UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Schedule 14A

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A


SCHEDULE 14A14a INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Filed by the RegistrantR

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant£

Check the appropriate box:


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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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£Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12


SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant
 

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GRAPHIC

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.


3300 Cahaba Road,

850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300

200
Birmingham, Alabama 35223

April 10, 2009

35209

March 19, 2012

Dear Fellow Stockholder:


You are cordially invited to attend the annual meetingAnnual Meeting of stockholdersStockholders of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. Our annual meetingAnnual Meeting will be held at Vulcan Park Center located at 1701 Valley Viewthe Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35209Pensacola, Florida 32507 on Thursday, May 28, 2009,April 26, 2012, at 5:00 p.m., Birmingham local time.Central Daylight Time. We will have a cocktail hour after the meeting.


We are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders over the Internet. You may read, print and download our Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Proxy Statement, our proxy card and our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 at www.cfpproxy.com/6547. On April 10, 2009, we mailed you our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (sometimes referred to as the "Notice") containing instructions on how to access these materials and how to vote your shares online.

The Notice provides instructions on how you can request a paper copy of these materials by mail, by telephone or by email.


You may vote your shares by Internet, by regular mail, telephone or in person at the annual meeting. Instructions regarding the various methods of voting are contained on the Notice, in the Proxy Statement and on the Proxy Card.

Theenclosed proxy materials describe the formal business to be transacted at the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, which includes a report on our operations. CertainMany of our directors and officers will be present to answer any questions that you and other stockholders may have. Included in the materials is our Annual Report on Form 10-K,to Stockholders, which contains detailed information concerning our activities and operating performance.

performance including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The business to be conducted at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting consists of the election of six directors,directors; the ratification of the appointment of Mauldin & Jenkins LLCKPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009 and2012; an advisory vote on executive compensation; the approval of an amendment to our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock from 15 million to 50 million. Our board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of the director nominees; “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Mauldin & Jenkins LLCKPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009;2012; “FOR” the “Say on Pay” advisory vote approving our executive compensation; and "FOR"“FOR” the approvalamendment to our certificate of our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.


incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock.

You may vote your shares by returning your Proxy Card in the enclosed prepaid return envelope or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Instructions regarding the methods of voting are contained in the enclosed Proxy Statement and on the accompanying Proxy Card.

On behalf of our board of directors, we request that you vote your shares now, even if you currently plan to attend the annual meeting.Annual Meeting. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted. Your vote is important.



 Sincerely,
  
 
/s/

Thomas A. Broughton III

Thomas A. Broughton, III

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer and Board Member







TABLE OF CONTENTS




Notice of 20092012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 28, 2009 and Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
About the Annual Meeting1
  
About the Annual Meeting2
Proposal 15
1:  Election of Directors54
The Role of the Board of Directors65
Committees of the Board of Directors6
Independence of the Board of Directors8
Communications with Directors98
Corporate Governance Guidelines9
Code of Business Conduct109
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation109
Director Compensation10
Meetings of the Board of Directors10
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions10
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance11
10
Compensation Discussion and Analysis11
Report of the Compensation Committee16
15
Executive Compensation17
16
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control19
Equity Compensation Plan Information21
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management21
Proposal 225
Ratification of our Board of Directors’ Decision to  Engage Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP as Independent Auditors for the 2009 fiscal yearYear ended December 31, 20122523
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm2524
Report of the Audit Committee26
Equity Compensation Plan Information23
Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management24
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners24
25
Proposal 33:  Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation2725
ApprovalProposal 4:  Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.  2009Number of Authorized  Shares of Common Stock Incentive Plan27
26
Stockholder Proposals3127
General Information27

Appendix A:  ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive PlanA-1






 GRAPHIC

 

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.


