Bear State Financial (formerly First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas) is the holding company for Bear State Bank and Metropolitan Bank, which serve businesses and individuals through a total of 55 branches mostly in Arkansas but also in southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri. Founded in 1934, the thrift offers standard retail services such as checking and savings accounts, money markets, and CDs. More than 50% of the bank's loan portfolio is made up of one-to-four-family residential and commercial real estate mortgages, while business loans make up another 15%. The bank changed its name in mid-2014 to match its holding company's brand.