Is Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) halal? Not Halal. Based on AAOIFI screening, Business First Bancshares, Inc. has involvement in prohibited business activities with a compliance score of 0/100 (Grade: F).

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

BFST: Is Business First Bancshares, Inc. Halal?

Not Halal

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

NASDAQFinancial ServicesUS

$28.56

-0.59%

About Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) serves as the bank holding company for b1BANK, delivering an extensive array of banking products and financial services. Its deposit offerings include checking, demand, money market, time, and savings accounts, alongside certificates of deposit, and modern conveniences such as remote and direct deposit capabilities. The company provides a diverse portfolio of lending solutions. These include commercial and industrial loans for working capital, equipment financing, asset acquisition, expansion, and development, featuring lines of credit, letters of credit, term loans, and borrowing base facilities. BFST also finances construction and development projects, commercial real estate, and residential properties, offering first and second lien mortgages for 1-4 family homes, plus home equity lines of credit. Consumer loan options span both secured and unsecured installment and term arrangements. Beyond traditional banking, BFST offers wealth management services, encompassing mutual funds, annuities, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), other investment products, fiduciary services, and private banking solutions. A wide range of additional financial tools are available, including debit and credit cards, comprehensive treasury and cash management services (such as merchant services, automated clearing house (ACH), lock-box, receivables factoring, and correspondent banking), and employee and payroll benefits solutions. Customer access points feature drive-through facilities, ATMs, night depositories, personalized checks, electronic funds transfer (EFT), domestic and international wire transfers, traveler's checks, vault services, sweep accounts, and robust online and mobile banking platforms, e-statements, and bank-by-mail services. As of March 1, 2022, Business First Bancshares operated approximately 48 full-service banking centers and three loan production offices across Louisiana, and in the Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sector: Financial Services 路 Industry: Banks - Regional

Shariah Compliance Status

AAOIFI Standard 21Updated Jun 18, 2026
F

Non-Compliant

Fails Shariah screening

0Score

Business Activity Screen

Failed

Checks if the business is involved in prohibited activities (alcohol, gambling, pork, conventional banking, etc.)

  • Prohibited industry: Banks - Regional

Financial Ratio Screen

Failed

Financial ratios must be below AAOIFI thresholds

Debt / Market Cap59.1% / 30.0%

Compliance History

Not Halal, unchanged since May 2026.

No status changes recorded since we began tracking.

Tracked since May 2026. Updates automatically on each re-screen.

Screened: Jun 18, 2026Fiscal: Q1 2026Source: FMP

Financial Overview

Market Cap

933.3M

Price

$28.56

Sector

Financial Services

Industry

Banks - Regional

Halal Alternatives in Financial Services

This stock is not Shariah-compliant. Here are halal alternatives from the same sector, ranked by compliance score:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) halal to invest in?
Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) is rated Not Halal under AAOIFI Standard 21 screening. It fails either the business activity screen (primary involvement in prohibited sectors such as conventional banking, alcohol, or gambling) or one of the quantitative financial ratio thresholds. Muslim investors should avoid or exit this position.
Why did Business First Bancshares, Inc. get a F compliance rating?
Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) received a grade of F (Non-Compliant) based on three AAOIFI Standard 21 financial ratios: debt-to-market-cap of 59.1% (limit 30%); interest-bearing deposits of 44.1% (limit 30%); prohibited income of 3975.28% (limit 5%). The grade reflects the margin of safety across all three ratios relative to their thresholds.
What could change Business First Bancshares, Inc.'s Shariah verdict?
Business First Bancshares, Inc.'s verdict is re-evaluated at each annual re-screen. Three events could change it: (1) the debt-to-market-cap ratio crossing 30%, typically from new debt issuance or a major drop in share price; (2) interest-bearing deposits exceeding 30% of market cap; or (3) prohibited revenue (alcohol, gambling, conventional finance, etc.) exceeding 5% of total revenue. Verdict flips are tracked in the compliance history section above.
How often is Business First Bancshares, Inc. re-screened for Shariah compliance?
Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) is re-screened annually using the most recent full-year financial data from SEC filings. HalalScreener also triggers an on-demand re-screen whenever the stored data is more than 7 days old, ensuring the ratios reflect the latest available financial statements. Last screened: Jun 18, 2026.

Screened according to AAOIFI Standard No. 21 路 For informational purposes only. Consult a qualified Islamic finance advisor before investing.

Disclaimer: This screening is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or religious advice. Compliance is evaluated using AAOIFI financial standards (debt, deposits, and prohibited income ratios) and publicly available data. Ethical, political, social, or environmental considerations are outside the scope of this screening. Individual scholars and methodologies may differ. Always consult a qualified Islamic finance advisor before making investment decisions.