SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                                       WASHINGTON, DC 20549



                             FORM 8-K


                      Current Report Pursuant
                   to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) February 19, 1997

              Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
      (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in Its Charter)
                              Florida
          (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
      0-13660                             59-2260678
(Commission File Number)                  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

           815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, FL          34994
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

                     (407) 287-4000
                (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area code)



   (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)








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Item 5.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida ("Seacoast") and Port St. Lucie National
Bank Holding  Company  ("PSL  Holding  Company")  have entered into a definitive
Agreement  and Plan of Merger  dated as of February 19, 1997  providing  for the
merger (the "Merger") of their  organizations  as described in the press release
attached as Exhibit 1 hereto.




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                             EXHIBIT 1


NEWS RELEASE


Today's Date:   February 19, 1997
Release Date:   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
                                         Dennis S. Hudson, III
                                       Chief Executive Officer
                                  Seacoast Banking Corporation
                                                    288-6086
NASDAQ-NMS: SBCFA
                                               William R. Hahl
                                        Senior Vice President/
                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                                (561) 221-2825


      SEACOAST AND PORT ST. LUCIE NATIONAL BANK TO MERGE

STUART, FL, Jan. -- Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ-NMS: SBCFA),
a bank holding company  ("Seacoast") whose subsidiary is First National Bank and
Trust  Company of the Treasure  Coast,  ("First  National"),  and Port St. Lucie
National Bank Holding  Corporation  ("PSL Bank"),  jointly  announced today that
they have signed a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. The combined
company will create an unequaled banking franchise on the Treasure Coast, one of
the most affluent regions of Florida and among the fastest growing in the United
States. The announcement was made by Dennis S. Hudson,  III, President and Chief
Executive Officer of First National Bank and J. Hal Roberts,  Jr., President and
Chief Executive Officer of PSL Bank.
      The  consummation  of the  transaction is anticipated to take place during
the  second  quarter  of 1997 and is  subject  to  regulatory  approval  and the
approval of both companies'


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shareholders. The acquisition is structured to be a tax-free
reorganization that is expected to be accounted for as a
pooling of interests transaction.
       The combined  companies  will have more than 164,000  customer  accounts,
assets of over $900 million,  $77 million in  shareholders'  equity and a market
capitalization of approximately $135 million.
      At December 31, 1996, Seacoast, headquartered in Stuart, Florida, had over
$800 million in total assets and ranked first in total assets in Martin  County.
The assets of PSL Bank,  headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida,  totaled $130
million and is the largest bank  headquartered  in Port St. Lucie.  The combined
company will continue to be a leader in the Treasure Coast market.
      Under the terms of the  definitive  agreement,  900,000 shares of Seacoast
common  stock will be issued  for all the  outstanding  shares of common  stock,
warrants  and options to  purchase  common  stock of PSL Bank.  The value of the
transaction is approximately $25 million based on Seacoast's closing share price
of $28.00 on February  18,  1997,  and  represents  approximately  two times the
December 31, 1996 book value of PSL Bank after giving  effect to the exercise of
the warrants and options.  As provided in the definitive  agreement,  holders of
PSL Bank  common  stock  are  expected  to  receive  approximately  one share of
Seacoast common stock for each share of PSL Bank common stock.


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      Seacoast projects  substantial  synergy from the merger.  The cost savings
will come in the areas of operational and business line  consolidations,  mostly
in backroom support functions, while increasing the scope of products,  services
and banking locations.
      "We felt we were ready to move the bank to the next  level of service  and
had  looked at the  capital  investment  and  period  of time it would  take and
decided we could meet our  clients'  needs for  expanded  products  and services
immediately"  states Hal  Roberts.  "We can't wait to begin  offering  Trust and
Brokerage  services.  We are dedicated to providing the people and businesses of
this community with  personalized,  responsive  super  community  banking,  with
access to a wider range of products, offices and professionals."
      Roberts will be named First National's President in St.
Lucie County and assume additional responsibilities for
First National's St. Lucie county offices, with Randall A.
Ezell serving as St. Lucie County Branch Administrator.
"Both companies have had an interest in expanding activities
into northern St. Lucie County.  We've already identified
several sites.  By combining our resources this can occur
faster with the added benefit to First National of Hal's
leadership and his team" said Hudson.  "We're also happy
that two of PSL Bank's board members, both St. Lucie County
residents, will be joining our board."
      Roberts will also be named Executive Vice President of


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Seacoast and residential real estate mortgage  production for the entire company
in the bank's three county market area will report up through him.  During 1996,
the two companies  originated over $150 million in residential  loans in Martin,
St. Lucie and Indian River Counties.
      Roberts has been involved in many facets of the community  with  education
high  on his  list.  He is  past  president  of the  100  Club  to  benefit  law
enforcement officer's families; past president of the St. Lucie County Education
Foundation,  past  president and charter  member of the Port St. Lucie  Exchange
Club,  past chairman of its Board of Directors and past  chairman-originator  of
the Great  American  Raft Race.  He is a past  President of the St. Lucie County
Chamber of  Commerce.  "Roberts  brings to First  National  his  commitment  and
dedication  to the  community  and its  people,  an  attitude  to which all bank
personnel subscribe", said Hudson.
      First  National is the largest bank  headquartered  on Florida's  Treasure
Coast,  one of the wealthiest  areas in Florida and among the fastest growing in
the nation.


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                          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 hereunto duly authorized.

                     Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
                                  (Registrant)


Date:    February 25, 1997     By /s/ William R. Hahl
                               Senior Vice President & CFO


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