3300 Cahaba Road,

850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300

200
Birmingham, Alabama 35223

AND INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS


APRIL 26, 2012

To Our Stockholders:



1. The election ofto elect six nominees to serve on our board of directors until the next annual meetingAnnual Meeting of stockholdersStockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as set forth in the accompanying proxy statement;


Proxy Statement;

2. Toto ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our board of directors' decision to engage Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC as independent auditors of the Company for theregistered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009;


2012;

3. To approveto conduct a “Say on Pay” advisory vote on our executive compensation;

4. to amend our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan which sets aside a totalnumber of 425,000 shares of authorized common stock;stock from 15 million to 50 million; and


4           To

5. to transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meetingAnnual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.


Our board of directors is not aware of any other business to come before the annual meeting.


Annual Meeting.

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 3, 2009March 8, 2012 are entitled to notice of, and to vote their shares in person or by proxy or at, the annual meeting.

Annual Meeting.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. STOCKHOLDERS WHO EXECUTE A PROXY CARD MAY NEVERTHELESS ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, REVOKE THEIR PROXY AND VOTE THEIR SHARES IN PERSON.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
 
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXY CARDS BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. STOCKHOLDERS WHO EXECUTE A PROXY CARD MAY NEVERTHELESS ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, REVOKE THEIR PROXY AND VOTE THEIR SHARES IN PERSON. IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET, YOU CAN FIND THIS NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND THE PROXY STATEMENT AT HTTP://WWW.CFPPRPXY.COM/6547.

 By Order of the Board of Directors,
  
 /s/

William M. Foshee

William M. Foshee

Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

Birmingham, Alabama

March 19, 2012

Birmingham, Alabama
April 10, 2009

1


[Missing Graphic Reference]

2009

2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS


OF

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

——————————————


When we use the term “Annual Meeting”, we intend to include both the Annual Meeting to be held on the date and at the time and place identified above and any adjournment or postponement of such Annual Meeting.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

In accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we may now furnish proxy materials including this Proxy Statement, the Proxy Card, and the Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet.  Stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless requested. Instead, the Notice will instruct stockholders as to how they may access and review all of the proxy materials. The Notice also instructs stockholders how to submit a proxy through the Internet. We will mail each stockholder of record a paper Proxy Card 10 days after we mail the Notice, so stockholders who prefer to execute a paper Proxy Card may do so. This subsequent mailing will not include a copy of the Proxy Statement or a copy of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008.  If you would like to receive a paper copy or e-mail copy of all your proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice. We will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the Internet, you are responsible for any Internet access charges you may incur.

What are the purposes of the annual meeting?


Annual Meeting?

At the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, stockholders will vote on: (i)(1) the election of six directors, as more fully described in Proposal 1 below; (ii)(2) the ratification of KPMG LLP as our board of directors' decision to engage Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC as independent auditors of the Companypublic accounting firm for the 2009 fiscal year as more fully described in Proposal 2 below; (iii)ending December 31, 2012; (3) an advisory vote on our executive compensation; (4) an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the approvalnumber of the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (referred to as the "2009 Stock Incentive Plan" in this Proxy Statement), as more fully described in Proposal 3 below;shares of authorized common stock; and (iv)(5) such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.Annual Meeting. Our board of directors is not aware of any matters that will be brought before the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, other than procedural matters, that are not listed above. However, if any other matters properly come before the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, the individuals named on the Proxy Card, or their substitutes, will be authorized to vote on those matters in their own judgment.


Who is entitled to vote?


Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2012, the record date April 3, 2009,for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of the annual meetingAnnual Meeting and to vote shares of common stock held as of the record date at the annual meeting.


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Annual Meeting. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder to cast one vote on each matter to be voted upon, and thereupon. There are no cumulative voting rights.

If you did not receive an individual copy of this year'syear’s Proxy Statement or our Annual Report, we will send a copy to you if you addresssend a written request to our Secretary, William M. Foshee, 3300 Cahaba Road,850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300,200, Birmingham, Alabama 35223,35209, telephone (205) 949-0302.


949-0307.

What is a proxy?


It is your legal designation of another person to vote the stock you own. That other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is called a proxy or a proxy card.Proxy Card. We have designated two of our officers as proxies for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.  These two different officers are Thomas A. Broughton III and William M. Foshee.


