UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 20, 2005

SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Arkansas   0-6253   71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)   File Number)   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)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM: 2.02                     RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

     The following is the text of a press release issued by the registrant at 8:25 A.M. Central Standard Time on January 20, 2005.

SIMMONS FIRST ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS

                Pine Bluff, AR – Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ NM: SFNC) today announced fourth quarter 2004 operating earnings (net income excluding nonrecurring items) of $6,310,000, or $0.42 diluted earnings per share, compared to $5,318,000, or $0.37 diluted earnings per share for the same period in 2003. This represents a $992,000, or $0.05 increase in diluted earnings per share, which is approximately a 13.5% increase on a per share basis over the comparable periods. During the fourth quarter the Company recorded a nonrecurring $0.03 reduction in earnings per share related to the write off of deferred debt issuance cost associated with the redemption of its 9.12% trust preferred securities. Including the nonrecurring expense, Simmons First’s fourth quarter 2004 earnings were $5,840, 000, or $0.39 diluted earnings per share.

                “We are pleased with the Company’s solid financial performance in the fourth quarter,” said J. Thomas May, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The earnings increase over the same quarter last year is primarily attributable to growth in the loan portfolio, increases in non-interest income and a lower provision for loan losses, which correlates to a continued improvement in asset quality. While the nonrecurring charge related to the early redemption of the trust preferred securities adversely affected our earnings for the fourth quarter, going forward this prepayment will reduce interest expense by approximately $1.6 million per year. We project this savings will have a $0.05 positive impact to diluted earnings per share in 2005.”

                Operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2004, were $24,916,000, or $1.68 diluted operating earnings per share. These operating earnings reflect a 3.7% increase on a diluted per share basis when compared to operating earnings for the same period last year. For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported net income after nonrecurring expenses of $24,446,000, or $1.65 diluted earnings per share.

                At December 31, 2004, the Company’s loan portfolio totaled $1.6 billion, which is a $153 million, or a 10.8%, increase from the same period last year. This increase is partially due to the $70 million in loans associated with the Company’s first quarter acquisition in Hot Springs. Excluding the merger, loans grew $83 million or 5.9%.




                Asset quality remains strong with the allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans at 1.69% as of December 31, 2004. Non-performing loans equaled 0.76% of total loans, while the allowance for loan losses equaled 221% of non-performing loans. As of December 31, 2004, the non-performing assets ratio was 0.89%.

                Total assets for the Corporation at December 31, 2004, were $2.4 billion, an increase of $178 million over the period ended December 31, 2003, of which $156 million was related to the first quarter acquisition. Stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2004 was $238 million.

                Simmons First National Corporation is an Arkansas based, Arkansas committed financial holding company with eight community banks in Pine Bluff, Lake Village, Jonesboro, Rogers, Searcy, Russellville, El Dorado and Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Company’s eight banks conduct financial operations from 80 offices, of which 78 are financial centers, in 45 communities.

                CONFERENCE CALL

                Management will conduct a conference call to review this information at 3:00 p.m. CST (4:00 p.m. EST) on Thursday, January 20, 2005. Interested parties can listen to this call by calling 1-800-854-4175 (United States and Canada only) and ask for the Simmons First National Corporation conference call. A recorded playback of the call will be available the next morning by calling 1-800-642-1687. The passcode for this playback is 2952776 and the recording will be available through the end of business February 20, 2005. In addition, the call will also be available live or in recorded version on the Company’s website at www.simmonsfirst.com under the “webcast” icon.

                GENERAL

                Statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements of this type speak only as of the date of this news release. By nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties. Various factors, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, credit quality, interest rates, loan demand and changes in the assumptions used in making the forward-looking statements, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Additional information on factors that might affect Simmons First National Corporation’s financial results is included in its Form 10-K filing with t he Securities and Exchange Commission.

