Edgar Filing: SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP

f10k_031615.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x	Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2014

o	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission file number 0-6253

SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Arkansas	71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)	identification No.)

501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas	71601
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(870) 541-1000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.01 par value	The NASDAQ Global Select Market®
(Title of each class)	(Name of each exchange on which registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge in definitive proxy or in information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.). o Yes x No

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2014, was $585,950,357 based upon the last trade price as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® of $39.39.

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock as of February 28, 2015, was 29,836,794.

Part III is incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 18, 2015.

Introduction

The Company has chosen to combine our Annual Report to Shareholders with our Form 10-K, which is a document that U.S. public companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission every year. Many readers are familiar with “Part II” of the Form 10-K, as it contains the business information and financial statements that were included in the financial sections of our past Annual Reports. These portions include information about our business that we believe will be of interest to investors. We hope investors will find it useful to have all of this information available in a single document.

The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to report information in the Form 10-K by “incorporated by reference” from another part of the Form 10-K, or from the proxy statement. You will see that information is “incorporated by reference” in various parts of our Form 10-K.

A more detailed table of contents for the entire Form 10-K follows:

FORM 10-K INDEX


Part I

Item 1	Business	3
Item 1A	Risk Factors	11
Item 1B	Unresolved Staff Comments	17
Item 2	Properties	17
Item 3	Legal Proceedings	17

Part II

Item 5	Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	17
Item 6	Selected Consolidated Financial Data	19
Item 7	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21
Item 7A	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	51
Item 8	Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	54
Item 9	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	116
Item 9A	Controls and Procedures	116
Item 9B	Other Information	116

Part III

Item 10	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	116
Item 11	Executive Compensation	116
Item 12	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	116
Item 13	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	116
Item 14	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	116

Part IV

Item 15	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	117

Signatures		122

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period(s) or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “foresee,” “believe,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “could” or “intend,” future or conditional verb tenses, and variations or negatives of such terms. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the Company’s future growth, revenue, assets, asset quality, profitability and customer service, critical accounting policies, net interest margin, non-interest revenue, market conditions related to the Company’s stock repurchase program, allowance for loan losses, the effect of certain new accounting standards on the Company’s financial statements, income tax deductions, credit quality, the level of credit losses from lending commitments, net interest revenue, interest rate sensitivity, loan loss experience, liquidity, capital resources, market risk, earnings, effect of pending litigation, acquisition strategy, legal and regulatory limitations and compliance and competition.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: the effects of future economic conditions, governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; the risks of changes in interest rates and their effects on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; the costs of evaluating possible acquisitions and the risks inherent in integrating acquisitions; the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the Internet; the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses, fair value for covered loans, covered other real estate owned and FDIC indemnification asset; and those factors set forth under Item 1A. Risk-Factors of this report and other cautionary statements set forth elsewhere in this report. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.

We believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to us on the date hereof. However, given the described uncertainties and risks, we cannot guarantee our future performance or results of operations and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and all written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section.

PART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

Company Overview

Simmons First National Corporation (the “Company”) is a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The Company is headquartered in Arkansas with total assets of $4.6 billion, loans of $2.7 billion, deposits of $3.9 billion and equity capital of $494 million as of December 31, 2014. We conduct banking operations through more than 100 branches, or “financial centers,” located in communities throughout Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.

We seek to build shareholder value by (i) focusing on strong asset quality, (ii) maintaining strong capital (iii) managing our liquidity position, (iv) improving our operational efficiency (v) opportunistically growing our business, both organically and through acquisitions of financial institutions.

Subsidiary Bank

Our subsidiary bank, Simmons First National Bank (“Simmons Bank” or “lead bank”), is a national bank which has been in operation since 1903. Simmons First Trust Company N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simmons Bank, performs the trust and fiduciary business operations for Simmons Bank. Simmons First Investment Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simmons Bank, is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and performs the broker-dealer and retail investment operations for Simmons Bank. Simmons First Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simmons Bank, is a Registered Investment Advisor. Simmons First Insurance Services, Inc., is an insurance agency providing life, auto, home, business and commercial insurance coverage.

Simmons Bank and its subsidiaries provide complete banking services to individuals and businesses throughout the market areas they serve. Simmons Bank offers consumer, real estate and commercial loans, checking, savings and time deposits. We have also developed through our experience and scale and through acquisitions, specialized products and services that are in addition to those offered by the typical community bank. Those products include credit cards, trust services, investments, agricultural finance lending, equipment lending, insurance, consumer finance and SBA lending.

Community Bank Strategy

Historically, we utilized separately chartered community banks, supported by our lead bank to provide full service banking products and services across our footprint. On March 5, 2014, we announced the planned consolidation of our six smaller subsidiary banks into Simmons First National Bank. Three banks, Jonesboro, Searcy and Hot Springs, were merged into Simmons Bank in May 2014. The remaining three banks, Lake Village, Russellville and El Dorado, were merged into Simmons Bank in August 2014. We made the decision to consolidate in order to effectively meet the increased regulatory burden facing banks, to reduce certain operating costs and more efficiently perform operational duties. After the charter consolidation, Simmons Bank operates as four separate regions. Below is a listing of our regions:

Region	Headquarters

South Arkansas Region	Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Central/Northeast Arkansas Region	Little Rock, Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas Region	Rogers, Arkansas
Kansas/Missouri Region	Springfield, Missouri

Growth Strategy

Over the past 25 years, as we have expanded our markets and services, our growth strategy has evolved and diversified. From 1989 through 1991, in addition to our internal branching expansion, we acquired nine branches from the Resolution Trust Corporation, the federal agency that oversaw the sale or liquidation of assets of closed savings and loans institutions.

From 1995 to 2005, our strategic focus was on creating geographic diversification throughout Arkansas, driven primarily by acquisitions of other banking institutions. During this period we completed acquisitions of nine financial institutions and a total of 20 branches from five other banking institutions, some of which allowed us to enter key growth markets such as Conway, Hot Springs, Russellville, Searcy and Northwest Arkansas. In 2005, we initiated a de novo branching strategy to enter selected new Arkansas markets and to complement our presence in existing markets. From 2005 to 2008, we opened 12 new financial centers, a regional headquarters in Northwest Arkansas and a corporate office in Little Rock. We substantially completed our de novo branching strategy in 2008.

In late 2007, as we anticipated deteriorating economic conditions, we concentrated on maintaining our strong asset quality, building capital and improving our liquidity position. We intensified our focus on loan underwriting and on monitoring our loan portfolio in order to maintain asset quality, which is well above our peer group and the industry average. From late 2007 to December 31, 2009, our liquidity position (net overnight funds sold) improved by approximately $150 million as a result of a strategic initiative to introduce deposit products that grew our core deposits in transaction and savings accounts and improved our deposit mix. Transaction and savings deposits increased from 48% of total deposits as of December 31, 2007, to 62% of total deposits as of December 31, 2009, to 63% of total deposits as of December 31, 2010, to 67% of total deposits as of December 31, 2011 and to 70% of total deposits as of December 31, 2012.

In December 2009, we completed a secondary stock offering by issuing a total of 3,047,500 shares of common stock, including the over-allotment, at a price of $24.50 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The net proceeds of the offering after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were approximately $70.5 million. The additional capital positioned us to take advantage of unprecedented acquisition opportunities through FDIC-assisted transactions of failed banks.

In 2010, we expanded outside the borders of Arkansas by acquiring two failed institutions through FDIC-assisted transactions. The first was a $100 million failed bank located in Springfield, Missouri and the second was a $400 million failed thrift located in Olathe, Kansas. On both transactions, we entered into a loss share agreement with the FDIC, which provides significant protection of 80% of covered assets. As part of the acquisitions, we recognized a pre-tax bargain purchase gain of $3.0 million and $18.3 million, respectively, on the Missouri and Kansas transactions.

In 2012, we acquired two additional failed institutions through FDIC-assisted transactions. The first was a $300 million failed bank located in St. Louis, Missouri and the second was a $200 million failed bank located in Sedalia, Missouri. On both transactions, we again entered into a loss share agreement with the FDIC to provide 80% protection of a significant portion of the assets. As part of the acquisitions, we recognized a pre-tax bargain purchase gain of $1.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, on the Missouri transactions.

In 2013, we completed the acquisition of Metropolitan National Bank (“Metropolitan” or “MNB”) from Rogers Bancshares, Inc. (“RBI”). The purchase was completed through an auction of the MNB stock by the U. S. Bankruptcy Court as a part of the Chapter 11 proceeding of RBI. MNB, which was headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, served central and northwest Arkansas and had total assets of $950 million. Upon completion of the acquisition, MNB and our Rogers, Arkansas chartered bank, Simmons First Bank of Northwest Arkansas were merged into our lead bank. As an in market acquisition, MNB had significant branch overlap with our existing branch footprint. We completed the systems conversion for MNB on March 21, 2014 and simultaneously closed 27 branch locations that had overlapping footprints with other locations. We continue to actively pursue additional acquisition opportunities that meet our strategic guidelines regarding mergers and acquisitions.

On August 31, 2014, we completed the acquisition of Delta Trust & Banking Corporation (“Delta Trust”), including its wholly-owned bank subsidiary Delta Trust & Bank. Also headquartered in Little Rock, Delta Trust had total assets of $420 million. The acquisition further expanded Simmons Bank's presence in south, central and northwest Arkansas and allows us the opportunity to provide services that have not previously been offered with the addition of Delta Trust's insurance agency and securities brokerage service. We merged Delta Trust & Bank into Simmons Bank and completed the systems conversion on October 24, 2014. At that time, we also closed 4 branch locations with overlapping footprints.

On March 4, 2014 the Company filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Subsequently, on June 18, 2014, we filed Amendment No. 1 to the shelf registration statement. When declared effective, the shelf registration statement, will allow us to raise capital from time to time, up to an aggregate of $300 million, through the sale of common stock, preferred stock, stock warrants, stock rights or a combination thereof, subject to market conditions. Specific terms and prices are determined at the time of any offering under a separate prospectus supplement that the Company is required to file with the SEC at the time of the specific offering.

Acquisition Strategy

We intend to focus our near term acquisition strategy on traditional acquisitions. We believe that the challenging economic environment combined with more restrictive bank regulatory reforms will cause many financial institutions to seek merger partners in the near to intermediate future. We also believe our community banking philosophy, access to capital and successful acquisition history position us as a purchaser of choice for community banks seeking a strong partner.

