What is Business First Bancshares, Inc.'s Shariah compliance score?

Business First Bancshares, Inc.'s (BFST) compliance score is being calculated. Check HalalScreener.app for the latest AAOIFI screening results.

Does Business First Bancshares, Inc. pass AAOIFI screening?

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) does not pass AAOIFI Shariah screening. AAOIFI requires: (1) no primary involvement in prohibited activities like alcohol, gambling, or conventional banking, (2) debt-to-market-cap below 30% (BFST: 54.6%), (3) interest-bearing deposits below 30% (BFST: 40.7%), and (4) prohibited income below 5% (BFST: 3975.3%). HalalScreener provides free AAOIFI screening for 10,000+ stocks at halalscreener.app.

How much purification is needed for Business First Bancshares, Inc. stock?

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) has a non-permissible income ratio of 3975.28%. Muslim investors should purify this percentage of any dividends received and capital gains realized from BFST shares by donating it to charity. HalalScreener's purification calculator at halalscreener.app/en/purification automates this calculation using the latest financial data.

Where can I screen Business First Bancshares, Inc. for Shariah compliance for free?

HalalScreener (halalscreener.app) offers free Shariah compliance screening for Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) and 10,000+ other US-listed stocks, ETFs, and 100+ cryptocurrencies. The screening uses AAOIFI Standard No. 21 and shows all financial ratios transparently. No credit card or signup required for basic screening. HalalScreener also includes an AI Islamic Scholar for follow-up questions about BFST's compliance across different madhabs (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali, Ja'fari).

BFST: Is Business First Bancshares, Inc. Halal?

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

NASDAQFinancial ServicesUS

$30.17

+0.30%

Market Cap: 985.9M

Compliance Status

Not Halal

Screened on Jul 18, 2026 · AAOIFI Standard 21

Non-Compliant

0Score

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).

AvoidBorderlineClean

Business activity

Involved in prohibited business activities.

Failed

Company debt

Over the limit

How much the company borrows, compared to its total value. AAOIFI allows up to 30%.

54.6% of 30.0% limit

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

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

Shariah Compliance Status

AAOIFI Standard 21Updated Jul 18, 2026

Business Activity Screen

Failed

Checks 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.

Fiscal: Q1 2026Data source: EDGAR

Halal Alternatives in Financial Services

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

GLDA+

SPDR Gold Shares

$368.41

+0.17%

SLVA+

iShares Silver Trust

$50.78

+0.47%

PSLVA+

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

$21.30

+6.23%

PHYSA+

Sprott Physical Gold Trust

$31.75

+0.19%

ABA+

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.

$36.03

-1.13%

More Financial Services Stocks

JPM

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Visa Inc.

Mastercard Incorporated

A+

PYPL

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

C+

BAC

Bank of America Corporation

WFC

Wells Fargo & Company

Free · No credit card required

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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 54.6% (limit 30%); interest-bearing deposits of 40.7% (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: Jul 18, 2026.

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.