####

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
ROBERT A. FEHLMAN
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Simmons First National Corporation
(870) 541-1231




Simmons First National Corporation                                           SFNC   
Consolidated End of Period Balance Sheets                                                
For the Quarters Ended     Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands)     2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                 
ASSETS                      
Cash and non-interest bearing balances due from banks   $ 72,032   $ 77,944   $ 79,555   $ 69,234   $ 78,205  
Interest bearing balances due from banks     36,249     11,273     12,660     51,747     31,850  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased  
   under agreements to resell     45,450     17,300     41,555     83,660     91,560  





     Cash and cash equivalents     153,731     106,517     133,770     204,641     201,615  
                                 
Investment securities     542,058     563,581     555,414     544,723     491,950  
Mortgage loans held for sale     9,246     11,153     9,094     13,327     12,211  
Assets held in trading accounts     4,916     2,149     389     205     90  
                                 
Loans     1,571,376     1,602,127     1,543,163     1,504,173     1,418,314  
    Allowance for loan losses     (26,508 )   (27,602 )   (27,268 )   (26,764 )   (25,347 )





Net loans     1,544,868     1,574,525     1,515,895     1,477,409     1,392,967  
                                 
Premises and equipment     57,211     55,027     51,614     51,306     49,369  
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net     1,839     1,789     1,641     2,509     2,979  
Interest receivable     14,248     15,361     12,797     13,683     12,678  
Goodwill     60,454     60,454     60,432     59,454     45,159  
Core deposits, net     5,829     6,035     6,243     6,330     5,258  
Other assets     19,544     21,692     23,224     21,275     21,502  





                                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 2,413,944   $ 2,418,283   $ 2,370,513   $ 2,394,862   $ 2,235,778  





         
LIABILITIES    
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts   $ 293,137   $ 287,632   $ 298,556   $ 291,594   $ 270,343  
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits     769,296     749,492     746,595     727,258     670,908  
Time deposits less than $100,000     539,836     547,510     545,551     552,606     525,806  
Time deposits greater than $100,000     356,926     357,566     340,368     353,344     336,411  





         Total deposits     1,959,195     1,942,200     1,931,070     1,924,802     1,803,468  





Federal funds purchased and securities    
   sold under agreements to repurchase     104,785     96,384     70,656     88,491     100,209  
Short-term debt     2,373     13,763     11,665     6,257     6,833  
Long-term debt - parent company     6,000     6,000     8,000     8,000     8,000  
Long-term FHLB debt - affiliate banks     57,733     59,775     56,077     58,543     45,666  
Subordinated debt issued to capital trusts     30,930     48,714     48,714     48,714     47,250  
Accrued interest and other liabilities     14,706     15,993     16,721     30,440     14,357  





TOTAL LIABILITIES     2,175,722     2,182,829     2,142,903     2,165,247     2,025,783  





         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
   Capital stock     146     146     146     147     14,102  
   Surplus     62,826     62,659     63,044     64,399     35,988  
   Undivided profits     176,374     172,726     167,864     163,625     160,191  
   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income  
      Unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on AFS securities     (1,124 )   (77 )   (3,444 )   1,444     (286 )





TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     238,222     235,454     227,610     229,615     209,995  





         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 2,413,944   $ 2,418,283   $ 2,370,513   $ 2,394,862   $ 2,235,778  






Page 1
 


Simmons First National Corporation                                           SFNC   
Consolidated Average Quarter-to-Date Balance Sheets                                                
For the Quarters Ended     Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands)     2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                 
ASSETS                      
Cash and non-interest bearing balances due from banks   $ 85,375   $ 77,139   $ 75,206   $ 73,961   $ 71,551  
Interest bearing balances due from banks     38,498     13,817     33,677     60,587     61,436  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased  
  under agreements to resell     60,033     36,389     46,206     83,915     88,853  





    Cash and cash equivalents     183,906     127,345     155,089     218,463     221,840  
                                 
Investment securities - held-to-maturity     171,402     178,537     180,143     176,139     152,310  
Investment securities - available-for-sale     383,325     378,591     374,576     321,009     292,662  
Mortgage loans held for sale     9,682     10,211     12,512     7,946     12,355  
Assets held in trading accounts     5,510     236     734     622     417  
                                 
Loans     1,570,724     1,577,821     1,529,321     1,434,915     1,355,088  
   Allowance for loan losses     (27,823 )   (27,648 )   (27,325 )   (25,936 )   (24,375 )





