Business First Bancshares, Inc. filings document the regulatory record of a bank holding company and parent of b1BANK. Its 8-K reports cover operating and financial results, common and preferred dividend disclosures, Regulation FD materials, stock repurchase authorization, officer and compensation matters, and material-event reporting.
The filing record also includes proxy materials for shareholder voting, board governance, executive compensation and equity-award disclosures. Capital-structure filings describe BFST's NASDAQ-listed common stock and subordinated note financing, including private placement terms, direct financial obligations and related regulatory-capital purposes.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. delivered modestly higher earnings while expanding its balance sheet through acquisition and loan growth in Q1 2026.
Net income available to common shareholders rose to $22.2 million, or $0.68 per share, up from $19.2 million and $0.65 a year earlier. Total assets reached $8.9 billion, loans held for investment were $6.7 billion, and deposits were $7.5 billion, all helped by the January 1 acquisition of Progressive Bancorp, Inc., which added $773.8 million in assets.
Net interest income increased to $75.2 million, though net interest margin edged down to 3.65%. Credit costs remained manageable, but the allowance for credit losses increased to 1.03% of loans and nonperforming loans rose to 1.53% of loans. Shareholders’ equity improved to $991.2 million, or $28.18 book value per share, despite a $4.6 million other comprehensive loss from securities. After quarter-end, the company issued $85.0 million of subordinated notes to refinance debt and support future growth.
Business First Bancshares Inc is reported to be 5.12% owned by Vanguard Capital Management, which beneficially owns 1,675,898 shares of Common Stock as of 03/31/2026. The filing shows Vanguard has sole dispositive power over 1,675,898 shares and sole voting power over 244,736 shares.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. reported strong Q1 2026 results, with net income available to common shareholders of $22.2 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, and core net income of $24.0 million, or $0.73 per diluted share. Net interest income rose to $75.2 million, while core return on average assets reached 1.10% and core return on average common equity was 10.57%. Loans held for investment increased to $6.68 billion and deposits to $7.46 billion, supported by the Progressive Bancorp acquisition and modest organic growth. Credit quality remained manageable, with net charge-offs at 0.01% of average loans and nonperforming loans at 1.53% of total loans. The board declared a quarterly common dividend of $0.15 per share and a preferred dividend of $18.75 per preferred share. Capital levels stayed solid, with a 10.21% common equity Tier 1 ratio and tangible book value per common share of $23.18.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. is asking shareholders to vote at its May 21, 2026 annual meeting on electing 16 directors, approving executive pay on an advisory basis, and ratifying Forvis Mazars, LLP as independent auditor.
The proxy highlights strong 2025 performance, including core return on average assets of 1.06% and a core efficiency ratio of 61.84%, which drove above-target annual bonuses. CEO David R. Melville III received a 2025 base salary of $827,500 and both time-based and performance-based restricted stock units, aligning pay with multi-year results.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. completed a private placement of $85.0 million of 6.50% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2036 to qualified institutional and accredited investors. The notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations structured to qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes.
The notes bear a fixed interest rate of 6.50% per year from April 2, 2026 through March 30, 2031, then reset quarterly to three-month SOFR plus 300 basis points until maturity or earlier redemption. The company plans to use the proceeds to redeem $66.93 million of outstanding subordinated notes, bolster capital at b1BANK, support growth and strategic opportunities, repay other borrowings, and for general corporate purposes.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. completed a private placement of $85.0 million of 6.50% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2036 to qualified institutional and accredited investors. The notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations structured to qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes.
The notes bear a fixed interest rate of 6.50% per year from April 2, 2026 through March 30, 2031, then reset quarterly to three-month SOFR plus 300 basis points until maturity or earlier redemption. The company plans to use the proceeds to redeem $66.93 million of outstanding subordinated notes, bolster capital at b1BANK, support growth and strategic opportunities, repay other borrowings, and for general corporate purposes.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. President of b1Bank Norman Jerome Vascocu Jr reported a Form 4 showing a tax-related share disposition and his current equity holdings. On March 31, 2026, 1,600 shares of common stock were withheld at $27.04 per share to cover tax obligations, not as an open-market sale.
