Exhibit 32

                                       26


                                   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
Katherine A. Bousquet, Vice President, Treasurer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer of First Federal Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") each certify in
his/her capacity as an officer of the Company that he/she has reviewed the
quarterly report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2005 (the "Report") and that to the best of his/her 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 10, 2005                    /s/ Barry E. Backhaus
- -----------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Date                            Barry E. Backhaus
                                Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


May 10, 2005                    /s/ Katherine A. Bousquet
- ----------------------          -----------------------------------------------
Date                            Katherine A. Bousquet
                                Vice President, Treasurer and
                                   Interim Chief Financial Officer


                                       27