Exhibit 10.3

 

TERMINATION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND
RELEASE

 

THIS TERMINATION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
AND RELEASE (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of this          day of
                  , 2011 by and among First Federal Bancshares of
Arkansas, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), First Federal Bank, a
federally chartered savings bank (the “Bank”) and
                                               (the “Executive”).  Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement without definition will have the meaning assigned
to such terms in that certain Investment Agreement dated as of January 27, 2011
by and among the Company, the Bank and Bear State Financial Holdings, LLC, an
Arkansas limited liability company (the “Investment Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Bank and the Executive entered into that certain
Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement dated December 14,
2007 (as amended from time to time, the “Change in Control Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, Section Eight of the Change in Control Agreement permits the parties to
modify, waive or discharge the Change in Control Agreement by written agreement;
and

 

WHEREAS, as required pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement and for
consideration therein stated, which the parties hereto acknowledge as
sufficient, the parties wish to modify, waive and discharge the Change in
Control Agreement in its entirety with all rights and obligations stated therein
to terminate with no resulting rights or obligations surviving effective
immediately prior to the First Closing, and the Executive wishes to release the
Company and the Bank from any and all issues and claims in connection with the
Executive’s employment with the Company and the Bank prior to the First Closing
Date.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             The Change of Control Agreement is hereby discharged, terminated,
revoked and rescinded effective immediately prior to the First Closing, and no
party thereto shall have any rights or obligations under the terms of the Change
of Control Agreement following such effectiveness and any accrued rights or
duties shall be deemed to be modified, waived and discharged with no further
action required by the parties thereto.

 

2.             The Executive hereby releases the Company and the Bank from any
and all claims and issues under the Change of Control Agreement and the
Executive’s employment with the Company and the Bank arising, or due to an event
occurring, prior to the First Closing Date.

 

3.             The Executive shall have twenty-one (21) days from the date of
receipt of this Agreement to consider and accept its terms.  During this
twenty-one (21) day period and before signing below, the Executive is encouraged
to consult with an attorney regarding the terms of this Agreement at his own
expense.  The terms of this Agreement will expire at the conclusion of the
twenty-one (21) day period, if not accepted during that period of time.  The
Executive may sign the Agreement prior to the conclusion of the twenty-one (21)
day period.  If the Executive elects to do so, the Executive acknowledges that
he has done so voluntarily.  By executing this

 

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Agreement below, the Executive indicates that he is entering into this Agreement
freely, knowingly and voluntarily, with a full understanding of its terms.  The
Executive is advised, pursuant to the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
(“OWBPA”), that by signing this Agreement he is specifically waiving any claims
he might have which have accrued prior to the Effective Date (as defined below)
of the Agreement under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”).  The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement shall result in a waiver
and release of any rights the Executive may have under the ADEA, and
acknowledges and agrees that the Executive understands his rights under the
OWBPA, including but not limited to the Executive’s right to consider this
Agreement for a period of twenty-one (21) days after receipt of the Agreement. 
By releasing any such claims under the ADEA, in addition to all the other claims
released in this Agreement, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that he so
releases and waives these claims in exchange for the valuable consideration
referred to above. The Executive also acknowledges that he will have seven
(7) days from the date he signs this Agreement to revoke the Agreement by
notifying the Company and the Bank in writing prior to the expiration of the
seven (7) day period as prescribed above.  This Agreement shall not become
effective, therefore, and none of the benefits set forth in this Agreement will
become due or payable, until after the Effective Date of this Agreement (the
“Effective Date” is defined as the first day after the Executive has executed
the Agreement within the allotted 21-day period and the 7-day revocation period
has expired without revocation being exercised).

 

The Executive is hereby advised that he has twenty-one (21) calendar days to
review this Agreement and is hereby advised that he should consult with an
attorney prior to the execution of this Agreement.  The Executive agrees that
any modifications, material or otherwise, made to this Agreement do not restart
or affect in any manner the original twenty one (21) calendar day consideration
period.  Having elected to execute this Agreement, to fulfill the promises and
to receive the benefits hereunder, the Executive freely and knowingly, and after
due consideration, enters into this Agreement intending to waive, settle and
release all claims he has or might have against the Company and the Bank.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been entered into on the date indicated
above.

 

Attest:

 

FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES

 

 

OF ARKANSAS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attest:

 

FIRST FEDERAL BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE

TO

TERMINATION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND
RELEASE

 

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