section 1350 of the United States Code, as amended by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


September 28, 2004           /s/ Barry E. Backhaus
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Date                         Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


September 28, 2004           /s/ Colin D. Anderson
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Date                         Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer