CONWAY, Ark., Sept. 15, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home BancShares, Inc. (NasdaqGS:HOMB - News) announced that they were one of 33 banks and thrifts that comprise the Sandler O'Neill Sm-All Stars - Class of 2008. Five hundred seventy-four publicly traded banks and thrifts with a market cap of less than $2 billion were evaluated to determine the small-cap depository institutions that are excelling among their peer group. The objective of the Sm-All Stars is to identify the top performing small-cap banks and thrifts in the nation. Sandler O'Neill's evaluation focused primarily on growth, profitability, credit quality, and capital strength.

Home BancShares was the only bank from Arkansas to receive this honor. The Company's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.9% was 260 basis points higher than the Sm-All Stars median of 10.3%. The Company's loan growth and EPS growth also exceeded the Sm-All Stars median benchmarks.

``It is quite an honor for our Company to be included with the best of the best of small-cap banks and thrifts,'' said John Allison, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ``To achieve an honor like this in only our second full year of being a publicly traded Company is a tribute to the dedication of our partners, associates and boards of directors.''

Home BancShares, Inc. is a financial holding company, headquartered in Conway, Arkansas, with six wholly owned bank subsidiaries that provide a broad range of commercial and retail banking and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals and municipalities. Four of the bank subsidiaries are located in the central Arkansas market area, a fifth serves Stone County in north central Arkansas, and a sixth serves the Florida Keys and southwestern Florida. Recently, the Company announced plans to combine the charters of its six banks into a single charter and adopt Centennial Bank as their common name. This combination is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The Company's common stock is traded through the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ``HOMB''.

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's plans, expectations, goals and outlook for the future. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements of this type speak only as of the date of this news release. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties. Various factors, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, credit quality, interest rates, loan demand and changes in the assumptions used in making the forward-looking statements, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Additional information on factors that might affect Home BancShares Inc.'s financial results are included in its Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          Home BancShares, Inc. 
          Brian S. Davis, Investor Relations Officer 
          (501) 328-4770