-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Hu5C1r3EpKThR6ZFIdvuJ4fPoE9Gzt6YY+Ac0ULFt2gPPlYmihalolFqlUbd2NXe
 IekFmiFIc5FWv8CdymAQKg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001006424-05-000015.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0001006424-05-000015.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050527172009
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001006424-05-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001006424
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				710785261
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 HWY 62-65 NORTH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 550
		CITY:			HARRISON
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8707417641

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 HWY 62-65 NORTH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 550
		CITY:			HARRISON
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAVELLS KENNETH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237960

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28312
		FILM NUMBER:		05864932

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 HWY 62-65 NORTH
		CITY:			HARRISON
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		870-741-7641

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS INC
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 550
		CITY:			HARRISON
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001006424</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ffbh</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237960</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAVELLS KENNETH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 550</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARRISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7836</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7871</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4548</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Custodian for Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth Savells by Sherri Billings POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----