Company Website:
https://www.ffbh.com/

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc.

The lineage of First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. stretches back to 1934, but the holding company for First Federal Bank, a savings thrift, regained prominence after a multimillion investment by a group led by former Alltel Corp. CEO Scott Ford.

Based in Harrison, First Federal was led for 30 years by Frank L. Coffman, who died in May 2001 after having been CEO since 1968. Under Coffman’s direction, the company went public in 1996.

Coffman’s son-in-law, Larry Brandt, succeed him as CEO in 2001. Brant had been with the company since 1973, becoming COO in 1984 and president and managing officer in 1987.

Like other banks during the credit crisis of the late 2000s, First Federal was exposed to underperforming loans that caused quarterly losses and put its business at risk.

In 2011, the company accepted a $46 million recapitalization by Bear State Financial Holdings LLC, representing a group of Arkansas businessmen including Ford, Aaron Clark of The Stephens Group; and Dabbs Cavin, who eventually became CEO when Brandt retired.

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Chris Wewers, Incoming CEO, Gets 46 Percent Pay Boost at First Federal

4 weeks ago –

The CEO in-waiting at Harrison's First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. recorded the biggest gain in total compensation among the company's four top executives. read more >

Christopher Wewers Elected CEO of First Federal Bancshares

2 months ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison says president and COO Christopher M. Wewers will be CEO of company and its bank, First Federal Bank, effective June 30. read more >

OCC Ends Cease & Desist Order Against First Federal Bank

4 months ago –

First Federal Bank says the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has ended the April 2010 cease and desist it held against the bank. CEO W. Dabbs Cavin calls the end of the order "a significant milestone and a major step forward for First Federal." read more >

Christopher Wewers Named President of First Federal Bancshares

6 months ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison makes Christopher M. Wewers president of the company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Federal Bank. read more >

3 of 4 Arkansas Bank Stocks Climb in Value During 2012

7 months ago –

First Federal, Home BancShares and Bank of the Ozarks enjoy stock gains during 2012 while Simmons First declines 10 percent. read more >

Acxiom, First Federal Bancshares Lead Arkansas Stocks in 3Q

8 months ago –

Shares of Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock and First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas of Harrison were the top performers among the state's publicly traded companies in the third quarter, according to stock prices at market close on Friday. read more >

First Federal Appoints Christopher Wewers to Board of Directors

11 months ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. appoints Christopher M. Wewers as a member of its board of directors. read more >

First Federal, 5 Other Arkansas Stocks Rise in 2Q

11 months ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. saw its stock price improve by almost 19 percent during the second quarter, once again leading Arkansas' publicly traded firms in quarterly stock performance. read more >

First Federal Leaders Look for Growth

12 months ago –

New leadership at First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. intends to grow the operation while working through a backlog of inherited, troubled assets, shareholders were told at Tuesday's annual meeting. read more >

Regulatory Roster Grows For Consenting Lenders

1 year ago –

Sale of Little Rock bank branch helps Allied Bank generate first quarter profit. read more >

CEO Profile: Dabbs Cavin of First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc.

1 year ago –

Dabbs Cavin holds the distinction of being the newest CEO among those heading public companies in Arkansas. read more >

Movers & Shakers (Oct. 31, 2011)

2 years ago –

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Oct. 31, 2011. read more >

'02 Law Driving Costs of Auditing

2 years ago –

Of Arkansas' 18 publicly traded companies, seven spent at least $1 million on their auditors in the most recent fiscal year. And most of the prices are only going up. read more >

Arkansas Firms Feel BlackRock's Trillion-Dollar Presence

2 years ago –

BlackRock Inc., the world's largest asset manager, extends its long reach to Arkansas public companies and beyond. read more >

Home BancShares Becomes 4th Arkansas Bank to Pay Back TARP Money

2 years ago –

Home BancShares Inc. of Conway became the fourth Arkansas-based financial institution to come out from under the federal TARP program. Plus: A look at other banks that have not redeemed TARP shares read more >

Latest Step to Recapitalize at First Federal Pulls In $8.7 Million

2 years ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. will issue more than 2.9 million shares at an exercise price of $3 per share. read more >

First Federal Bancshares Gets $46.3 Million Bear State Investment

2 years ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. gets a $46.3 million infusion of new capital, with an investment by Bear State Financial Holdings LLC. read more >

Westrock Sets Sights on More Banking Deals

2 years ago –

Citing "a renaissance in community banks," Westrock Capital Partners is seeking to replicate its First Federal investment with other community bank opportunities. read more >

First Federal Bank Posts $5.6 Million Loss in 3Q

2 years ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. lost $5.6 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, according to its quarterly report filed with the Security and Exchange Commission Tuesday. read more >

First Federal Bancshares Posts Positive 2Q Income

3 years ago –

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. posted second-quarter net income of $637,000, up from a loss of $937,000 for the same period a year earlier. read more >