-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UBs9KcxDZZLGf/9ljiJ903rzhx5aXVECUnRYBUR0eIMih41jC/tE+qJf4dzzXC97
 6hCNBJBws52c5LtoSl4gQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-021104.txt : 20030829
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-021104.hdr.sgml : 20030829
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030829155841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-021104
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030829

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP /AR/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001060770
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				510379417
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16101 LAGRANDE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 103
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5013247255

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16101 LAGRANDE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 103
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARDNER RICK D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204340

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25239
		FILM NUMBER:		03874340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10909 LANSDOWN LANE
		CITY:			FORT SMITH
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72908
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd15140.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-28</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001060770</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP /AR/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUFI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204340</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARDNER RICK D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>29 CHATEL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLE ROCK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72223</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Administrative Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5031</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndi
rectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.84</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</v
alue></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><valu
e>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-06-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equit
ySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.00</value></conversionOrE
xercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndi
rectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.38</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6830</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlying
SecurityShares><value>6830</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.83</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-28</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5540</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode
></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5540</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Rick D. Gardner</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----