For the Year Ending
                                                              December 31, 2001


                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                           SCHEDULE 13G
            Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                        (Amendment No. 16)

                SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
                         (Name of Issuer)

                       CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                  (Title of Class of Securities)

                            828730200
                          (CUSIP Number)

Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this schedule
is filed:

     [X]  Rule 13d-1(b)
     [ ]  Rule 13d-1(c)
     [ ]  Rule 13d-1(d)

       1)   Names of Reporting Persons S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Nos. of
            Above Persons --

            SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
            71-6050807

       2)   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group(See Instructions)

            (a) ________________________________________

            (b) ________________________________________

       3)   SEC Use Only--------------------------------------


<PAGE>

       4)   Citizenship or Place of Organization    ARKANSAS

                    5)   Sole Voting Power            -0-
Number of Shares
Beneficially        6)   Shared Voting Power          -0-
Owned by Each
Reporting           7)   Sole Dispositive Power   579,001
Person With
                    8)   Shared Dispositive Power     -0-

       9)   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person --
            579,001 shares

      10)   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row(9)Excludes Certain Shares
            (See Instructions)

      11)   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9.... 8.17%

      12)   Type of Reporting Person (See Instruction)  EP

<PAGE>

Item 1(a)   Name of Issuer:

            SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

Item 1(b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

            501 MAIN STREET
            P. O. BOX 7009
            PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71611

Item 2(a)   Name of Person Filing:

            SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
            EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

Item 2(b)   Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

            501 MAIN STREET
            P. O. BOX 7009
            PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71611

Item 2(c)   Citizenship:

            ARKANSAS

Item 2(d)   Title of Class of Securities:

            CLASS A COMMON STOCK

Item 2(e)   CUSIP Number:

            828730200

Item 3.     If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b),or 13d-2(b),
            check whether the person filing is a:

            (a)  [ ] Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act

            (b)  [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)6) of the Act

            (c)  [ ] Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act

            (d)  [ ] Investment Adviser registered under section 8 of the
                     Investment Company Act

            (e)  [ ] Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
                     Investment Advisers Act

            (f)  [X] Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the
                     provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
                     of 1974 or Endowment Fund;
                     see section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)

<PAGE>

            (g)  [ ] Parent Holding Company, in accordance with section
                     240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) (Note:  See Item 7)

            (h)  [ ] Group, in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H)

Item 4.     Ownership

            (a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:

                 579,001

            (b)  Percent of Class:

                 8.17%

            (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                (i) sole power to vote or direct the vote

                    -0-

               (ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote

                    -0-

              (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                    579,001

               (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                    -0-

Item 5.     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

            NOT APPLICABLE

Item 6.     Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL  CORPORATION  EMPLOYEE STOCK
OWNERSHIP  PLAN,  ANY  DIVIDENDS  RECEIVED  OR  PROCEEDS  OF SALE OF THE SUBJECT
SECURITIES WOULD INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE EMPLOYEES OF SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL
CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN, AND WOULD BE
HELD,  ADMINISTERED  AND  DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH PLAN.
THE PLAN COVERS IN EXCESS OF 700  EMPLOYEES  AND NO SINGLE  EMPLOYEE'S  INTEREST
THEREUNDER  EQUALS OR EXCEEDS FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THIS CLASS OF  SECURITIES  OF
THE ISSUER.

Item 7.     Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
            the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

            NOT APPLICABLE.

Item 8.     Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

            NOT APPLICABLE.

<PAGE>

Item 9.     Dissolution of Group.

            NOT APPLICABLE.

Item 10.    Certification.

     By signing  below I certify  that,  to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the  securities  referred to above were  acquired  and are held in the  ordinary
course of business  and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or
with the effect of  changing  or  influencing  the  control of the issuer of the
securities  and were not  acquired and are not held in  connection  with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purposes or effect.

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.

2/1/02
------------------------
Date



/s/ Joe Clement
------------------------
Signature

Joe Clement, President
Simmons First Trust Company, N.A., Trustee,
Simmons First National Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan