Homestead Financial hired an investment banker.

The Burlingame, Calif.-based savings and loan holding company, which has assets of about $4 billion, said it has retained Lazard Freres & Co. to help it find ways to boost its stock value. A merger with a larger firm, joint ventures or the sale of a minority interest in the company are all being considered, Homestead Financial said. “I believe a relationship with a third party” could benefit the company and its shareholders, Chairman Lawrence Weissberg said in a statement.