We expect that our primary geographic target area for acquisitions will continue to be Arkansas and its contiguous states. Our priority will be to focus on acquisitions that would complement our current footprint in the Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee markets. The senior management teams of both our parent company and lead bank have had extensive experience during the past twenty-five years in acquiring banks, branches and deposits and post-acquisition integration of operations. We believe this experience positions us to successfully acquire and integrate banks.

With respect to negotiated community bank acquisitions:

We have historically retained the target institution’s senior management and have provided them with an appealing level of autonomy post-integration. We intend to continue to pursue negotiated community bank acquisitions and we believe that our history with respect to such acquisitions has positioned us as an acquirer of choice for community banks.

·	We encourage acquired community banks, their boards and associates to maintain their community involvement, while empowering the banks to offer a broader array of financial products and services. We believe this approach leads to enhanced profitability after the acquisition.

Loan Risk Assessment

As part of our ongoing risk assessment, the Company has an Asset Quality Review Committee of management that meets quarterly to review the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The Committee reviews the status of past due, non-performing and other impaired loans, reserve ratios, and additional performance indicators for its subsidiary bank. The appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses is determined based upon the aforementioned performance factors, and provision adjustments are made accordingly.

The Board of Directors reviews the adequacy of its allowance for loan losses on a monthly basis giving consideration to past due loans, non-performing loans, other impaired loans, and current economic conditions. Our loan review department monitors loan information monthly. In addition, the loan review department prepares an analysis of the allowance for loan losses for each bank region twice a year, and reports the results to our Enterprise Risk Committee. In order to verify the accuracy of the monthly analysis of the allowance for loan losses, the loan review department performs a detailed review of each region’s loan files on a semi-annual basis. Additionally, we have instituted a Special Asset Committee for the purpose of reviewing criticized loans in regard to collateral adequacy, workout strategies and proper reserve allocations.

The Simmons Bank Board of Directors has delegated oversight of all acquired assets (covered and not covered by FDIC loss share agreements) to the Acquired Asset Loan Committee, comprised of the Corporate CEO, President and an Executive Vice President, along with several Simmons Bank executives. The Board authorizes the Committee to transact loan origination, renewal and workout procedures relative to FDIC-assisted and traditional acquisitions.

Competition

There is significant competition among commercial banks in our various market areas. In addition, we also compete with other providers of financial services, such as savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, securities firms, insurance companies, full service brokerage firms and discount brokerage firms. Some of our competitors have greater resources and, as such, may have higher lending limits and may offer other services that we do not provide. We generally compete on the basis of customer service and responsiveness to customer needs, available loan and deposit products, the rates of interest charged on loans, the rates of interest paid for funds, and the availability and pricing of trust and brokerage services.

Principal Offices and Available Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601, and our telephone number is (870) 541-1000. We also have corporate offices in Little Rock, Arkansas. We maintain a website at http://www.simmonsfirst.com. On this website under the section “Investor Relations”, we make our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available free of charge, along with other Company news and announcements.

Employees

As of January 31, 2015, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 1,331 full time equivalent employees. None of the employees is represented by any union or similar groups, and we have not experienced any labor disputes or strikes arising from any such organized labor groups. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

Executive Officers of the Company

The following is a list of all executive officers of the Company. The Board of Directors elects executive officers annually.

NAME	AGE	POSITION	YEARS SERVED

George A. Makris, Jr.	58	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	2
David L. Bartlett	63	President and Chief Banking Officer	18
Robert A. Fehlman	50	Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer	26
Marty D. Casteel	63	Executive Vice President	26
David W. Garner	45	Executive Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer	17
Susan F. Smith	53	Executive Vice President/Corporate Strategy and Performance and Secretary	17
Tina M. Groves	45	Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer	9
Patrick A. Burrow	61	Executive Vice President and General Counsel	0
Stephen C. Massanelli	59	Executive Vice President/Organizational Development	0

Board of Directors of the Company

The following is a list of the Board of Directors of the Company as of December 31, 2014, along with their principal occupation.

NAME	PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION

George A. Makris, Jr. (1)	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	Simmons First National Corporation

David L. Bartlett	President and Chief Banking Officer
	Simmons First National Corporation

William E. Clark, II	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	Clark Contractors, LLC

Steven A. Cossé	President and Chief Executive Officer (retired) and Director
	Murphy Oil Corporation

Edward Drilling	President
	AT&T Arkansas

Sharon L. Gaber	Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
	University of Arkansas

Eugene Hunt	Attorney
	Hunt Law Firm

W. Scott McGeorge	President
	Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Company

Harry L. Ryburn	Orthodontist (retired)

Robert L. Shoptaw	Chairman of the Board
	Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

(1)

Mr. Makris was elected as CEO – Elect on August 13, 2012, effective January 1, 2013. He succeeded J. Thomas May as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon Mr. May’s retirement on December 31, 2013. Mr. Makris has served on the Board of Directors of the Company since 1997 and served as chairman of the Company’s Audit & Security Committee from 2007 until his resignation upon his election to CEO – Elect. Prior to his election, he served as President of M. K. Distributors, Inc.

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

The Company

The Company, as a bank holding company, is subject to both federal and state regulation. Under federal law, a bank holding company generally must obtain approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") before acquiring ownership or control of the assets or stock of a bank or a bank holding company. Prior to approval of any proposed acquisition, the FRB will review the effect on competition of the proposed acquisition, as well as other regulatory issues.

The federal law generally prohibits a bank holding company from directly or indirectly engaging in non-banking activities. This prohibition does not include loan servicing, liquidating activities or other activities so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies, including Simmons First National Corporation, which have elected to qualify as financial holding companies, are authorized to engage in financial activities. Financial activities include any activity that is financial in nature or any activity that is incidental or complimentary to a financial activity.

As a financial holding company, we are required to file with the FRB an annual report and such additional information as may be required by law. From time to time, the FRB examines the financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries. The FRB, through civil and criminal sanctions, is authorized to exercise enforcement powers over bank holding companies (including financial holding companies) and non-banking subsidiaries, to limit activities that represent unsafe or unsound practices or constitute violations of law.

We are subject to certain laws and regulations of the state of Arkansas applicable to financial and bank holding companies, including examination and supervision by the Arkansas Bank Commissioner. Under Arkansas law, a financial or bank holding company is prohibited from owning more than one subsidiary bank, if any subsidiary bank owned by the holding company has been chartered for less than five years and, further, requires the approval of the Arkansas Bank Commissioner for any acquisition of more than 25% of the capital stock of any other bank located in Arkansas. No bank acquisition may be approved if, after such acquisition, the holding company would control, directly or indirectly, banks having 25% of the total bank deposits in the state of Arkansas, excluding deposits of other banks and public funds.

Federal legislation allows bank holding companies (including financial holding companies) from any state to acquire banks located in any state without regard to state law, provided that the holding company (1) is adequately capitalized, (2) is adequately managed, (3) would not control more than 10% of the insured deposits in the United States or more than 30% of the insured deposits in such state, and (4) such bank has been in existence at least five years if so required by the applicable state law.

Subsidiary Banks

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company realigned the regulatory oversight for its affiliate banks in order to create efficiencies through regulatory standardization. We operated as a multi-bank holding company and over the years, have acquired several banks. In accordance with the corporate strategy, in place at that time, of leaving the bank structure unchanged, each acquired bank stayed intact as did its regulatory structure. As a result, the Company’s eight affiliate banks were regulated by the Arkansas State Bank Department, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and/or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”).

Following the regulatory realignment, the lead bank remained a national bank regulated by the OCC while the other affiliate banks became state member banks with the Arkansas State Bank Department as their primary regulator and the Federal Reserve as their federal regulator. Because of the overlap in footprint, during the fourth quarter of 2013 we merged Simmons First Bank of Northwest Arkansas into Simmons Bank in conjunction with our acquisition of Metropolitan, reducing the number of affiliate state member banks to six. On March 5, 2014, we announced the planned consolidation of our six smaller subsidiary banks into Simmons Bank. After the subsidiary banks were merged into the lead bank, the OCC remained Simmons Bank’s primary regulator.

The lending powers of our subsidiary bank are generally subject to certain restrictions, including the amount, which may be lent to a single borrower. Simmons Bank is a member of the FDIC, which provides insurance on deposits of each member bank up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund. For this protection, Simmons Bank pays a statutory assessment to the FDIC each year.

Federal law substantially restricts transactions between banks and their affiliates. As a result, our subsidiary bank is limited in making extensions of credit to the Company, investing in the stock or other securities of the Company and engaging in other financial transactions with the Company. Those transactions that are permitted must generally be undertaken on terms at least as favorable to the bank as those prevailing in comparable transactions with independent third parties.

Potential Enforcement Action for Bank Holding Companies and Banks

Enforcement proceedings seeking civil or criminal sanctions may be instituted against any bank, any financial or bank holding company, any director, officer, employee or agent of the bank or holding company, which is believed by the federal banking agencies to be violating any administrative pronouncement or engaged in unsafe and unsound practices. In addition, the FDIC may terminate the insurance of accounts, upon determination that the insured institution has engaged in certain wrongful conduct or is in an unsound condition to continue operations.

Risk-Weighted Capital Requirements for the Company and the Subsidiary Banks

Since 1993, banking organizations (including financial holding companies, bank holding companies and banks) were required to meet a minimum ratio of Total Capital to Total Risk-Weighted Assets of 8%, of which at least 4% must be in the form of Tier 1 Capital. A well-capitalized institution is one that has at least a 10% "total risk-based capital" ratio. For a tabular summary of our risk-weighted capital ratios, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital" and Note 20, Stockholders’ Equity, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

A banking organization's qualifying total capital consists of two components: Tier 1 Capital and Tier 2 Capital. Tier 1 Capital is an amount equal to the sum of common shareholders' equity, hybrid capital instruments (instruments with characteristics of debt and equity) in an amount up to 25% of Tier 1 Capital, certain preferred stock and the minority interest in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. For bank holding companies and financial holding companies, goodwill (net of any deferred tax liability associated with that goodwill) may not be included in Tier 1 Capital. Identifiable intangible assets may be included in Tier 1 Capital for banking organizations, in accordance with certain further requirements. At least 50% of the banking organization's total regulatory capital must consist of Tier 1 Capital.