Net loans     1,542,901     1,550,173     1,501,996     1,408,979     1,330,713  
                                 
Premises and equipment     56,128     52,508     51,287     49,892     47,163  
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net     1,728     1,798     1,841     2,597     2,811  
Interest receivable     14,854     13,852     13,349     12,433     13,376  
Goodwill and core deposits, net     66,401     66,603     65,859     52,401     40,926  
Other assets     21,719     22,734     22,439     20,597     19,222  





                                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 2,457,556   $ 2,402,588   $ 2,379,825   $ 2,271,078   $ 2,133,795  





         
LIABILITIES    
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts   $ 302,117   $ 292,578   $ 297,109   $ 280,755   $ 260,254  
Interest bearing transaction accounts     260,341     251,702     254,144     226,342     192,358  
Savings deposits     505,837     488,857     478,341     453,290     421,061  
Time deposits less than $100,000     545,003     550,054     550,858     526,534     506,743  
Time deposits greater than $100,000     357,800     348,148     350,832     340,030     330,891  





        Total deposits     1,971,098     1,931,339     1,931,284     1,826,951     1,711,307  





Federal funds purchased and securities  
  sold under agreements to repurchase     107,150     91,950     78,372     100,947     108,181  
Short-term debt     10,143     19,967     8,529     6,287     13,993  
Long-term debt     113,370     111,025     113,913     105,443     76,909  
Accrued interest and other liabilities     15,799     15,263     17,788     15,702     13,196  





TOTAL LIABILITIES     2,217,560     2,169,544     2,149,886     2,055,330     1,923,586  





                                 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY     239,996     233,044     229,939     215,748     210,209  





                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY   $ 2,457,556   $ 2,402,588   $ 2,379,825   $ 2,271,078   $ 2,133,795  






Page 2
 


Simmons First National Corporation                                           SFNC   
Consolidated Average Year-to-Date Balance Sheets                                                
For the Quarters Ended     Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands)     2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                 
ASSETS                      
Cash and non-interest bearing balances due from banks   $ 77,836   $ 75,305   $ 74,377   $ 73,961   $ 65,297  
Interest bearing balances due from banks     36,587     35,946     47,132     60,587     51,325  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased  
  under agreements to resell     56,423     55,211     64,726     83,915     63,642  





    Cash and cash equivalents     170,846     166,462     186,235     218,463     180,264  
                                 
Investment securities - held-to-maturity     176,585     178,325     178,219     176,139     177,407  
Investment securities - available-for-sale     361,231     358,082     347,715     321,009     249,731  
Mortgage loans held for sale     10,087     10,223     10,229     7,946     22,692  
Assets held in trading accounts     4,980     531     678     622     1,146  
                                 
Loans     1,528,447     1,514,252     1,482,118     1,434,915     1,298,127  
   Allowance for loan losses     (27,186 )   (26,972 )   (26,631 )   (25,936 )   (22,994 )





Net loans     1,501,261     1,487,280     1,455,487     1,408,979     1,275,133  
                                 
Premises and equipment     52,464     51,234     50,589     49,892     46,491  
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net     1,990     2,077     2,219     2,597     2,655  
Interest receivable     13,626     13,214     12,891     12,433     13,070  
Goodwill and core deposits, net     62,836     61,638     59,128     52,401     35,335  
Other assets     21,874     21,927     21,520     20,597     17,615  





                                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 2,377,780   $ 2,350,993   $ 2,324,910   $ 2,271,078   $ 2,021,539  





   
LIABILITIES                                
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts   $ 293,060   $ 290,019   $ 288,725   $ 280,755   $ 242,902  
Interest bearing transaction accounts     248,175     244,091     240,243     226,342     179,941  
Savings deposits     481,667     473,552     465,815     453,290     399,677  
Time deposits less than $100,000     543,136     542,508     538,696     526,534     497,728  
Time deposits greater than $100,000     349,224     346,344     345,432     340,030     316,245  
 




        Total deposits     1,915,262     1,896,514     1,878,911     1,826,951     1,636,493  





Federal funds purchased and securities  
  sold under agreements to repurchase     94,465     90,206     89,324     100,947     87,847  
Short-term debt     11,252     11,626     7,408     6,287     5,489  
Long-term debt     110,946     110,131     109,678     105,443     72,211  
Accrued interest and other liabilities     16,136     16,248     16,746     15,702     13,816  





