-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RdOqlneHI3EfpeSfYi+xK85Bt6a5cEHWq4qROHkzKUYNYhfagX1gfIAWv85OLhBv
 uXQk7j+04ANNqWY+v0RwQg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-08-009673.txt : 20081203
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-08-009673.hdr.sgml : 20081203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081203145337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-08-009673
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REED STANLEY E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001384156

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-06253
		FILM NUMBER:		081227372

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		870-295-2273

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		114 LEE 316
		CITY:			MARIANNA
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72360

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000090498
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				710407808
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		C/O SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP
		CITY:			PINE BLUFF
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			71601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8705411000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		C/O SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP
		CITY:			PINE BLUFF
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			71601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5845521_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000090498</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001384156</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REED STANLEY E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>114 LEE 316</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARIANNA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72360</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>SFNC</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SEP-IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>SFNC</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stanley E. Reed by Piper P. Erwin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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