Tier 2 Capital is an amount equal to the sum of the qualifying portion of the allowance for loan losses, certain preferred stock not included in Tier 1, hybrid capital instruments (instruments with characteristics of debt and equity), certain long-term debt securities and eligible term subordinated debt, in an amount up to 50% of Tier 1 Capital. The eligibility of these items for inclusion as Tier 2 Capital is subject to certain additional requirements and limitations of the federal banking agencies.

Under the risk-based capital guidelines, balance sheet assets and certain off-balance sheet items, such as standby letters of credit, are assigned to one of four-risk weight categories (0%, 20%, 50%, or 100%), according to the nature of the asset, its collateral or the identity of the obligor or guarantor. The aggregate amount in each risk category is adjusted by the risk weight assigned to that category to determine weighted values, which are then added to determine the total risk-weighted assets for the banking organization. For example, an asset, such as a commercial loan, assigned to a 100% risk category, is included in risk-weighted assets at its nominal face value, but a loan secured by a one-to-four family residence is included at only 50% of its nominal face value. The applicable ratios reflect capital, as so determined, divided by risk-weighted assets, as so determined. For information regarding upcoming changes to risk-based capital guidelines, see “Basel III Capital Rules” later in this section.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act ("FDICIA"), enacted in 1991, requires the FDIC to increase assessment rates for insured banks and authorizes one or more "special assessments," as necessary for the repayment of funds borrowed by the FDIC or any other necessary purpose. As directed in FDICIA, the FDIC has adopted a transitional risk-based assessment system, under which the assessment rate for insured banks will vary according to the level of risk incurred in the bank's activities. The risk category and risk-based assessment for a bank is determined from its classification, pursuant to the regulation, as well capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized.

FDICIA substantially revised the bank regulatory provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other federal banking statutes, requiring federal banking agencies to establish capital measures and classifications. Pursuant to the regulations issued under FDICIA, a depository institution will be deemed to be well capitalized if it significantly exceeds the minimum level required for each relevant capital measure; adequately capitalized if it meets each such measure; undercapitalized if it fails to meet any such measure; significantly undercapitalized if it is significantly below any such measure; and critically undercapitalized if it fails to meet any critical capital level set forth in regulations. The federal banking agencies must promptly mandate corrective actions by banks that fail to meet the capital and related requirements in order to minimize losses to the FDIC. The FDIC and OCC advised the Company that the subsidiary banks have been classified as well capitalized under these regulations.

The federal banking agencies are required by FDICIA to prescribe standards for banks and bank holding companies (including financial holding companies) relating to operations and management, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation. A bank or bank holding company that fails to comply with such standards will be required to submit a plan designed to achieve compliance. If no plan is submitted or the plan is not implemented, the bank or holding company would become subject to additional regulatory action or enforcement proceedings.

A variety of other provisions included in FDICIA may affect the operations of the Company and the subsidiary banks, including new reporting requirements, revised regulatory standards for real estate lending, "truth in savings" provisions, and the requirement that a depository institution give 90 days prior notice to customers and regulatory authorities before closing any branch.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

On July 21, 2010, the President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), which significantly changes the regulation of financial institutions and the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions affecting large and small financial institutions alike, including several provisions that profoundly affect how community banks, thrifts, and small bank and thrift holding companies are regulated in the future. Among other things, these provisions abolish the Office of Thrift Supervision and transfer its functions to the other federal banking agencies, relax rules regarding interstate branching, allow financial institutions to pay interest on business checking accounts, and impose new capital requirements on bank and thrift holding companies.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires that the amount of any interchange fee charged by a debit card issuer with respect to a debit card transaction must be reasonable and proportional to the cost incurred by the issuer. Effective October 1, 2011, the FRB set the interchange rate cap at $0.21 per transaction plus five basis points multiplied by the value of the transaction. While the restrictions on interchange fees do not apply to banks that, together with their affiliates, have assets of less than $10 billion, the rule has affected the competitiveness of debit cards issued by smaller banks. If our bank subsidiary exceeds $10 billion in total assets, then it will become subject to the interchange rate limits of larger banks which may negatively impact our interchange revenue.

The Dodd-Frank Act also established the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “CFPB”) as an independent entity within the Federal Reserve, which will be given the authority to promulgate consumer protection regulations applicable to all entities offering consumer financial services or products, including banks. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act includes a series of provisions covering mortgage loan origination standards affecting, among other things, originator compensation, minimum repayment standards, and pre-payment penalties. The Dodd-Frank Act contains numerous other provisions affecting financial institutions of all types, many of which may have an impact on our operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways.

Because many of the regulations required to implement the Dodd-Frank Act have been only recently issued, or have not yet been issued, the statute’s effect on the financial services industry in general, and on us in particular, is uncertain at this time. The Dodd-Frank Act is likely to affect our cost of doing business, however, and may limit or expand the scope of our permissible activities and affect the competitive balance within our industry and market areas. Our management continues to actively review the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and to assess its probable impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. However, given the sweeping nature of the Dodd-Frank Act and other federal government initiatives, we expect that the Company’s regulatory compliance costs will increase over time.

FDIC Deposit Insurance and Assessments

Our customer deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF) up to $250,000 per separately insured depositor.

The Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, changed how the FDIC calculates deposit insurance premiums payable by insured depository institutions. The Dodd-Frank Act directs the FDIC to amend its assessment regulations so that future assessments will generally be based upon a depository institution’s average total consolidated assets minus the average tangible equity of the insured depository institution during the assessment period, whereas assessments were previously based on the amount of an institution’s insured deposits. The minimum deposit insurance fund rate will increase from 1.15% to 1.35% by September 30, 2020, and the cost of the increase will be borne by depository institutions with assets of $10 billion or more. If our bank subsidiary exceeds $10 billion in total assets, then it will become subject to the assessment rates assigned to larger banks which may result in higher deposit insurance premiums.

The Dodd-Frank Act also provides the FDIC with discretion to determine whether to pay rebates to insured depository institutions when its deposit insurance reserves exceed certain thresholds. Previously, the FDIC was required to give rebates to depository institutions equal to the excess once the reserve ratio exceeded 1.50%, and was required to rebate 50% of the excess over 1.35% but not more than 1.5% of insured deposits. The FDIC adopted a final rule on February 7, 2011 that implemented these provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Basel III Capital Rules

In July 2013, the Federal Reserve published final rules (the “Basel III Capital Rules”) implementing Basel III and establishing a new comprehensive capital framework for U.S. banks. The Basel III Capital Rules substantially revise the risk-based capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies and depository institutions compared to the current U.S. risk-based capital rules.

The Basel III Capital Rules define the components of capital and address other issues affecting the numerator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios. The rules also address risk weights and other issues affecting the denominator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios and replace the existing risk-weighting approach with a more risk-sensitive approach.

The Basel III Capital Rules expand the risk-weighting categories from the current four Basel I-derived categories (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%) to a much larger and more risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. government and agency securities, to 600% for certain equity exposures, and resulting in higher risk weights for a variety of asset categories, including many residential mortgages and certain commercial real estate.

The final rules include a new common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.5% and a common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets. The rules also raise the minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets from 4.0% to 6.0% and require a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. The Basel III Capital Rules are effective for the Company and its subsidiary bank on January 1, 2015, with full compliance with all of the final rule’s requirements phased in over a multi-year schedule. Management believes that, as of December 31, 2014, the Company and its subsidiary bank meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III Capital Rules on a fully phased-in basis if such requirements were currently effective.

Pending Legislation

Because of concerns relating to competitiveness and the safety and soundness of the banking industry, Congress often considers a number of wide-ranging proposals for altering the structure, regulation, and competitive relationships of the nation’s financial institutions. We cannot predict whether or in what form any proposals will be adopted or the extent to which our business may be affected.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to Our Industry

Our business may be adversely affected by conditions in the financial markets and general economic conditions.

From 2007 through 2009, the United States was in a recession. Although there are some indicators of improvement, business activity across a wide range of industries and regions has been greatly reduced and local governments and many businesses are having difficulty due to the lack of consumer spending, the lack of liquidity in the credit markets and high unemployment.

Market conditions have also led to the failure or merger of a number of prominent financial institutions. Financial institution failures or near-failures have resulted in further losses as a consequence of defaults on securities issued by them and defaults under contracts entered into with such entities as counterparties. Furthermore, declining asset values, defaults on mortgages and consumer loans, and the lack of market and investor confidence, as well as other factors, have all combined to increase credit default swap spreads, to cause rating agencies to lower credit ratings, and to otherwise increase the cost and decrease the availability of liquidity, despite very significant declines in Federal Reserve borrowing rates and other government actions. Some banks and other lenders have suffered significant losses and have become reluctant to lend, even on a secured basis, due to the increased risk of default and the impact of declining asset values on the value of collateral. The foregoing has significantly weakened the strength and liquidity of some financial institutions worldwide.

The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the states where we operate, and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, high business and investor confidence and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.

The business environment in the states where we operate could continue to deteriorate. There can be no assurance that these business and economic conditions will improve in the near term. The continuation of these conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of our loans and our results of operations and financial condition.

Recent legislative and regulatory initiatives to address difficult market and economic conditions may not stabilize the U.S. banking system.

In response to the financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted in 2010, as well as several programs that have been initiated by the U.S. Treasury, the FRB, and the FDIC to stabilize the financial system.

Some of the provisions of recent legislation and regulation that may adversely impact the Company include: the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act which mandates a limit to debit card interchange fees and Regulation E amendments to the EFTA regarding overdraft fees. These provisions may limit the type of products we offer, the methods by which we offer them, and the prices at which they are offered. These provisions may also increase our costs in offering these products.

The newly created CFPB has unprecedented authority over the regulation of consumer financial products and services. The CFPB has broad rule-making, supervisory and examination authority, as well as expanded data collecting and enforcement powers. The scope and impact of the CFPB's actions cannot be determined at this time, which creates significant uncertainty for the Company and the financial services industry in general.

