Compliance Status
Not Halal
Screened on Oct 15, 2026 · AAOIFI Standard 21
Non-Compliant
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).
Quote this verdict
HalalScreener rates Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) Not Halal, 0/100, grade F under AAOIFI Standard 21, screened Oct 15, 2026. Source: https://halalscreener.app/en/stock/BFST
Business activity
Involved in prohibited business activities.
Company debt
Over the limitHow much the company borrows, compared to its total value. AAOIFI allows up to 30%.
The verdict above is final and free.
Pro members can verify every number behind it: interest-bearing deposits, prohibited income breakdown, and the full AAOIFI math.
Screened according to AAOIFI Standard 21
What this means for you
Most scholars advise not holding BFST
It does not pass AAOIFI Shariah screening.
See halal alternatives from the same sector further down this page
BFST: Is Business First Bancshares, Inc. Halal?
Business First Bancshares, Inc.
$31.31
Market Cap: 1.0B
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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 · Industry: Banks - Regional
Why this does not pass
- Business activity: the company earns from an activity AAOIFI treats as prohibited.
- Interest-bearing debt is 61.3% of market cap, over the 30% AAOIFI limit.
- Interest-bearing deposits are over the 30% limit.
Screened under AAOIFI Standard 21. The exact figure behind this is part of Pro; the failing check and its limit are always free.
Shariah Compliance Status
See which ratio caused the failure.
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AI Compliance Insight
PROInstitutional-grade Shariah analysis
See why BFST is rated Not Halal with institutional-grade analysis
Business Activity Screen
FailedChecks if the business is involved in prohibited activities (alcohol, gambling, pork, conventional banking, etc.)
- Prohibited industry: Banks - Regional
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.
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
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Screened according to AAOIFI Standard No. 21 · 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.