A journal foil bearing system comprising: a journal housing member with a bore; a shaft received within the bore and supported for rotation about an axis relative to the journal housing member; a biasing foil member and a top foil member, the biasing foil member including at least one biasing foil (220, 230) received within the bore and disposed radially between the journal housing member and the shaft with respect to the axis, the top foil member including at least one top foil received within the bore and disposed radially between the at least one biasing foil (220, 230) and the shaft with respect to the axis; and a retainer arrangement that includes: an internal groove that extends in a depth direction from the bore, the internal groove having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending further in the depth direction than the second portion and including a seat surface of the internal groove; and a first top foil end and a second top foil end of the top foil member, the first top foil end configured to abut the second top foil end to arch-bind the at least one top foil within the bearing system, the first top foil end received in the first portion of the internal groove and configured to seat against the seat surface to limit rotation of the first top foil end about the axis, the second top foil end received in the second portion of the internal groove. a journal housing member with a bore; a shaft received within the bore and supported for rotation about an axis relative to the journal housing member; a biasing foil member and a top foil member, the biasing foil member including at least one biasing foil (220, 230) received within the bore and disposed radially between the journal housing member and the shaft with respect to the axis, the top foil member including at least one top foil received within the bore and disposed radially between the at least one biasing foil (220, 230) and the shaft with respect to the axis; and a retainer arrangement that includes: an internal groove that extends in a depth direction from the bore, the internal groove having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending further in the depth direction than the second portion and including a seat surface of the internal groove; and a first top foil end and a second top foil end of the top foil member, the first top foil end configured to abut the second top foil end to arch-bind the at least one top foil within the bearing system, the first top foil end received in the first portion of the internal groove and configured to seat against the seat surface to limit rotation of the first top foil end about the axis, the second top foil end received in the second portion of the internal groove. an internal groove that extends in a depth direction from the bore, the internal groove having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending further in the depth direction than the second portion and including a seat surface of the internal groove; and a first top foil end and a second top foil end of the top foil member, the first top foil end configured to abut the second top foil end to arch-bind the at least one top foil within the bearing system, the first top foil end received in the first portion of the internal groove and configured to seat against the seat surface to limit rotation of the first top foil end about the axis, the second top foil end received in the second portion of the internal groove.