These new laws, regulations, and changes may increase our costs of regulatory compliance. They may significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the markets for and value of our investments, and our ongoing operations, costs, and profitability. The future impact of the many provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislative and regulatory initiatives on the Company's business and results of operations will depend upon regulatory interpretation and rulemaking that will be undertaken over the next several months and years. As a result, we are unable to predict the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act or of other future legislation or regulation, including the extent to which it could increase costs or limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner, or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Difficult market conditions have adversely affected our industry.

The financial markets have continued to experience significant volatility. In some cases, the financial markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and credit availability for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. If financial market volatility worsens, or if there are more disruptions in the financial markets, including disruptions to the United States or international banking systems, there can be no assurance that we will not experience an adverse effect, which may be material, on our ability to access capital and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our concentration of banking activities in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, including our real estate loan portfolio, makes us more vulnerable to adverse conditions in the particular local markets in which we operate.

Our subsidiary bank operates primarily within the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, where the majority of the buildings and properties securing our loans and the businesses of our customers are located. Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are subject to changes in the economic conditions in these four states, the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans. We largely depend on the continued growth and stability of the communities we serve for our continued success. Declines in the economies of these communities or the states, in general could adversely affect our ability to generate new loans or to receive repayments of existing loans, and our ability to attract new deposits, thus adversely affecting our net income, profitability and financial condition.

The ability of our borrowers to repay their loans could also be adversely impacted by the significant changes in market conditions in the region or by changes in local real estate markets, including deflationary effects on collateral value caused by property foreclosures. This could result in an increase in our charge-offs and provision for loan losses. Either of these events would have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

A significant decline in general economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, unemployment, acts of terrorism or other factors beyond our control could also have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, because multi-family and commercial real estate loans represent the majority of our real estate loans outstanding, a decline in tenant occupancy due to such factors or for other reasons could adversely impact the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans on a timely basis, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

Deteriorating credit quality, particularly in our credit card portfolio, may adversely impact us.

We have a significant consumer credit card portfolio. Although we experienced a decreased amount of net charge-offs in our credit card portfolio in 2014 and 2013, the amount of net charge-offs could worsen. While we continue to experience a better performance with respect to net charge-offs than the national average in our credit card portfolio, our net charge-offs were 1.27% of our average outstanding credit card balances for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 1.33% of the average outstanding balances for the year ended on December 31, 2013. The current economic situation could adversely affect consumers in a more delayed fashion compared to commercial businesses in general. Increasing unemployment and diminished asset values may prevent our credit card customers from repaying their credit card balances which could result in an increased amount of our net charge-offs that could have a material adverse effect on our unsecured credit card portfolio.

Changes to consumer protection laws may impede our origination or collection efforts with respect to credit card accounts, change account holder use patterns or reduce collections, any of which may result in decreased profitability of our credit card portfolio.

Credit card receivables that do not comply with consumer protection laws may not be valid or enforceable under their terms against the obligors of those credit card receivables. Federal and state consumer protection laws regulate the creation and enforcement of consumer loans, including credit card receivables. For instance, the federal Truth in Lending Act was amended by the “Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009,” or the “Credit CARD Act,” which, among other things:

prevents any increases in interest rates and fees during the first year after a credit card account is opened, and increases at any time on interest rates on existing credit card balances, unless (i) the minimum payment on the related account is 60 or more days delinquent, (ii) the rate increase is due to the expiration of a promotional rate, (iii) the account holder fails to comply with a negotiated workout plan or (iv) the increase is due to an increase in the index rate for a variable rate credit card;

·	requires that any promotional rates for credit cards be effective for at least six months;

·	requires 45 days notice for any change of an interest rate or any other significant changes to a credit card account;

·	empowers federal bank regulators to promulgate rules to limit the amount of any penalty fees or charges for credit card accounts to amounts that are “reasonable and proportional to the related omission or violation;” and

·	requires credit card companies to mail billing statements 21 calendar days before the due date for account holder payments.

As a result of the Credit CARD Act and other consumer protection laws and regulations, it may be more difficult for us to originate additional credit card accounts or to collect payments on credit card receivables, and the finance charges and other fees that we can charge on credit card account balances may be reduced. Furthermore, account holders may choose to use credit cards less as a result of these consumer protection laws. Each of these results, independently or collectively, could reduce the effective yield on revolving credit card accounts and could result in decreased profitability of our credit card portfolio.

Our growth and expansion strategy may not be successful, and our market value and profitability may suffer.

We have historically employed, as important parts of our business strategy, growth through acquisition of banks and, to a lesser extent, through branch acquisitions and de novo branching. Any future acquisitions, including any FDIC-assisted transactions, in which we might engage will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in acquisitions. These risks include, among other risks:

·	credit risk associated with the acquired bank’s loans and investments;

·	difficulty of integrating operations and personnel; and

·	potential disruption of our ongoing business.

We anticipate that in addition to opportunities to acquire other banks in privately negotiated transactions, we may also have opportunities to bid to acquire the assets and liabilities of failed banks in FDIC-assisted transactions, although those opportunities are occurring less frequently. These acquisitions involve risks similar to acquiring existing banks. Because FDIC-assisted acquisitions are structured in a manner that would not allow us the time normally associated with due diligence investigations prior to committing to purchase the target bank or preparing for integration of an acquired bank, we may face additional risks in FDIC-assisted transactions. These risks include, among other things:

·	loss of customers of the failed bank;

·	strain on management resources related to collection and management of problem loans; and

·	problems related to integration of personnel and operating systems.

In addition to pursuing the acquisition of existing viable financial institutions or the acquisition of assets and liabilities of failed banks in FDIC-assisted transactions, as opportunities arise we may also continue to engage in de novo branching to further our growth strategy. De novo branching and growing through acquisition involve numerous risks, including the following:

·	the inability to obtain all required regulatory approvals;

·	the significant costs and potential operating losses associated with establishing a de novo branch or a new bank;

·	the inability to secure the services of qualified senior management;

·	the local market may not accept the services of a new bank owned and managed by a bank holding company headquartered outside of the market area of the new bank;

·	the risk of encountering an economic downturn in the new market;

·	the inability to obtain attractive locations within a new market at a reasonable cost; and

·	the additional strain on management resources and internal systems and controls.

We expect that competition for suitable acquisition candidates, whether such candidates are viable banks or are the subject of an FDIC-assisted transaction, will be significant. We may compete with other banks or financial service companies that are seeking to acquire our acquisition candidates, many of which are larger competitors and have greater financial and other resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully identify and acquire suitable acquisition targets on acceptable terms and conditions. Further, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with acquisitions and de novo branching. Our inability to overcome these risks could have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our business and growth strategy and maintain or increase our market value and profitability.

Our recent results do not indicate our future results and may not provide guidance to assess the risk of an investment in our common stock.

We may not be able to sustain our historical rate of growth or be able to expand our business. Various factors, such as economic conditions, regulatory and legislative considerations and competition, may also impede or prohibit our ability to expand our market presence. We may also be unable to identify advantageous acquisition opportunities or, once identified, enter into transactions to make such acquisitions. If we are not able to successfully grow our business, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our cost of funds may increase as a result of general economic conditions, interest rates and competitive pressures.

Our cost of funds may increase as a result of general economic conditions, fluctuations in interest rates and competitive pressures. We have traditionally obtained funds principally through local deposits as we have a base of lower cost transaction deposits. Our costs of funds and our profitability and liquidity are likely to be adversely affected, if we have to rely upon higher cost borrowings from other institutional lenders or brokers to fund loan demand or liquidity needs. Also, changes in our deposit mix and growth could adversely affect our profitability and the ability to expand our loan portfolio.

We may not be able to raise the additional capital we need to grow and, as a result, our ability to expand our operations could be materially impaired.

Federal and state regulatory authorities require us and our subsidiary banks to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. Many circumstances could require us to seek additional capital, such as:

·	faster than anticipated growth;

·	reduced earning levels;

·	operating losses;

·	changes in economic conditions;

·	revisions in regulatory requirements; or

·	additional acquisition opportunities.

Our ability to raise additional capital will largely depend on our financial performance, and on conditions in the capital markets which are outside our control. If we need additional capital but cannot raise it on terms acceptable to us, our ability to expand our operations or to engage in acquisitions could be materially impaired.

Accounting standards periodically change and the application of our accounting policies and methods may require management to make estimates about matters that are uncertain.

The regulatory bodies that establish accounting standards, including, among others, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC, periodically revise or issue new financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The effect of such revised or new standards on our financial statements can be difficult to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, our management must exercise judgment in appropriately applying many of our accounting policies and methods so they comply with generally accepted accounting principles. In some cases, management may have to select a particular accounting policy or method from two or more alternatives. In some cases, the accounting policy or method chosen might be reasonable under the circumstances and yet might result in our reporting materially different amounts than would have been reported if we had selected a different policy or method. Accounting policies are critical to fairly presenting our financial condition and results of operations and may require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain.

The Federal Reserve Board’s source of strength doctrine could require that we divert capital to our subsidiary bank instead of applying available capital towards planned uses, such as engaging in acquisitions or paying dividends to shareholders.

The FRB’s policies and regulations require that a bank holding company, including a financial holding company, serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary banks, and further provide that a bank holding company may not conduct operations in an unsafe or unsound manner. It is the FRB’s policy that a bank holding company should stand ready to use available resources to provide adequate capital to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity, such as during periods of significant loan losses, and that such holding company should maintain the financial flexibility and capital-raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting its subsidiary banks if such a need were to arise.

A bank holding company’s failure to meet its obligations to serve as a source of strength to its subsidiary banks will generally be considered to be an unsafe and unsound banking practice or a violation of the FRB’s regulations, or both. Accordingly, if the financial condition of our subsidiary banks were to deteriorate, we could be compelled to provide financial support to our subsidiary banks at a time when, absent such FRB policy, we may not deem it advisable to provide such assistance. Under such circumstances, there is a possibility that we may not either have adequate available capital or feel sufficiently confident regarding our financial condition, to enter into acquisitions, pay dividends, or engage in other corporate activities.

We may incur environmental liabilities with respect to properties to which we take title.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. In the course of our business, we may own or foreclose and take title to real estate and could become subject to environmental liabilities with respect to these properties. We may become responsible to a governmental agency or third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by those parties in connection with environmental contamination, or may be required to investigate or clean-up hazardous or toxic substances, or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with environmental investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. If we were to become subject to significant environmental liabilities, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our management has broad discretion over the use of proceeds from future stock offerings.