TOTAL LIABILITIES     2,148,061     2,124,725     2,102,067     2,055,330     1,815,856  





                                 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY     229,719     226,268     222,843     215,748     205,683  





                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY   $ 2,377,780   $ 2,350,993   $ 2,324,910   $ 2,271,078   $ 2,021,539  






Page 3



Simmons First National Corporation                                              SFNC   
Consolidated Statements of Income - Quarter-to-Date                                                   
For the Quarters Ended       Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands, except per share data)       2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                   
INTEREST INCOME                        
   Loans     $ 25,363   $ 24,956   $ 23,802   $ 22,732   $ 22,334  
   Federal funds sold and securities purchased                                  
     under agreements to resell       303     140     110     195     206  
   Investment securities       4,496     4,494     4,343     4,114     3,874  
   Mortgage loans held for sale, net of unrealized gains (losses)       130     159     174     112     210  
   Assets held in trading accounts       35     2     1     3     4  
   Interest bearing balances due from banks       172     34     76     118     129  





           TOTAL INTEREST INCOME       30,499     29,785     28,506     27,274     26,757  





INTEREST EXPENSE                                  
   Time deposits       4,752     4,555     4,475     4,416     4,545  
   Other deposits       1,469     1,269     1,177     1,050     1,014  
   Federal funds purchased and securities    
     sold under agreements to repurchase       471     302     202     252     280  
   Short-term debt       41     94     24     16     51  
   Long-term debt       1,512     1,448     1,478     1,425     999  





           TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE       8,245     7,668     7,356     7,159     6,889  





NET INTEREST INCOME       22,254     22,117     21,150     20,115     19,868  
   Provision for loan losses       1,932     1,932     2,019     2,144     2,197  





NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION    
   FOR LOAN LOSSES       20,322     20,185     19,131     17,971     17,671  





NON-INTEREST INCOME                                  
   Trust income       1,400     1,388     1,233     1,400     1,428  
   Service charges on deposit accounts       3,642     3,928     3,767     3,227     2,710  
   Other service charges and fees       524     571     518     545     413  
   Income on sale of mortgage loans, net of commissions       781     814     1,045     751     792  
   Income on investment banking, net of commissions       131     101     198     215     371  
   Credit card fees       2,630     2,544     2,517     2,310     2,456  
   Student loan premiums       247     417     843     607     308  
   Other income       635     656     670     592     585  
   Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                        
   Loss on sale of securities, net                       (14 )





           TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME       9,990     10,419     10,791     9,647     9,049  





NON-INTEREST EXPENSE                                  
   Salaries and employee benefits       12,357     12,091     12,280     11,805     10,845  
   Occupancy expense, net       1,374     1,431     1,377     1,318     1,218  
   Furniture & equipment expense       1,444     1,445     1,399     1,358     1,265  
   Loss on foreclosed assets       116     49     137     44     71  
   Deposit insurance       68     76     71     69     70  
   Write off of deferred debt issuance cost       771                  
   Other operating expenses       5,542     5,503     5,304     5,098     5,569  





           TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE       21,672     20,595     20,568     19,692     19,038  





NET INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES       8,640     10,009     9,354     7,926     7,682  
   Provision for income taxes       2,800     3,102     3,066     2,515     2,364  





NET INCOME     $ 5,840   $ 6,907   $ 6,288   $ 5,411   $ 5,318  





BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE     $ 0.40   $ 0.47   $ 0.43   $ 0.38   $ 0.38  





DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE     $ 0.39   $ 0.47   $ 0.42   $ 0.37   $ 0.37  






Page 4



Simmons First National Corporation                           SFNC  
Consolidated Statements of Income - Year-to-Date                                             
For the Quarters Ended    Dec 31       Sep 30       Jun 30       Mar 31       Dec 31   
(In thousands, except per share data)    2004       2004       2004       2004       2003   
 




                               
INTEREST INCOME                    
   Loans $ 96,853   $ 71,490   $ 46,534   $ 22,732   $ 89,315  
   Federal funds sold and securities purchased                              
     under agreements to resell   748     445     305     195     652  
   Investment securities   17,447     12,951     8,457     4,114     15,889  
   Mortgage loans held for sale, net of unrealized gains (losses)   575     445     286     112     1,220  
   Assets held in trading accounts   41     6     4     3     37  
   Interest bearing balances due from banks   400     228     194     118     494  
 
