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) June 11, 1996




                       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 or             file number)               identification No.)
organization)




501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas                          71601
 (Address of principal executive office)                     Zip Code





                                 (501) 541-1000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         The following is the text of a press release  issued by the  registrant
at 3:.05 P.M. Central Standard Time on June 11, 1996:

           SIMMONS FIRST ANNOUNCES REPOSITIONING OF BANKING OPERATIONS

         Pine Bluff, AR - J. Thomas May, chairman and chief executive officer of
Simmons First National  Corporation,  has announced plans for a repositioning of
its banking operations.

         May stated, "We are filing applications with the regulatory authorities
to combine our banks in Lake Village and Dermott  under a single bank charter as
Simmons  First Bank of South  Arkansas;  and to obtain  approval to relocate the
other charter to Rogers,  Arkansas.  The relocated  bank will operate as Simmons
First Bank of Northwest Arkansas and acquire and operate the present branches of
Simmons  First  National  Bank  located in  Springdale,  Rogers and Bella Vista,
Arkansas.   Our  proposed  repositioning  will  change  the  internal  corporate
structure of our banking  operations which will benefit our customers as well as
our own operating  efficiency.  We do not expect the  repositioning to result in
any  displacement  of staff nor  reduction  of  services  at any of our  present
banking locations."

         Commenting further on the repositioning, May stated, "The repositioning
of our banking operations is a `win-win' proposition for our Corporation and our
customers. In addition to enabling our Corporation to geographically concentrate
operations  for  increased  efficiencies,  it will result in  improved  personal
service to our  customers.  The  repositioning  reinforces  our  community  bank
philosophy,  which  emphasizes  quality customer service provided by local banks
with local management.  This will allow us to increase our community presence in
order to better serve the banking  needs of our  customers  and the  communities
which we are privileged to serve."

         The current  board of directors  for Simmons  First Bank of Dermott and
Simmons  First Bank of Lake Village  will service as directors of Simmons  First
Bank of South Arkansas. Ben V. Floriani will become chairman and chief executive
officer  and  Freddie  Black will be  president  of Simmons  First Bank of South
Arkansas.

         New  directors  for Simmons  First Bank of Northwest  Arkansas  include
Marvin Griffin,  William T. Mahon,  D.D.S., and Sonya Jones Yates. Joe S. Mills,
currently serving as Vice President and Regional Manager for Northwest Arkansas,
will be made  president  and chief  executive  officer of Simmons  First Bank of
Northwest Arkansas. The new 10,000 square feet bank and regional headquarters in
Rogers is expected to be completed by mid-September.

         May  noted,  "Our  strength  has  been  premier  customer  service  and
community  involvement  and  leadership  at the local level.  This  tradition of
community banking excellence will continue with the commitment and dedication of
local individuals as directors of these banks."

         Simmons  First  National  Corporation  recently  announced  earnings of
$2,242,000  for the first quarter of 1996.  At March 31, 1996,  total assets for
the  Corporation  were $832.5 million,  an increase of $122.9 million,  or 17.3%
over the same figure at March 31, 1995. Simmons First National  Corporation owns
five banks and  conducts  financial  operations  from 29 offices in 15  Arkansas
communities.

         The proposed  repositioning is subject to regulatory  approval from the
Arkansas State Banking Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The  repositioning  will be effective upon receipt of all regulatory  approvals,
which is expected to occur during the third quarter of this year.

                                   # # # # # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence Fikes
Vice President/Marketing Group
Simmons First National Bank
1-800-272-2213
Fax 1-501-541-1045

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  casused  this  report to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                          SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
                                   
Date:  June 11, 1996                    By:  /s/ J. Thomas May
     -----------------                     ------------------------------------
                                           J. Thomas May, Chairman and 
                                               Chief Executive Officer