8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

July 3, 2013

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

FIRST BANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MISSOURI	0-20632	43-1175538
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

135 North Meramec, Clayton, Missouri	63105
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

(314) 854-4600

(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:

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

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

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

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

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b)    

On July 3, 2013, Mr. Gary S. Pratte, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), announced his intention to retire from the Company, effective July 31, 2013. Following his retirement, Mr. Pratte will continue to serve as a Director of First Bank, the Company's wholly-owned bank subsidiary.

On July 9, 2013, the Company issued a press release announcing the resignation of Mr. Pratte, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number	Description
99	Press Release issued on July 9, 2013 – filed herewith.

1

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.

		FIRST BANKS, INC.
Date:	July 9, 2013	By:	/s/	Terrance M. McCarthy
				Terrance M. McCarthy
				President and Chief Executive Officer

2

Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number	Description
99	Press Release issued on July 9, 2013.

3

EX-99

Exhibit 99

FIRST BANKS, INC.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:	Terrance M. McCarthy	Lisa K. Vansickle
	President and	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer
	First Banks, Inc.	First Banks, Inc.
	(314) 854-4600	(314) 854-4600
Traded:	NYSE
Symbol:	FBSPrA – (First Preferred Capital Trust IV, an affiliated trust of First Banks, Inc.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

First Banks, Inc. Announces Retirement of Chief Credit Officer

St. Louis, Missouri, July 9, 2013. First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), the holding company of First Bank, today announced that its 12-year veteran, Mr. Gary S. Pratte, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company, and Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Director of First Bank, provided notice to the Company of his intention to retire from the Company and First Bank, effective July 31, 2013.

Mr. Pratte joined the Company in 2001 as Senior Vice President and Regional Credit Officer of First Bank. During his tenure with the Company and First Bank, Mr. Pratte has served in various executive capacities within the Credit Administration Department, and assumed his current positions during the second quarter of 2011. Mr. Pratte will continue to serve as a Director of First Bank following his retirement.

Terrance M. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "Gary has been a vital member of our Management Committee and has provided outstanding leadership to our Credit Administration Department during an economic period that has brought much uncertainty and a substantial amount of market challenges. Gary and his team have been instrumental in significantly improving the Company's overall asset quality metrics since the inception of the credit cycle. Gary will be greatly missed by the First Bank family, and we wish him and his family the very best as they begin a new chapter of their lives. We also look forward to Gary's continued contributions through his service on the First Bank Board of Directors."

Mr. Pratte said, "I have enjoyed my career with First Bank, and appreciate the opportunities the Company has afforded to me. I have reached a point in my career where it is the right time to focus on other priorities and I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends and enjoying my hobbies outside of the business community."

The Company is actively engaged in a search for a replacement for Mr. Pratte.

About First Banks, Inc.

The Company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a registered bank holding company that had assets of $6.40 billion at March 31, 2013 and currently operates 131 branch banking offices in California, Florida, Illinois and Missouri. Through its subsidiary bank, First Bank, the Company offers a broad range of financial products and services to consumers, businesses and other institutions. Visit the Company on the web at www.firstbanks.com.

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