# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001624322
**File Stem:** 0001437749-25-031989
**Filing Date:** 2025-10
**Character Count:** 8079
**Document Hash:** ea171605e24fda585f808dd0b95c9999
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001437749-25-031989.hdr.sgml**: 20251028

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001437749-25-031989

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 15

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251028

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Other Events

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251028

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251028

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Business First Bancshares, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001624322
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 205340628
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** LA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-38447
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251425272

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 500 LAUREL STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 101
- **CITY:** BATON ROUGE
- **STATE:** LA
- **ZIP:** 70801
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 225-248-7600

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 500 LAUREL STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 101
- **CITY:** BATON ROUGE
- **STATE:** LA
- **ZIP:** 70801

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? bfbi20251028_8k.htm

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**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549**

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**FORM 8-K**

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**CURRENT REPORT**

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

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): **October 28, 2025**

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**BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Louisiana** | **001-38447**  | **20-5340628** |
| (State of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| **500 Laurel Street, Suite 101**<br> **Baton Rouge, Louisiana** |  | **70801** |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip code) |
| Registrant's telephone number, including area code: **(225) 248-7600** | Registrant's telephone number, including area code: **(225) 248-7600** | Registrant's telephone number, including area code: **(225) 248-7600** |

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | BFST  | NASDAQ Global Select Market  |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **8.01** | **Other Events.** |

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On October 28, 2025, the Board of Directors of Business First Bancshares, Inc. ("Business First") approved a stock repurchase program which authorizes Business First to repurchase shares of its common stock with an aggregate purchase price of up to $30,000,000 from time to time, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The stock repurchase program is effective immediately and will continue until October 28, 2027. The stock repurchase program does not obligate Business First to repurchase any shares of its common stock, and there is no assurance that Business First will do so.

Repurchases under the program may be effected through open market or privately negotiated transactions. Any open market repurchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The number, price and timing of the repurchases, if any, will be at the sole discretion of Business First's management and will depend on a number of factors, including compliance with applicable laws and regulations, general market and economic conditions, the financial and regulatory condition of Business First and b1BANK, Business First's liquidity needs, and other factors.

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|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits.** |

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(d) Exhibits

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|:---|:---|
| 99.1 | [Press Release of Business First Bancshares, Inc., dated October 28, 2025.](ex_877812.htm) |

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|:---|:---|
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document). |

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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, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: October 28, 2025

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.** | **BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By:  | /s/ David R. Melville, III |
|  | David R. Melville, III |
|  | President and Chief Executive Officer |

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## Exhibit 99.1

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ![logosm01.jpg](logosm01.jpg) | 500 Laurel St.<br> Baton Rouge, LA 70801<br> P: 225.248.7600 | **Exhibit 99.1** |

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|:---|:---|
| **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**<br> October 28, 2025 | Misty Albrecht<br> b1BANK<br> 225.286.7879<br> Misty.Albrecht@b1BANK.com |

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**Business First Bancshares, Inc. Announces Stock Repurchase Program**

BATON ROUGE, La. – October 28, 2025 – Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST) ("Business First"), the holding company for b1BANK, announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the company to repurchase shares of its common stock with an aggregate purchase price of up to $30 million during the 24-month period beginning Oct. 28, 2025, and ending Oct. 28, 2027.

Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission or through privately negotiated transactions at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of Business First and its shareholders.

Any repurchases will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and will depend on general market and economic conditions, the financial and regulatory condition of Business First and b1BANK, liquidity requirements and other factors management considers relevant. The program does not obligate Business First to repurchase shares of its common stock, and there is no assurance that it will do so. The program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board.

**About Business First Bancshares, Inc.**

As of September 30, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST), through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, has $8.0 billion in assets and $5.7 billion in assets under management through b1BANK's affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC (SSW), excluding $0.9 billion of b1BANK assets managed by SSW. b1BANK operates banking centers and loan production offices in markets across Louisiana and Texas, providing commercial and personal banking products and services. b1BANK is a 2024 Mastercard "Innovation Award" winner and multiyear winner of American Banker Magazine's "Best Banks to Work For." Visit b1BANK.com for more information.

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**b1BANK.com**