Although we generally indicate our intent to use the proceeds from stock offerings for general corporate purposes, including funding internal growth and selected future acquisitions, our Board of Directors retains significant discretion with respect to the use of the proceeds from possible future offerings. If we use the funds to acquire other businesses, there can be no assurance that any business we acquire will be successfully integrated into our operations or otherwise perform as expected.

A breach in the security of our systems could disrupt our business, result in the disclosure of confidential information, damage our reputation and create significant financial and legal exposure for us.

Our businesses are dependent on our ability and the ability of our third party service providers to process, record and monitor a large number of transactions. If the financial, accounting, data processing or other operating systems and facilities fail to operate properly, become disabled, experience security breaches or have other significant shortcomings, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Although we and our third party service providers devote significant resources to maintain and upgrade our systems and processes that are designed to protect the security of computer systems, software, networks and other technology assets and the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information belonging to us and our customers, there is no assurance that our security systems and those of our third party service providers will provide absolute security. Financial services institutions and companies engaged in data processing have reported breaches in the security of their websites or other systems, some of which have involved sophisticated and targeted attacks intended to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems, often through the introduction of computer viruses or malware, cyber-attacks and other means. Despite our efforts and those of our third party service providers to ensure the integrity

Risks Related to Owning Our Stock

The holders of our subordinated debentures have rights that are senior to those of our shareholders. If we defer payments of interest on our outstanding subordinated debentures or if certain defaults relating to those debentures occur, we will be prohibited from declaring or paying dividends or distributions on, and from making liquidation payments with respect to our common stock.

We have subordinated debentures issued in connection with trust preferred securities. Payments of the principal and interest on the trust preferred securities are unconditionally guaranteed by us. The subordinated debentures are senior to our shares of common stock. As a result, we must make payments on the subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) before any dividends can be paid on our common stock and, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of the debentures must be satisfied before any distributions can be made to the holders of our common stock. We have the right to defer distributions on the subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) for up to five years, during which time no dividends may be paid to holders of our capital stock. If we elect to defer or if we default with respect to our obligations to make payments on these subordinated debentures, this would likely have a material adverse effect on the market value of our common stock. Moreover, without notice to or consent from the holders of our common stock, we may issue additional series of subordinated debt securities in the future with terms similar to those of our existing subordinated debt securities or enter into other financing agreements that limit our ability to purchase or to pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock.

We may be unable to, or choose not to, pay dividends on our common stock.

We cannot assure you of our ability to continue to pay dividends. Our ability to pay dividends depends on the following factors, among others:

·	We may not have sufficient earnings since our primary source of income, the payment of dividends to us by our subsidiary banks, is subject to federal and state laws that limit the ability of those banks to pay dividends;

·	FRB policy requires bank holding companies to pay cash dividends on common stock only out of net income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition; and

·	Our Board of Directors may determine that, even though funds are available for dividend payments, retaining the funds for internal uses, such as expansion of our operations, is a better strategy.

If we fail to pay dividends, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock may be the sole opportunity for gains on an investment in our common stock. In addition, in the event our subsidiary banks become unable to pay dividends to us, we may not be able to service our debt or pay our other obligations or pay dividends on our common stock. Accordingly, our inability to receive dividends from our subsidiary banks could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and the value of your investment in our common stock.

There may be future sales of additional common stock or preferred stock or other dilution of our equity, which may adversely affect the value of our common stock.

We are not restricted from issuing additional common stock or preferred stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or preferred stock or any substantially similar securities. The value of our common stock could decline as a result of sales by us of a large number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or similar securities in the market or the perception that such sales could occur.

Anti-takeover provisions could negatively impact our shareholders.

Provisions of our articles of incorporation and by-laws and federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our shareholders. The combination of these provisions effectively inhibits a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for holders of our common stock to elect directors other than the candidates nominated by our Board of Directors.

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

There are currently no unresolved Commission staff comments.

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

The principal offices of the Company and the lead bank consist of an eleven-story office building and adjacent office space located in the central business district of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. We have additional corporate offices located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Company and its subsidiaries own or lease additional offices in the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The Company and Simmons Bank conduct financial operations from over 100 branches, or “financial centers”, located in communities throughout Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company and/or its subsidiaries have various unrelated legal proceedings, most of which involve loan foreclosure activity pending, which, in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries.

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SFNC.” Set forth below are the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market for each quarter of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Also set forth below are dividends declared per share in each of these periods:

	Price Per Common Share				Quarterly Dividends Per Common
	High		Low		Share
2014
1st quarter	$	38.80	$	32.01	$	0.22
2nd quarter		43.22		34.62		0.22
3rd quarter		41.82		37.35		0.22
4th quarter		42.43		37.60		0.22

2013
1st quarter	$	26.25	$	24.11	$	0.21
2nd quarter		26.55		23.16		0.21
3rd quarter		31.50		24.06		0.21
4th quarter		38.54		29.64		0.21

On February 18, 2015, the closing price for our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ was $39.44. As of February 18, 2015, there were 1,268 shareholders of record of our common stock.

The timing and amount of future dividends are at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our consolidated earnings, financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements, the amount of cash dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries, applicable government regulations and policies and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors anticipates that we will continue to pay quarterly dividends in amounts determined based on the factors discussed above. However, there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay dividends on our common stock at the current levels or at all.

Our principal source of funds for dividend payments to our stockholders is distributions, including dividends, from our subsidiary bank, which is subject to restrictions tied to such institution’s earnings. Under applicable banking laws, the declaration of dividends by Simmons Bank in any year, in excess of its net profits, as defined, for that year, combined with its retained net profits of the preceding two years, must be approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. At December 31, 2014, approximately $10.0 million was available for the payment of dividends by Simmons Bank without regulatory approval. For further discussion of restrictions on the payment of dividends, see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Liquidity and Market Risk Management," and Note 20, Stockholders’ Equity, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock Repurchase

The Company made no purchases of its common stock during the three months ended or during the year ended December 31, 2014. During 2013, we repurchased 419,564 shares of stock with a weighted average repurchase price of $25.89 per share. Under the current stock repurchase plan, we can repurchase an additional 154,136 shares.

Performance Graph

The performance graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s Common Stock with the cumulative total return on the equity securities of companies included in the NASDAQ Bank Stock Index, the NASDAQ Composite Index and the S&P 500 Stock Index. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2009 and reinvestment of dividends on the date of payment without commissions. The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.

	Period Ending
Index	12/31/09		12/31/10		12/31/11		12/31/12		12/31/13		12/31/14
Simmons First National Corporation		100.00		105.38		103.65		99.90		150.84		168.72
NASDAQ Bank		100.00		114.16		102.17		121.26		171.86		180.31
NASDAQ Composite		100.00		118.15		117.22		138.02		193.47		222.16
S&P 500		100.00		115.06		117.49		136.30		180.44		205.14

ITEM 6.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data concerning the Company and is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information and consolidated financial statements, including notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report. The income statement, balance sheet and per common share data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010, were derived from consolidated financial statements of the Company, which were audited by BKD, LLP. Results from past periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any future period.

Management believes that certain non-GAAP measures, including diluted core earnings per share, tangible book value, the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible stockholders’ equity and return on average tangible equity, may be useful to analysts and investors in evaluating the performance of our Company. We have included certain of these non-GAAP measures, including cautionary remarks regarding the usefulness of these analytical tools, in this table. The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company and related notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this report.

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands, except per share & other data)	2014			2013			2012			2011			2010

Income statement data:
Net interest income	$	171,064		$	130,850		$	113,517		$	108,660		$	101,949
Provision for loan losses		7,245			4,118			4,140			11,676			14,129
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		163,819			126,732			109,377			96,984			87,820
Non-interest income		62,192			40,616			48,371			53,465			77,874
Non-interest expense		175,721			134,812			117,733			114,650			111,263
Income before taxes		50,290			32,536			40,015			35,799			54,431
Provision for income taxes		14,602			9,305			12,331			10,425			17,314
Net income	$	35,688		$	23,231		$	27,684		$	25,374		$	37,117

Per share data:
Basic earnings		2.11			1.42			1.64			1.47			2.16
Diluted earnings		2.11			1.42			1.64			1.47			2.15
Diluted core earnings (non-GAAP) (1)		2.29			1.69			1.59			1.45			1.51
Book value		27.38			24.89			24.55			23.70			23.01
Tangible book value (non-GAAP) (2)		20.15			19.13			20.66			20.09			19.36
Dividends		0.88			0.84			0.80			0.76			0.76
Basic average common shares outstanding		16,878,766			16,339,335			16,908,904			17,309,488			17,204,200
Diluted average common shares outstanding		16,922,026			16,352,167			16,911,363			17,317,850			17,264,900

Balance sheet data at period end:
Assets		4,643,354			4,383,100			3,527,489			3,320,129			3,316,432
Investment securities		1,082,870			957,965			687,483			697,656			613,662
Total loans		2,736,634			2,404,935			1,922,119			1,737,844			1,915,064
Allowance for loan losses (excluding covered loans)		29,028			27,442			27,882			30,108			26,416
Goodwill & other intangible assets		130,621			93,501			64,365			62,184			63,068
Non-interest bearing deposits		889,260			718,438			576,655			532,259			428,750
Deposits		3,860,718			3,697,567			2,874,163			2,650,397			2,608,769
Long-term debt		114,682			117,090			89,441			89,898			133,394
Subordinated debt & trust preferred		20,620			20,620			20,620			30,930			30,930
Stockholders’ equity		494,319			403,832			406,062			407,911			397,371
Tangible stockholders’ equity (non GAAP) (2)		363,698			310,331			341,697			345,727			334,303

Capital ratios at period end:
Stockholders’ equity to total assets		10.65	%		9.21	%		11.51	%		12.29	%		11.98	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP) (3)		8.06	%		7.24	%		9.87	%		10.61	%		10.28	%
Tier 1 leverage ratio		8.77	%		9.22	%		10.81	%		11.86	%		11.33	%
Tier 1 risk-based ratio		13.43	%		13.02	%		19.08	%		21.58	%		20.05	%
Total risk-based capital ratio		14.50	%		14.10	%		20.34	%		22.83	%		21.30	%
Dividend payout		41.71	%		59.15	%		48.78	%		51.70	%		35.35	%