 
 
 
 
 
           TOTAL INTEREST INCOME   116,064     85,565     55,780     27,274     107,607  
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTEREST EXPENSE                              
   Time deposits   18,198     13,446     8,891     4,416     19,921  
   Other deposits   4,965     3,496     2,227     1,050     4,594  
   Federal funds purchased and securities                              
     sold under agreements to repurchase   1,227     756     454     252     941  
   Short-term debt   175     134     40     16     89  
   Long-term debt   5,863     4,351     2,903     1,425     4,192  
 
 
 
 
 
 
           TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE   30,428     22,183     14,515     7,159     29,737  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INTEREST INCOME   85,636     63,382     41,265     20,115     77,870  
   Provision for loan losses   8,027     6,095     4,163     2,144     8,786  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION                              
   FOR LOAN LOSSES   77,609     57,287     37,102     17,971     69,084  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST INCOME                              
   Trust income   5,421     4,021     2,633     1,400     5,487  
   Service charges on deposit accounts   14,564     10,922     6,994     3,227     10,589  
   Other service charges and fees   2,158     1,634     1,063     545     1,508  
   Income on sale of mortgage loans, net of commissions   3,391     2,610     1,796     751     4,931  
   Income on investment banking, net of commissions   645     514     413     215     1,887  
   Credit card fees   10,001     7,371     4,827     2,310     9,782  
   Student loan premiums   2,114     1,867     1,450     607     1,479  
   Other income   2,553     1,918     1,262     592     2,297  
   Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                   771  
   Loss on sale of securities, net                   (14 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
           TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME   40,847     30,857     20,438     9,647     38,717  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE                              
   Salaries and employee benefits   48,533     36,176     24,085     11,805     42,979  
   Occupancy expense, net   5,500     4,126     2,695     1,318     5,080  
   Furniture & equipment expense   5,646     4,202     2,757     1,358     5,195  
   Loss on foreclosed assets   346     230     181     44     269  
   Deposit insurance   284     216     140     69     273  
   Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   771                  
   Other operating expenses   21,447     15,905     10,402     5,098     19,321  
 
 
 
 
 
 
           TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE   82,527     60,855     40,260     19,692     73,117  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   35,929     27,289     17,280     7,926     34,684  
   Provision for income taxes   11,483     8,683     5,581     2,515     10,894  
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME $ 24,446   $ 18,606   $ 11,699   $ 5,411   $ 23,790  
 
 
 
 
 
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 1.68   $ 1.28   $ 0.81   $ 0.38   $ 1.69  
 
 
 
 
 
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 1.65   $ 1.26   $ 0.79   $ 0.37   $ 1.65  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Page 5



Simmons First National Corporation                                        SFNC   
Consolidated Risk-Based Capital                                             
For the Quarters Ended    Dec 31       Sep 30       Jun 30       Mar 31       Dec 31   
(In thousands)    2004       2004       2004       2004       2003   
 




         
Tier 1 capital                    
   Stockholders’ equity $ 238,222   $ 235,454   $ 227,610   $ 229,615   $ 209,995  
   Trust preferred securities, net allowable   30,000     47,250     46,993     47,013     47,250  
   Intangible assets   (66,283 )   (66,489 )   (66,675 )   (65,784 )   (50,417 )
   Unrealized loss (gain) on AFS securities   1,124     77     3,444     (1,444 )   286  
   Other   (738 )   (1,532 )   (1,110 )   (1,134 )   (1,160 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
                               
      Total Tier 1 capital   202,325     214,760     210,262     208,266     205,954  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                     
Tier 2 capital
   Qualifying unrealized gain on AFS securities   392     405     373     353     326  
   Qualifying allowance for loan losses   19,961     20,540     19,924     19,325     18,320  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                               
      Total Tier 2 capital   20,353     20,945     20,297     19,678     18,646  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                               
      Total risk-based capital $ 222,678   $ 235,705   $ 230,559   $ 227,944   $ 224,600  





                               
Risk weighted assets $ 1,590,373   $ 1,636,142   $ 1,586,554   $ 1,538,608   $ 1,458,583  





