UNTIED STATES
                       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) December 9, 1998




                       SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Arkansas                  0-6253                  71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission             (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)     file number)            identification No.)




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





                                (870) 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 
10:00 A.M. Central Standard Time on December 9, 1998:

FOR RELEASE:  Wednesday, December 9, 1998

              SIMMONS FIRST COMPLETES ACQUISITION IN WEST ARKANSAS

  Pine  Bluff, AR - J. Thomas May, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive
Officer of Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) announced today the 
completion of the merger of American Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. into Simmons
First National Corporation.  As a part of the  transaction,  SFNC acquires
American State Bank of Charleston, which has branches in Ft. Smith, Altus, and
Ozark.

  Commenting  on the  proposed  merger,  Mr. May stated,  "We are excited about 
our  affiliation  with this  outstanding  institution  and look forward to
offering  financial  services  of the Simmons  First  family of banks to our new
customers in West Arkansas."


FOR MORE  INFORMATION CONTACT:

J. Thomas May
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
Simmons First National Corporation
(870) 541-1103





                                   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.


                                        SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION




Date:   December 9, 1998                /s/ J. Thomas May
      ---------------------             --------------------------------
                                        J. Thomas May, Chairman, President &
                                        Chief Executive Officer