Exhibit 99.1

Ozark Capital Trust to Redeem Trust Preferred Securities

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2004--Bank of the
Ozarks, Inc. (NASDAQ:OZRK), today announced that its Delaware business
trust, Ozark Capital Trust (NASDAQ:OZRKP) (the "Trust"), has called
for redemption and intends to redeem on June 18, 2004 (the "Redemption
Date") all 1,725,000 outstanding shares of its 9.0% Cumulative
Preferred Securities, Liquidation Amount $10.00 per Preferred Security
(the "Preferred Securities"), for a redemption price of $10.00 per
share, plus $0.195 in accrued and unpaid dividends thereon through the
Redemption Date.
    On and after June 18, 2004, except in limited circumstances set
forth in the Trust's Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dividends
on the Preferred Securities will cease, and the holders thereof will
have no further rights as such holders, other than the right to
receive $10.00 per share plus accrued dividends through June 18, 2004,
upon surrender of their 9.0% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities.
    The record date for the June 18, 2004 redemption will be June 17,
2004. Holders of record on the record date will receive the accrued
dividend payment of $0.195 per share.
    The information contained in this release is not intended as a
solicitation to buy any securities of Bank of the Ozarks, Inc., and is
provided only for general information.
    Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. is a bank holding company with $1.4
billion in total assets as of March 31, 2004, and trades on the NASDAQ
National Market under the symbol "OZRK". The Company owns a state
chartered subsidiary bank that conducts banking operations through 42
offices in 26 communities throughout northern, western and central
Arkansas and loan production offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and
Frisco and Dallas, Texas. The Company may be contacted at (501)
978-2265 or P. O. Box 8811, Little Rock, Arkansas 72231-8811. The
Company's website is: www.bankozarks.com.

    CONTACT: Bank of the Ozarks, Inc., Little Rock
             Susan Blair, 501-978-2217