                               
Assets for leverage ratio $ 2,391,149   $ 2,337,627   $ 2,314,344   $ 2,203,461   $ 2,082,552  





         
Ratios at end of quarter
   Leverage ratio   8.46 %   9.19 %   9.09 %   9.45 %   9.89 %
   Tier 1 capital   12.72 %   13.13 %   13.25 %   13.54 %   14.12 %
   Total risk-based capital   14.00 %   14.41 %   14.53 %   14.81 %   15.40 %
                               

Page 6



Simmons First National Corporation                                              SFNC   
Consolidated Loans and Investments                                                   
For the Quarters Ended       Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands)       2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                   
Loan Portfolio - End of Period                        
 Consumer    
    Credit cards     $ 155,326   $ 152,198   $ 150,265   $ 153,505   $ 165,919  
    Student loans       83,283     82,140     72,410     89,829     86,301  
    Other consumer       128,552     130,267     135,448     138,818     142,995  
 Real Estate    
    Construction       169,001     148,561     138,747     135,143     111,567  
    Single-family residential       318,498     311,291     297,388     287,154     261,947  
    Other commercial       481,728     483,467     468,023     466,558     408,452  
    Unearned income       (10 )   (10 )   (11 )   (11 )   (11 )
 Commercial                                  
    Commercial       158,613     184,017     185,126     164,252     162,122  
    Agricultural       62,340     94,751     77,023     51,536     57,393  
    Financial institutions       1,079     2,249     3,322     3,622     6,370  
 Other       12,966     13,196     15,422     13,767     15,259  
     
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
       Total Loans     $ 1,571,376   $ 1,602,127   $ 1,543,163   $ 1,504,173   $ 1,418,314  
     
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
Investment Securities - End of Period                                  
                                   
 Held-to-Maturity                                  
    U.S. Treasury     $ 4,020   $ 7,027   $ 8,039   $ 10,559   $ 12,583  
    U.S. Government agencies       21,500     22,495     22,494     23,506     30,017  
    Mortgage-backed securities       307     494     516     539     553  
    State and political subdivisions       122,457     126,822     126,456     126,559     113,306  
    Other securities       2,980     21,612     21,811     21,758     20,108  
     
 
 
 
 
 
       Total held-to-maturity       151,264     178,450     179,316     182,921     176,567  
     
 
 
 
 
 
 Available-for-Sale                                  
    U.S. Treasury       24,096     20,008     18,933     61,545     16,331  
    U.S. Government agencies       341,086     338,309     330,291     272,563     280,672  
    Mortgage-backed securities       3,877     4,477     5,027     6,038     1,382  
    State and political subdivisions       4,746     4,434     4,429     4,740     4,849  
    FHLB stock       8,206     8,162     7,777     6,933     6,849  
    Other securities       8,783     9,741     9,641     9,983     5,300  
     
 
 
 
 
 
       Total available-for-sale       390,794     385,131     376,098     361,802     315,383  
     
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
       Total investment securities     $ 542,058   $ 563,581   $ 555,414   $ 544,723   $ 491,950  
     
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
       Fair Value - HTM investment securities     $ 149,453   $ 180,593   $ 178,983   $ 186,370   $ 179,494  
     
 
 
 
 
 
     
Investment Securities - QTD Average                                  
                                   
 Taxable securities     $ 428,184   $ 426,355   $ 425,292   $ 378,545   $ 329,745  
 Tax exempt securities       126,543     130,773     129,427     118,603     115,227  
     
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
    Total investment securities - QTD average     $ 554,727   $ 557,128   $ 554,719   $ 497,148   $ 444,972  
     
 
 
 
 
 

Page 7
 


Simmons First National Corporation                                              SFNC   
Consolidated Allowance and Asset Quality                                                   
For the Quarters Ended       Dec 31     Sep 30     Jun 30     Mar 31     Dec 31  
(In thousands)       2004     2004     2004     2004     2003  





                                   
Allowance for Loan Losses                        
 Balance, beginning of quarter     $ 27,602   $ 27,268   $ 26,764   $ 25,347   $ 22,795  





     
 Loans charged off                                  
    Credit cards       1,006     1,176     1,145     1,262     1,186  
    Other consumer       567     418     552     607     544  
    Real estate       418     259     355     231     587  
    Commercial       1,884     165     188     172     1,434  