	Years Ended December 31
	2014			2013			2012			2011			2010

Annualized performance ratios:
Return on average assets		0.80	%		0.64	%		0.83	%		0.77	%		1.19	%
Return on average equity		8.11	%		5.33	%		6.77	%		6.25	%		9.69	%
Return on average tangible equity (non-GAAP) (2) (4)		10.99	%		6.36	%		8.05	%		7.54	%		11.71	%
Net interest margin (5)		4.47	%		4.21	%		3.93	%		3.85	%		3.78	%
Efficiency ratio (6)		69.88	%		71.28	%		70.17	%		67.86	%		65.28	%

Balance sheet ratios: (7)
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of period-end assets		1.25	%		1.69	%		1.29	%		1.18	%		1.12	%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of period-end loans		0.63	%		0.53	%		0.74	%		1.02	%		0.83	%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of period-end loans & OREO		2.76	%		4.10	%		2.74	%		2.44	%		2.18	%
Allowance/to nonperforming loans		223.31	%		297.89	%		231.62	%		186.14	%		190.17	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of period-end loans		1.41	%		1.57	%		1.71	%		1.91	%		1.57	%
Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage of average loans		0.30	%		0.27	%		0.40	%		0.49	%		0.71	%

Other data
Number of financial centers		109			131			92			84			85
Number of full time equivalent employees		1,338			1,343			1,068			1,083			1,075

(1)

Diluted core earnings (net income excluding nonrecurring items) is a non-GAAP measure. The following nonrecurring items were excluded in the calculation of diluted core earnings per share (non-GAAP). In 2014, the Company reported a $0.27 decrease in EPS from merger related costs primarily from its Delta Trust acquisition, a $0.03 EPS decrease from change-in-control payments related to Delta Trust and a $0.02 EPS decrease from charter consolidation costs. Also in 2014, the Company recorded a $0.04 EPS increase from the sale of its merchant services business and a $0.10 EPS increase from the gains on sale of premises held for sale, net of the closing costs of the former branches. In 2013, the Company recorded a $0.25 decrease in EPS from merger related costs from its Metropolitan National Bank acquisition and a $0.02 decrease in EPS from the closing costs of 7 underperforming branches. In 2012, the Company recorded a $0.05 increase in EPS from the FDIC assisted transactions of Truman Bank and Excel Bank. In 2011, the Company recorded a $0.04 increase in EPS from the sale of MasterCard stock. Also in 2011, the Company recorded a $0.01 decrease in EPS from the closing cost of a branch and a $0.01 EPS decrease from merger related costs from an FDIC-assisted acquisition. In 2010, the Company recorded a net $0.65 increase in EPS from FDIC-assisted acquisitions (bargain purchase gains, merger related costs, gains from disposition of investment securities and costs from disposition of FHLB borrowings). Also in 2010, the Company recorded a $0.01 decrease in EPS from costs to close nine branches.

(2)

Because of our significant level of intangible assets, total goodwill and core deposit premiums, management believes a useful calculation for investors in their analysis of our Company is tangible book value per share (non-GAAP). This non-GAAP calculation eliminates the effect of goodwill and acquisition related intangible assets and is calculated by subtracting goodwill and intangible assets from total stockholders’ equity, and dividing the resulting number by the common stock outstanding at period end. The following table reflects the reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the GAAP presentation of book value for the periods presented above:

	Years Ended December 31
($ in thousands, except per share data)	2014		2013		2012		2011		2010

Stockholders’ equity	$	494,319	$	403,832	$	406,062	$	407,911	$	397,371
Less: Intangible assets
Goodwill		108,095		78,529		60,605		60,605		60,605
Other intangibles		22,526		14,972		3,760		1,579		2,463
Tangible stockholders’ equity (non-GAAP)	$	363,698	$	310,331	$	341,697	$	345,727	$	334,303

Book value per share	$	27.38	$	24.89	$	24.55	$	23.70	$	23.01
Tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)	$	20.15	$	19.13	$	20.66	$	20.09	$	19.36
Shares outstanding		18,052,488		16,226,256		16,542,778		17,212,317		17,271,594

(3)	Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio is tangible stockholders’ equity (non-GAAP) divided by total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets as and for the periods ended presented above.

(4)

Return on average tangible equity is a non-GAAP measure that removes the effect of goodwill and intangible assets, as well as the amortization of intangibles, from the return on average equity. This non-GAAP measure is calculated as net income, adjusted for the tax-effected effect of intangibles, divided by average tangible equity.

(5)	Fully taxable equivalent (assuming an income tax rate of 39.225%).

(6)

The efficiency ratio is total non-interest expense less foreclosure expense and amortization of intangibles, divided by the sum of net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis plus total non-interest income less security gains, net of tax. For the year ended December 31, 2014, this calculation excludes merger related costs of $7.5 million from non-interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2013, this calculation excludes merger related costs of $6.4 million from non-interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2012, this calculation excludes the gain on FDIC-assisted transactions of $3.4 million from total non-interest income and excludes merger related costs of $1.9 million from non-interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2011, this calculation excludes the $1.1 million gain on sale of MasterCard stock. For the year ended December 31, 2010, this calculation excludes the gain on FDIC-assisted transactions of $21.3 million from total non-interest income and excludes merger related costs of $2.6 million from non-interest expense.

(7)	Excludes all loans acquired and excludes foreclosed assets acquired, covered by FDIC loss share agreements, except for their inclusion in total assets.

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIALCONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Critical Accounting Policies

Overview

We follow accounting and reporting policies that conform, in all material respects, to generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While we base estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.

We consider accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if (i) the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and (ii) different estimates that management reasonably could have used for the accounting estimate in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on our financial statements.

The accounting policies that we view as critical to us are those relating to estimates and judgments regarding (a) the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, (b) acquisition accounting and valuation of covered loans and related indemnification asset, (c) the valuation of goodwill and the useful lives applied to intangible assets, (d) the valuation of employee benefit plans and (e) income taxes.

Allowance for Loan Losses on Loans Not Covered by Loss Share

The allowance for loan losses is management’s estimate of probable losses in the loan portfolio. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

Prior to the fourth quarter of 2012, we measured the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses in its entirety using (a)ASC 450-20 which includes quantitative (historical loss rates) and qualitative factors (management adjustment factors) such as (1) lending policies and procedures, (2) economic outlook and business conditions, (3) level and trend in delinquencies, (4) concentrations of credit and (5) external factors and competition; which are combined with the historical loss rates to create the baseline factors that are allocated to the various loan categories; (b) specific allocations on impaired loans in accordance with ASC 310-10; and (c) the unallocated amount.

The unallocated amount was evaluated on the loan portfolio in its entirety and was based on additional factors, such as (1) trends in volume, maturity and composition, (2) national, state and local economic trends and conditions, (3) the experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff and (4) other factors and trends that will affect specific loans and categories of loans, such as a heightened risk in agriculture, credit card and commercial real estate loan portfolios.

As of December 31, 2012, we refined our allowance calculation. As part of the refinement process, we evaluated the criteria previously applied to the entire loan portfolio, and used to calculate the unallocated portion of the allowance, and applied those criteria to each specific loan category. For example, the impact of national, state and local economic trends and conditions was evaluated by and allocated to specific loan categories.

After this refinement, the allowance is calculated monthly based on management’s assessment of several factors such as (1) historical loss experience based on volumes and types, (2) volume and trends in delinquencies and nonaccruals, (3) lending policies and procedures including those for loan losses, collections and recoveries, (4) national, state and local economic trends and conditions, (5) concentrations of credit within the loan portfolio, (6) the experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff and (7) other factors and trends that will affect specific loans and categories of loans. We establish general allocations for each major loan category. This category also includes allocations to loans which are collectively evaluated for loss such as credit cards, one-to-four family owner occupied residential real estate loans and other consumer loans. General reserves have been established, based upon the aforementioned factors and allocated to the individual loan categories. Allowances are accrued for probable losses on specific loans evaluated for impairment for which the basis of each loan, including accrued interest, exceeds the discounted amount of expected future collections of interest and principal or, alternatively, the fair value of loan collateral. Any immaterial residual reserves are distributed among the loan portfolio categories based on their percent composition of the entire portfolio.

Acquisition Accounting, Acquired Loans

We account for our acquisitions under ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires the use of the purchase method of accounting. All identifiable assets acquired, including loans, are recorded at fair value. No allowance for loan losses related to the acquired loans is recorded on the acquisition date as the fair value of the loans acquired incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. Loans acquired are recorded at fair value in accordance with the fair value methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 820, exclusive of the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC. The fair value estimates associated with the loans include estimates related to expected prepayments and the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows.

We evaluate loans acquired in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs. The fair value discount on these loans is accreted into interest income over the weighted average life of the loans using a constant yield method. These loans are not considered to be impaired loans. We evaluate purchased impaired loans in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. Purchased loans are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration since origination and if it is probable that not all contractually required payments will be collected.

We evaluate all of the loans purchased in conjunction with its FDIC-assisted transactions in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 310-30. All loans acquired in the FDIC transactions, both covered and not covered, were deemed to be impaired loans. All loans acquired, whether or not covered by FDIC loss share agreements, are considered impaired if there is evidence of credit deterioration since origination and if it is probable that not all contractually required payments will be collected.

For impaired loans accounted for under ASC Topic 310-30, we continue to estimate cash flows expected to be collected on pools of loans sharing common risk characteristics, which are treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. We evaluate at each balance sheet date whether the present value of our pools of loans determined using the effective interest rates has decreased significantly and if so, recognize a provision for loan loss in our consolidated statement of income. For any significant increases in cash flows expected to be collected, we adjust the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the pool’s remaining life.

Covered Loans and Related Indemnification Asset

Because the FDIC will reimburse us for losses incurred on certain acquired loans, an indemnification asset is recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. The indemnification asset is recognized at the same time as the indemnified loans, and measured on the same basis, subject to collectability or contractual limitations. The shared-loss agreements on the acquisition date reflect the reimbursements expected to be received from the FDIC, using an appropriate discount rate, which reflects counterparty credit risk and other uncertainties.

