# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001624322
**File Stem:** 0001437749-26-005359
**Filing Date:** 2026-2
**Character Count:** 5012
**Document Hash:** 73f987245df096e50adab80d444e8eb5
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001437749-26-005359.hdr.sgml**: 20260224

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001437749-26-005359

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 13

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260219

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260224

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260224

**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:** 26672530

**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'? bfbi20260224_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): **February 19, 2026**

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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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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **5.02** | **Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.** |

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(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On February 19, 2026, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Business First") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, b1BANK, were notified of the resignation of Scott Padurean, b1BANK's Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer ("CAO"). Mr. Padurean's resignation is not due to conflict or disagreement with Business First or b1BANK on any matter relating to Business First's or b1BANK's operations, policies, or practices. Rather, Mr. Padurean's resignation is a result of his decision to pursue another professional opportunity. Mr. Padurean will continue to serve as CAO until March 6, 2026. The Company has begun the search to identify its next CAO.

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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: February 24, 2026

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

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