-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WozhgAb0UC7A7uiigksJKoouTIm6psch3jtc0EmapXRkrcjvLx5EmdyDx9jXUtRn
 W/WtOKy/gfEA+uwxsSb8aQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-022571.txt : 20091005
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-022571.hdr.sgml : 20091005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091005160902
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-022571
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADKINS TONEY K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082227
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20908
		FILM NUMBER:		091105712

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ROUTE 1 BOX 622
		CITY:			GENOA
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25517

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887919
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				611206757
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2883 FIFTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		NONE
		CITY:			HUNTINGTON
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3045251600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2883 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			HUNTINGTON
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887919</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001082227</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADKINS TONEY K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ROUTE 1 BOX 622</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GENOA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>25517</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>PFBI Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1011</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7191</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 1, 2009, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. (PFBI) acquired Abgail Adams National Bancorp, Inc. (AANB) by issuing 0.4461 shares of PFBI for each share of AANB.  The reporting person owned 2,268 shares of AANB that were converted to 1,011 shares of PFBI.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Toney K. Adkins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----