       Total loans charged off       3,875     2,018     2,240     2,272     3,751  





     
 Recoveries of loans previously charged off                                  
    Credit cards       206     182     171     161     148  
    Other consumer       167     125     214     177     132  
    Real estate       75     39     143     20     104  
    Commercial       401     74     197     79     758  





       Total recoveries       849     420     725     437     1,142  





    Net loans charged off       3,026     1,598     1,515     1,835     2,609  
 Allowance for loan losses on acquisitions                   1,108     2,964  
 Provision for loan losses       1,932     1,932     2,019     2,144     2,197  





 Balance, end of quarter     $ 26,508   $ 27,602   $ 27,268   $ 26,764   $ 25,347  





                                   
Non-performing assets                          
 Non-performing loans                                  
    Nonaccrual loans                                  
       Real estate     $ 6,309   $ 5,923   $ 6,077   $ 8,424   $ 6,004  
       Commercial       3,429     2,920     3,597     3,426     1,969  
       Consumer       1,180     1,371     1,723     1,874     2,076  





          Total nonaccrual loans       10,918     10,214     11,397     13,724     10,049  
    Loans past due 90 days or more       1,085     1,372     1,415     2,062     1,518  
 




             Total non-performing loans       12,003     11,586     12,812     15,786     11,567  





 Other non-performing assets    
    Foreclosed assets held for sale       1,839     1,789     1,641     2,509     2,979  
    Other non-performing assets       83     78     53     29     393  





       Total other non-performing assets       1,922     1,867     1,694     2,538     3,372  





                                   
          Total non-performing assets     $ 13,925   $ 13,453   $ 14,506   $ 18,324   $ 14,939  





     
Ratios                                  
 Allowance for loan losses to total loans       1.69 %   1.72 %   1.77 %   1.78 %   1.79 %
 Allowance for loan losses to                                  
    non-performing loans       220.84 %   238.24 %   212.83 %   169.54 %   219.13 %
 Allowance for loan losses to    
    non-performing assets       190.36 %   205.17 %   187.98 %   146.06 %   169.67 %
 Non-performing assets ratio *       0.89 %   0.83 %   0.94 %   1.23 %   1.05 %
 Non-performing loans to total loans       0.76 %   0.72 %   0.83 %   1.05 %   0.82 %
 Non-performing assets to total assets       0.58 %   0.56 %   0.61 %   0.77 %   0.67 %

* Non-performing assets ratio = ( non-performing loans + foreclosed assets) / ( total loans + foreclosed assets)
 
Page 8



Simmons First National Corporation                                        SFNC   
Consolidated - Selected Financial Data                                             
For the Quarters Ended    Dec 31       Sep 30       Jun 30       Mar 31       Dec 31   
(In thousands, except share data)    2004       2004       2004       2004       2003   
 




                               
QUARTER-TO-DATE                    
 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.39   $ 0.47   $ 0.42   $ 0.37   $ 0.37  
 Operating earnings (excludes nonrecurring items)   6,310     6,907     6,288     5,411     5,318  
 Diluted operating earnings per share   0.42     0.47     0.42     0.37     0.37  
 Cash dividends declared per common share   0.15     0.14     0.14     0.14     0.14  
 Cash dividends declared - amount   2,193     2,045     2,049     1,977     1,974  
 Return on average stockholders’ equity   9.68 %   11.79 %   11.00 %   10.09 %   10.04 %
 Return on average assets   0.95 %   1.14 %   1.06 %   0.96 %   0.99 %
 Net interest margin (FTE)   4.09 %   4.16 %   4.05 %   4.03 %   4.17 %
 FTE Adjustment - investments   689     729     708     686     675  
 FTE Adjustment - loans   86     91     92     92     94  
 Amortization of intangibles   208     208     203     173     98  
 Amortization of intangibles, net of taxes   132     132     129     110     61  
 Average shares outstanding   14,608,104     14,608,158     14,656,569     14,181,904     14,089,152  
 Shares repurchased       16,950     56,515          
 Average price of repurchased shares       24.65     24.17          
 Average earning assets   2,239,174     2,195,602     2,177,169     2,085,133     1,963,121  
 Average interest bearing liabilities   1,899,644     1,861,703     1,834,989     1,758,873     1,650,136  
 