The shared-loss agreements continue to be measured on the same basis as the related indemnified loans, as prescribed by ASC Topic 805. Deterioration in the credit quality of the loans (immediately recorded as an adjustment to the allowance for loan losses) would immediately increase the basis of the shared-loss agreements, with the offset recorded through the consolidated statement of income. Increases in the credit quality or cash flows of loans (reflected as an adjustment to yield and accreted into income over the remaining life of the loans) decrease the basis of the shared-loss agreements, with such decrease being accreted into income over 1) the same period or 2) the life of the shared-loss agreements, whichever is shorter. Loss assumptions used in the basis of the indemnified loans are consistent with the loss assumptions used to measure the indemnification asset. Fair value accounting incorporates into the fair value of the indemnification asset an element of the time value of money, which is accreted back into income over the life of the shared-loss agreements.

Upon the determination of an incurred loss the indemnification asset will be reduced by the amount owed by the FDIC. A corresponding, claim receivable is recorded until cash is received from the FDIC. For further discussion of our acquisition and loan accounting, see Note 5, Loans Acquired, in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that also lack physical substance but can be separately distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. We perform an annual goodwill impairment test, and more than annually if circumstances warrant, in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, as amended by ASU 2011-08 – Testing Goodwill for Impairment. ASC Topic 350 requires that goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite lives be reviewed for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if certain conditions occur. Impairment losses on recorded goodwill, if any, will be recorded as operating expenses.

Income Taxes

We are subject to the federal income tax laws of the United States, and the tax laws of the states and other jurisdictions where we conduct business. Due to the complexity of these laws, taxpayers and the taxing authorities may subject these laws to different interpretations. Management must make conclusions and estimates about the application of these innately intricate laws, related regulations, and case law. When preparing the Company’s income tax returns, management attempts to make reasonable interpretations of the tax laws. Taxing authorities have the ability to challenge management’s analysis of the tax law or any reinterpretation management makes in its ongoing assessment of facts and the developing case law. Management assesses the reasonableness of its effective tax rate quarterly based on its current estimate of net income and the applicable taxes expected for the full year. On a quarterly basis, management also reviews circumstances and developments in tax law affecting the reasonableness of deferred tax assets and liabilities and reserves for contingent tax liabilities.

2014 Overview

Our net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $35.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $2.11, compared to net income of $23.2 million and $1.42 diluted earnings per share in 2013. Net income for both 2014 and 2013 included several significant nonrecurring items that impacted net income, mostly related to our acquisitions. Excluding all nonrecurring items, core earnings for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $38.7 million, or $2.29 diluted core earnings per share, compared to $27.6 million, or $1.69 diluted core earnings per share in 2013. Diluted core earnings per share increased by $0.60, or 35.5%. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures and Table 21 – Reconciliation of Core Earnings (non-GAAP) for additional discussion of non-GAAP measures.

On November 25, 2013, we closed the transaction to acquire Metropolitan National Bank (“Metropolitan” or “MNB”), headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. During the first quarter of 2014 we completed the system integration and branch consolidation associated with the Metropolitan acquisition. As a result of the MNB combination and in concert with the systems conversion, we closed 27 branches with footprints that overlap other branches. We also entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Delta Trust & Banking Corporation (“Delta Trust”), also headquartered in Little Rock, including its wholly-owned bank subsidiary Delta Trust & Bank. We finalized our acquisition of Delta Trust on August 31, 2014, and completed the systems conversion on October 24, 2014.

The Metropolitan and Delta Trust franchises, headquartered in Little Rock, fit nicely into our footprint by expanding our presence in central and northwest Arkansas, the two leading growth market in our home state. Both banks have a rich history of providing exemplary customer service to the communities in which they have served. With the operational system conversions of Metropolitan and Delta Trust with our flagship institution, Simmons First National Bank (“Simmons Bank”), we are able to provide customers with innovative products, exceptional customer service and convenience throughout the combined service area.

During the second quarter of 2014, we entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Community First Bancshares, Inc. (“Community First”), headquartered in Union City, Tennessee, including its wholly-owned bank subsidiary First State Bank (“First State”). During the second quarter we also entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Liberty Bancshares, Inc. (“Liberty”), headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, including its wholly-owned bank subsidiary Liberty Bank. We completed both of these transactions on February 27, 2015. These two acquisitions will add approximately $1.9 billion in loans, $2.4 billion in deposits and $3.0 billion in total assets to our balance sheet in the first quarter of 2015, increasing our combined company to approximately $7.6 billion in total assets.

We are very pleased with the core earnings results in 2014. We reported record core earnings and record core earnings per share for 2014. As a result of acquisitions and efficiency initiatives in recent reporting periods, we have and will continue to recognize one-time revenue and expense items which may skew our short-term core business results but provide long-term performance benefits. Our focus continues to be improvement in core operating income.

We are also pleased with the positive trends in our balance sheet, as reflected in our organic loan growth of over 12% during the past year as well as our growth from acquisitions, which enabled us to produce a net interest margin of 4.47%.

Stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2014 was $494.3 million, book value per share was $27.38 and tangible book value per share was $20.15. Our ratio of stockholders’ equity to total assets was 10.7% and the ratio of tangible stockholders’ equity to tangible assets was 8.1% at December 31, 2014. The Company’s Tier I leverage ratio of 8.8%, as well as our other regulatory capital ratios, remain significantly above the “well capitalized”. See Table 18 – Risk-Based Capital for regulatory capital ratios.

We believe our stock, even after the recent market increase in our stock value, continues to be an excellent investment. We increased our quarterly dividend from $0.22 to $0.23 per share, beginning with the first quarter of 2015. On an annual basis, the $0.92 per share dividend results in a return in excess of 2.1%, based on our recent stock price.

Total loans, including loans acquired, were $2.7 billion at December 31, 2014, an increase of $332 million, or 13.8%, from the same period in 2013. Acquired loans increased by $21 million, net of discounts, while legacy loans (all loans excluding acquired loans) grew $311 million, or 17.9%. Excluding the $98 million in loan balances that migrated from acquired loans, legacy loans grew $213 million, or 12.2%. We are encouraged by the continued growth in our legacy loan portfolio throughout 2014. We have had very good legacy loan growth again this year, particularly from the new lenders we have attracted in our targeted growth markets. Their production has exceeded our expectations for 2013 and 2014.

Despite the continued challenges in the economy, we continue to have good asset quality. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans was 1.41% at December 31, 2014. Non-performing loans equaled 0.63% of total loans. Non-performing assets were 1.25% of total assets. The allowance for loan losses was 223% of non-performing loans. The Company’s net charge-offs for 2014 were 0.30% of total loans. Excluding credit cards, net charge-offs for 2014 were 0.22% of total loans.

Total assets were $4.6 billion at December 31, 2014 compared to $4.4 billion at December 31, 2013, an increase of $260 million primarily due to the Delta Trust acquisition.

Subsidiary Bank Consolidation

We have completed the consolidation of our subsidiary banks into Simmons First National Bank (“Simmons Bank”), headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. We announced in March our plans to consolidate our seven subsidiary banks into a single banking organization, Simmons Bank. We completed the first phase by consolidating three subsidiary banks into Simmons Bank in May 2014 and completed the final phase by consolidating the remaining three subsidiary banks into Simmons Bank in August 2014. The elimination of the separate bank charters will increase the Company's efficiency and assist us in more effectively meeting the increased regulatory burden currently facing banking institutions. There are many operational functions that we previously performed separately for each of our seven banks; with the consolidation, these tasks will only need to be performed once.

We believe our customers will experience a positive impact from this change. All of our banking and financial services will continue to be available in the same locations as before the consolidation. Our local management and Community Boards of Directors are committed to maintaining our nearby and neighborly service and this change will allow them more opportunity to meet the needs of our customers and the communities we serve.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income, our principal source of earnings, is the difference between the interest income generated by earning assets and the total interest cost of the deposits and borrowings obtained to fund those assets. Factors that determine the level of net interest income include the volume of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, yields earned and rates paid, the level of non-performing loans and the amount of non-interest bearing liabilities supporting earning assets. Net interest income is analyzed in the discussion and tables below on a fully taxable equivalent basis. The adjustment to convert certain income to a fully taxable equivalent basis consists of dividing tax-exempt income by one minus the combined federal and state income tax rate of 39.225%.

The FRB sets various benchmark rates, including the Federal Funds rate, and thereby influences the general market rates of interest, including the deposit and loan rates offered by financial institutions. The FRB target for the Federal Funds rate, which is the cost to banks of immediately available overnight funds, has remained unchanged at 0.00% - 0.25% since December 16, 2008. Our loan portfolio is significantly affected by changes in the prime interest rate. The prime interest rate, which is the rate offered on loans to borrowers with strong credit, has remained unchanged at 3.25% since December 16, 2008.

Our practice is to limit exposure to interest rate movements by maintaining a significant portion of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities in short-term repricing. Historically, approximately 70% of our loan portfolio and approximately 80% of our time deposits have repriced in one year or less. These historical percentages are consistent with our current interest rate sensitivity.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $177.9 million, an increase of $42.1 million, or 31.0%, from the same period in 2013. The increase in net interest income was the result of a $43.8 million increase in interest income and a $1.7 million increase in interest expense.

The increase in interest income primarily resulted from a $35.9 million increase in interest income on loans, consisting of legacy loans and acquired loans. The increase in loan volume during 2014 generated $36.1 million of additional interest income, while a 1 basis point decline in yield resulted in a $0.2 million decrease in interest income. The interest income increase from loan volume was primarily due to our Metropolitan and Delta Trust acquisitions; however, a significant portion of the increase in loan interest income can be attributed to our legacy loan growth of $311 million, or 17.9%, during 2014.

Included in interest income is the additional yield accretion recognized as a result of updated estimates of the cash flows of our acquired loans, as discussed in Note 5, Loans Acquired, in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report. Each quarter, we estimate the cash flows expected to be collected from the acquired loans, and adjustments may or may not be required. The cash flows estimate has increased based on payment histories and reduced loss expectations of the loans. This resulted in increased interest income that is spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loans. For loans covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements, the increases in expected cash flows also reduce the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements, which are recorded as indemnification assets. The estimated adjustments to the indemnification assets are amortized on a level-yield basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected life of the loan pools, whichever is shorter, and are recorded in non-interest expense.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the adjustments increased interest income by an additional $7.5 million and decreased non-interest income by an additional $2.4 million compared to 2013. The net increase to 2014 pre-tax income was $5.1 million from 2013. Because these adjustments will be recognized over the estimated remaining lives of the loan pools and the remainder of the loss sharing agreements, respectively, they will impact future periods as well. The current estimate of the remaining accretable yield adjustment that will positively impact interest income is $17.0 million and the remaining adjustment to the indemnification assets that will reduce non-interest income is $10.6 million. Of the remaining adjustments, we expect to recognize $9.1 million of interest income and a $7.9 million reduction of non-interest income for a net addition to pre-tax income of approximately $1.2 million in 2015. The accretable yield adjustments recorded in future periods will change as we continue to evaluate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.

