First Federal Bancshares Becomes Bear State Financial

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc., a publicly traded company in Harrison and the holding company of First Federal Bank, has changed its name to Bear State Financial Inc.

Bear State Financial is now using the NASDAQ ticker symbol of BSF.

In spring 2011, First Federal shareholders approved a deal that sold majority ownership of the company to a Little Rock investment group, Bear State Financial Holdings LLC.

First Federal Bank has 12 full-service branch locations, one drive-thru facility, one stand-alone mortgage production office and 17 ATMs.

As of March 31, the bank had total assets of $569.1 million.