First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas

Bear State Financial Inc. of Little Rock, the publicly traded holding company for Bear State Bank, announced Monday that it will pay $70 million for a bank in Springfield, Missouri. The deal will push Bear State's asset base to about $2 billion and expand its network to 55 branches. read more >

Politics, white-collar crime, banking acquisitions, Turner Grain and more. Arkansas Business recaps the top 10 stories from the year that was 2014. read more >

Total bank deposits in Arkansas declined by about a half-percent in the 12 months that ended June 30, but that certainly doesn’t mean the state’s banking industry is stagnant. read more >

The sale of Metropolitan National Bank is one of three prominent bank deals that’s been playing out in 2013. read more >