After this tax-withholding disposition, he directly owned 21,595 shares of common stock. He also held 18,409 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) tied to common stock, which will vest in installments over future years under previously granted time-based awards.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. President of b1Bank Norman Jerome Vascocu Jr reported a Form 4 showing a tax-related share disposition and his current equity holdings. On March 31, 2026, 1,600 shares of common stock were withheld at $27.04 per share to cover tax obligations, not as an open-market sale.
After this tax-withholding disposition, he directly owned 21,595 shares of common stock. He also held 18,409 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) tied to common stock, which will vest in installments over future years under previously granted time-based awards.
Business First Bancshares EVP & General Counsel Saundra Strong had shares withheld to cover taxes on equity compensation. On March 31, 2026, 1,204 shares of common stock were disposed of at $27.04 per share as a tax-withholding transaction, leaving her with 5,878 common shares held directly.
She also holds 9,377 restricted stock units tied to common stock at an exercise price of $0.00 per share. Footnotes show these RSUs are time-based awards granted between December 12, 2024 and March 2, 2026, vesting in two or three equal installments on future anniversaries of their grant dates.
Business First Bancshares EVP & General Counsel Saundra Strong had shares withheld to cover taxes on equity compensation. On March 31, 2026, 1,204 shares of common stock were disposed of at $27.04 per share as a tax-withholding transaction, leaving her with 5,878 common shares held directly.
She also holds 9,377 restricted stock units tied to common stock at an exercise price of $0.00 per share. Footnotes show these RSUs are time-based awards granted between December 12, 2024 and March 2, 2026, vesting in two or three equal installments on future anniversaries of their grant dates.
Business First Bancshares EVP and CAO Heather G. Roemer reported a tax-withholding disposition of 528 shares of common stock at $27.04 per share. These shares were withheld to cover tax obligations, not sold in the open market. After this entry, she directly holds 19,064 common shares. The filing also reports indirect holdings of 8,817 common shares held by her spouse and 7,230 common shares held as custodian for minor children, plus 8,129 underlying common shares tied to restricted stock units that vest over future anniversaries of prior grant dates.
Business First Bancshares EVP and CAO Heather G. Roemer reported a tax-withholding disposition of 528 shares of common stock at $27.04 per share. These shares were withheld to cover tax obligations, not sold in the open market. After this entry, she directly holds 19,064 common shares. The filing also reports indirect holdings of 8,817 common shares held by her spouse and 7,230 common shares held as custodian for minor children, plus 8,129 underlying common shares tied to restricted stock units that vest over future anniversaries of prior grant dates.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. EVP and CFO Greg Robertson reported a tax-related share withholding rather than an open-market trade. On March 31, 2026, 1,033 shares of common stock were withheld at $27.04 per share to satisfy tax obligations tied to equity compensation, leaving him with 69,532 common shares held directly.
He also holds 13,374 time-based restricted stock units convertible into common stock, vesting in installments between the second and third anniversaries of grants made in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. EVP and CFO Greg Robertson reported a tax-related share withholding rather than an open-market trade. On March 31, 2026, 1,033 shares of common stock were withheld at $27.04 per share to satisfy tax obligations tied to equity compensation, leaving him with 69,532 common shares held directly.
He also holds 13,374 time-based restricted stock units convertible into common stock, vesting in installments between the second and third anniversaries of grants made in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. President and CEO David R. Melville III reported a routine equity-compensation-related adjustment. On March 31, 2026, 4,279 shares of common stock were disposed of at $27.04 per share to satisfy tax obligations through a tax-withholding disposition, rather than an open-market sale. Following this transaction, he directly holds 208,902 shares of common stock.
The filing also shows 37,346 restricted stock units directly held, each tied to one share of common stock, reflecting future potential equity subject to time-based vesting schedules. Footnotes note additional exposure through an employer stock fund equivalent to 13,786 shares and 96,288 pledged shares of common stock.
Business First Bancshares, Inc. President and CEO David R. Melville III reported a routine equity-compensation-related adjustment. On March 31, 2026, 4,279 shares of common stock were disposed of at $27.04 per share to satisfy tax obligations through a tax-withholding disposition, rather than an open-market sale. Following this transaction, he directly holds 208,902 shares of common stock.
The filing also shows 37,346 restricted stock units directly held, each tied to one share of common stock, reflecting future potential equity subject to time-based vesting schedules. Footnotes note additional exposure through an employer stock fund equivalent to 13,786 shares and 96,288 pledged shares of common stock.