YEAR-TO-DATE                              
 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.65   $ 1.26   $ 0.79   $ 0.37   $ 1.65  
 Operating earnings (excludes nonrecurring items)   24,916     18,606     11,699     5,411     23,320  
 Diluted operating earnings per share   1.68     1.26     0.79     0.37     1.62  
 Cash dividends declared per common share   0.570     0.420     0.280     0.140     0.525  
 Return on average stockholders’ equity   10.64 %   10.98 %   10.56 %   10.09 %   11.57 %
 Return on average assets   1.03 %   1.06 %   1.01 %   0.96 %   1.18 %
 Net interest margin (FTE)   4.08 %   4.08 %   4.04 %   4.03 %   4.34 %
 FTE Adjustment - investments   2,812     2,123     1,394     686     2,710  
 FTE Adjustment - loans   361     275     184     92     402  
 Amortization of intangibles   792     584     376     173     172  
 Amortization of intangibles, net of taxes   503     371     239     110     109  
 Average shares outstanding   14,515,364     14,483,772     14,420,548     14,181,904     14,114,428  
 Diluted shares outstanding   333,196     328,479     335,077     358,188     301,279  
 Average earning assets   2,174,340     2,152,570     2,130,817     2,085,133     1,864,070  
 Average interest bearing liabilities   1,838,865     1,818,458     1,796,596     1,758,873     1,559,138  
 
END OF PERIOD                              
 Book value $ 16.29   $ 16.13   $ 15.57   $ 15.65   $ 14.89  
 Shares outstanding   14,621,707     14,601,030     14,614,074     14,669,789     14,101,521  
 Full-time equivalent employees   1,086     1,097     1,085     1,086     1,042  
 Total number of ATM’s   79     78     78     75     70  
 Total number of branches   78     78     78     76     71  
 Parent company only - investment in subsidiaries   257,851     257,610     250,055     251,268     221,626  
 Parent company only - intangible assets   133     133     133     133     133  

Page 9
 


Simmons First National Corporation                                        SFNC   
Consolidated - Reconciliation of Operating Earnings                                             
For the Quarters Ended    Dec 31       Sep 30       Jun 30       Mar 31       Dec 31   
(In thousands, except share data)    2004       2004       2004       2004       2003   
 




                               
QUARTER-TO-DATE                              
 Net Income $ 5,840   $ 6,907   $ 6,288   $ 5,411   $ 5,318  
    Nonrecurring items                              
         Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                    
          Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   771                  
          Tax effect (39%)   (301 )                
 
 



     Net nonrecurring items   470                  
 




 Operating income $ 6,310   $ 6,907   $ 6,288   $ 5,411   $ 5,318  





                               
 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.39   $ 0.47   $ 0.42   $ 0.37   $ 0.37  
     Nonrecurring items
         Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                    
         Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   0.05                  
          Tax effect (39%)   (0.02 )                
 




      Net nonrecurring items   0.03                  
 




 Diluted operating earnings per share $ 0.42   $ 0.47   $ 0.42   $ 0.37   $ 0.37  





 
YEAR-TO-DATE
 Net Income $ 24,446   $ 18,606   $ 11,699   $ 5,411   $ 23,790  
      Nonrecurring items
          Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                   (771 )
          Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   771                  
          Tax effect (39%)   (301 )               301  
 




       Net nonrecurring items   470                 (470 )
 




 Operating income $ 24,916   $ 18,606   $ 11,699   $ 5,411   $ 23,320  





                               
 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.65   $ 1.26   $ 0.79   $ 0.37   $ 1.65  
       Nonrecurring items                              
           Gain on sale of mortgage servicing                   (0.05 )
           Write off of deferred debt issuance cost   0.05                  
           Tax effect (39%)   (0.02 )               0.02  
 




        Net nonrecurring items   0.03                 (0.03 )
 




 Diluted operating earnings per share $ 1.68   $ 1.26   $ 0.79   $ 0.37   $ 1.62  






Page 10
 


SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


Date: January 20, 2005       SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION


      /s/ Robert A. Fehlman
      ————————————————————
      Robert A. Fehlman, Senior Vice President
         and Chief Financial Officer