Our net interest margin was 4.47% for the year ended December 31, 2014, up 26 basis points from 2013. Our margin has been strengthened from the impact of the accretable yield adjustments discussed above. Also, the acquisition of loans, along with our ability to stabilize the size of our legacy loan portfolio, has allowed us to increase our level of higher yielding assets over 2013. Conversely, while keeping us prepared to benefit from rising interest rates, our high levels of liquidity continue to compress our margin.

Our net interest margin was 4.21% and 3.93% for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Tables 1 and 2 reflect an analysis of net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, as well as changes in fully taxable equivalent net interest margin for the years 2014 versus 2013 and 2013 versus 2012.

Table 1:

Analysis of Net Interest Income

(FTE =Fully Taxable Equivalent)

	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012

Interest income	$	185,035		$	143,113		$	129,134
FTE adjustment		6,840			4,951			4,705

Interest income - FTE		191,875			148,064			133,839
Interest expense		13,971			12,263			15,617

Net interest income - FTE	$	177,904		$	135,801		$	118,222

Yield on earning assets - FTE		4.83	%		4.59	%		4.45	%
Cost of interest bearing liabilities		0.44	%		0.48	%		0.66	%
Net interest spread - FTE		4.39	%		4.11	%		3.79	%
Net interest margin - FTE		4.47	%		4.21	%		3.93	%

Table 2:

Changes in Fully Taxable Equivalent Net Interest Margin

(In thousands)	2014 vs. 2013			2013 vs. 2012

Increase due to change in earning assets	$	39,750		$	24,120
Increase (decrease) due to change in earning asset yields		4,061			(9,895	)
Increase due to change in interest rates paid on interest bearing liabilities		1,163			3,289
(Decrease) increase due to change in interest bearing liabilities		(2,871	)		65

Increase in net interest income	$	42,103		$	17,579

Table 3 shows, for each major category of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, the average (computed on a daily basis) amount outstanding, the interest earned or expensed on such amount and the average rate earned or expensed for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014. The table also shows the average rate earned on all earning assets, the average rate expensed on all interest bearing liabilities, the net interest spread and the net interest margin for the same periods. The analysis is presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis. Nonaccrual loans were included in average loans for the purpose of calculating the rate earned on total loans.

Table 3:

Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis

	Years Ended December 31
	2014						2013						2012
(In thousands)	Average Balance		Income/ Expense		Yield/ Rate (%)		Average Balance		Income/ Expense		Yield/ Rate (%)		Average Balance		Income/ Expense		Yield/ Rate (%)

ASSETS

Earning assets:
Interest bearing balances due from banks	$	388,045	$	857		0.22	$	470,651	$	1,127		0.24	$	524,224	$	1,220		0.23
Federal funds sold		3,663		27		0.74		4,186		19		0.45		3,107		7		0.23
Investment securities - taxable		735,637		8,624		1.17		464,319		5,553		1.20		474,375		5,321		1.12
Investment securities - non-taxable		328,310		17,541		5.34		315,445		12,647		4.01		208,056		12,060		5.8
Mortgage loans held for sale		16,038		695		4.33		13,108		467		3.56		17,959		637		3.55
Assets held in trading accounts		6,938		17		0.25		8,607		29		0.34		7,539		48		0.64
Loans		2,497,272		164,114		6.57		1,947,778		128,222		6.58		1,773,581		114,546		6.45
Total interest earning assets		3,975,903		191,875		4.83		3,224,094		148,064		4.59		3,008,841		133,839		4.45
Non-earning assets		502,198						382,408						327,322

Total assets	$	4,478,101					$	3,606,502					$	3,336,163

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Liabilities:
Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing transaction and savings deposits	$	1,886,217	$	3,057		0.16	$	1,490,457	$	2,461		0.17	$	1,308,171	$	2,682		0.21
Time deposits		1,040,979		6,022		0.58		859,913		5,938		0.69		861,004		7,943		0.92
Total interest bearing deposits		2,927,196		9,079		0.31		2,350,370		8,399		0.36		2,169,175		10,625		0.49

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase		110,644		269		0.24		93,574		219		0.23		91,444		310		0.34
Other borrowings		118,256		3,986		3.37		87,089		3,001		3.45		89,861		3,354		3.73
Subordinated debentures		20,620		637		3.09		20,620		644		3.12		28,268		1,328		4.7
Total interest bearing liabilities		3,176,716		13,971		0.44		2,551,653		12,263		0.48		2,378,748		15,617		0.66

Non-interest bearing liabilities:
Non-interest bearing deposits		820,490						588,374						518,243
Other liabilities		40,727						30,557						29,985
Total liabilities		4,037,933						3,170,584						2,926,976
Stockholders’ equity		440,168						435,918						409,187
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	4,478,101					$	3,606,502					$	3,336,163
Net interest spread						4.39						4.11						3.79
Net interest margin			$	177,904		4.47			$	135,801		4.21			$	118,222		3.93

Table 4:

Volume/Rate Analysis

	Years Ended December 31
	2014 over 2013									2013 over 2012
(In thousands, on a fully taxable equivalent basis)	Volume			Yield/ Rate			Total			Volume			Yield/ Rate			Total

Increase (decrease) in

Interest income
Interest bearing balances due from banks	$	(188	)	$	(82	)	$	(270	)	$	(128	)	$	35		$	(93	)
Federal funds sold		(2	)		10			8			2			10			12
Investment securities - taxable		3,183			(112	)		3,071			(115	)		347			232
Investment securities - non-taxable		535			4,359			4,894			5,024			(4,437	)		587
Mortgage loans held for sale		116			112			228			(173	)		3			(170	)
Assets held in trading accounts		(5	)		(7	)		(12	)		6			(25	)		(19	)
Loans (including loans acquired)		36,111			(219	)		35,892			19,504			(5,828	)		13,676
Total		39,750			4,061			43,811			24,120			(9,895	)		14,225

Interest expense
Interest bearing transaction and savings accounts		642			(46	)		596			344			(565	)		(221	)
Time deposits		1,135			(1,051	)		84			(10	)		(1,995	)		(2,005	)
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase		42			8			50			7			(98	)		(91	)
Other borrowings		1,052			(67	)		985			(101	)		(252	)		(353	)
Subordinated debentures		-			(7	)		(7	)		(305	)		(379	)		(684	)
Total		2,871			(1,163	)		1,708			(65	)		(3,289	)		(3,354	)
Increase (decrease) in net interest income	$	36,879		$	5,224		$	42,103		$	24,185		$	(6,606	)	$	17,579

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses represents management's determination of the amount necessary to be charged against the current period's earnings in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level considered appropriate in relation to the estimated risk inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of provision to the allowance is based on management's judgment, with consideration given to the composition, maturity and other qualitative characteristics of the portfolio, historical loan loss experience, assessment of current economic conditions, past due and non-performing loans and net loan loss experience. It is management's practice to review the allowance on a monthly basis, and, after considering the factors previously noted, to determine the level of provision made to the allowance.

The provision for loan losses for 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $7.2 million, $4.1 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The increase in the provision level was primarily due to our growing legacy portfolio, as well as to the migration of acquired loans previously protected by a credit mark, with no allowance, into our legacy portfolio, thus requiring coverage by the allowance. See Allowance for Loan Losses section for additional information.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $62.2 million in 2014, compared to $40.6 million in 2013 and $48.4 million in 2012. Non-interest income for 2014 increased $21.6 million, or 53.1%, from 2013.

As previously discussed in the Net Interest Income section, there was a $2.4 million decrease in non-interest income from 2013 to 2014 due to reductions of the indemnification assets resulting from increased cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC covered loan portfolios.

During 2014 we recognized pre-tax net gains of $7.8 million from the sale of several branch locations. These branches were closed in March as part of our initial branch right sizing strategy related to the November 2013 acquisition of Metropolitan. We are very pleased with the market demand for our former branch facilities, allowing us to negotiate quick sales on the majority of these non-earning assets during 2014.

We also recorded a $1.0 million gain from the sale of our merchant services business during the second quarter of 2014. The sale of this service business became necessary as the chip technology in debit and credit cards comes to fruition. The new contract we have with our vendor serves to eliminate most of our risk while providing our customers with service and support from experts in their field. While our revenue from these services will decline, so will our support expenses. We believe that by selling our merchant services and entering into a third-party contract we have mitigated our risk with a neutral financial impact.

Included in 2013 non-interest income was a $193,000 nonrecurring loss on sale of securities liquidated from the Truman and Excel acquisition portfolios, and included in 2012 non-interest income was $3.4 million of nonrecurring bargain purchase gains on the Truman and Excel.

Non-interest income is principally derived from recurring fee income, which includes service charges, trust fees and debit and credit card fees. Non-interest income also includes income on the sale of mortgage loans, investment banking income, premiums on sale of student loans, income from the increase in cash surrender values of bank owned life insurance, gains (losses) from sales of securities and gains (losses) related to FDIC-assisted transactions and covered assets.

Table 5 shows non-interest income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, as well as changes in 2014 from 2013 and in 2013 from 2012.

Table 5:

Non-Interest Income


	Years Ended December 31						2014 Change from					2013 Change from
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2012		2013					2012

Trust income	$	7,111	$	5,842	$	5,473	$	1,269		21.72	%	$	369		6.74	%
Service charges on deposit accounts		25,650		18,815		16,808		6,835		36.33			2,007		11.94
Other service charges and fees		3,574		2,997		2,961		577		19.25			36		1.22
Mortgage lending income		5,342		4,592		5,997		750		16.33			(1,405	)	-23.43
Investment banking income		1,070		1,811		2,038		(741	)	-40.92			(227	)	-11.14
Debit and credit card fees		22,866		17,833		17,045