UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 15, 2018

BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana	333-200112	20-5340628
(State of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
500 Laurel Street, Suite 101 Baton Rouge, Louisiana		70801
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (225) 248-7600

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 40 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company     ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.                                                                                                                                          ☒

5.05     Amendment to Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

On March 15, 2018, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (“Business First”) approved amendments to the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) to reflect Business First’s anticipated listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and consequent reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Code, as amended, is available on Business First’s corporate website at www.b1bank.com.

The amendments to the Code are effective immediately. The text of the Code, as amended, is attached hereto as Exhibit 14.1 and incorporated herein by reference. This description of the amendments is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text thereof.

9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed herewith.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
14.1	Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Business First Bancshares, Inc.

SIGNATURES

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, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 16, 2018

Business First bancshares, inc.
By:	/s/ David R. Melville, III
	David R. Melville, III
	President and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
14.1	Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Business First Bancshares, Inc.