Foshee (the “Management Proxies”) as proxies for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

What is a proxy statement?


Proxy Statement?

It is a document that Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)SEC regulations require us to give to you when we ask you to sign a proxy cardProxy Card designating Thomas A. Broughton, III and William M. Fosheethe Management Proxies as your proxies to vote on your behalf.


What constitutes a quorum?


The presence at the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting will constitute a quorum. As of the record date, 5,513,4825,947,182 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value per share, held by 9181,217 stockholders of record, were issued and outstanding. Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the annual meeting.


Annual Meeting.

What vote is required to approve each item?


Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. The amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation must be approved by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. Any other matter that may properly come before the annual meetingAnnual Meeting must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote andthat are present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting.


Annual Meeting.

Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (referred to as "Delaware law"“Delaware law” in this Proxy Statement), an abstention from voting on any proposal will have the same legal effect as an “against” vote, except election of directors, where an abstention has no effect under plurality voting.


How do I vote by proxy?


We are making our proxy materials available to our stockholders on

On or about March 20, 2012, we mailed the Internet. You may read, printNotice of the Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the accompanying Proxy Card, and download our Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 20082011 to all stockholders of record as of the record date. You may vote by completing and ourreturning your completed and signed Proxy Statement at www.cfpproxy.com/6547. On April 10, 2009, we mailed the Notice, which contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials and vote online. On an ongoing basis, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in paper form. Additionally, you may voteCard by mail or by returningvoting in person at the Proxy Card. To vote via the Internet or by telephone, follow the instructions set forth on the Notice you receive.Annual Meeting. To vote by mail, sign and date each Proxy Card you receive, mark the boxes indicating how you wish to vote, and return the Proxy Card, itwhich will be voted as you directed. Do notdirected, in the enclosed prepaid return the Proxy Card if you vote via the Internet or by telephone.


envelope.

Can I change my vote after I return my Proxy Card?


Yes. You can change or revoke your proxy at any time before the annual meetingAnnual Meeting by (i) notifying our Secretary, William M. Foshee, in writing or (ii) sending another executed proxyProxy Card dated later than the first Proxy Card or making a subsequent vote using the Internet or telephone.Card. Attendance at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting will not cause yourrevoke any proxy you have previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. For shares heldyou own beneficially, bybut of which you are not the record holder, you may accomplish this by submitting new voting instructions to your broker or nominee.


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Can I vote in person at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting instead of voting by proxy?


Yes. However, we encourage you to vote by proxy to ensure that your shares are represented and voted. If you attend the annual meetingAnnual Meeting in person, you may then vote in person even though you returned your Proxy Card.

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What are the Board’s recommendations?


Our board of directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote for: (i)in favor of: (1) the election of the six nominees for the board of directors, as more fully described in Proposal 1 below; (ii) for(2) the ratification of KPMG LLP as our board of directors' decision to engage Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC as independent auditors of the Companyregistered public accounting firm for the 2009 fiscal year,2012, as more fully described in Proposal 2 below; and (iii) for the approval of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan,(3) an advisory vote approving our executive compensation, as more fully described in Proposal 3 below; and (4) an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock from 15 million to 50 million, as more fully described in Proposal 4 below.


If your Proxy Card is properly executed and received in time for voting, and not revoked, such Proxy Cardyour shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions marked on the Proxy Card. In the absence of any instructions or directions to the contrary persons named inon any proposal on a Proxy Card, the enclosed proxyManagement Proxies will vote all shares of common stock for which such Proxy Cards have been received in favor of the approval of the above proposals stated above.


for which no instructions were indicated.

Our board of directors does not know of any other matters other than the above proposals set forth above that may be brought before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. In the event thatAnnual Meeting. If any other matters should come before the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy, Thomas A. Broughton III or William M. Foshee,Management Proxies will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies not marked to the contrary with respect to such matters in accordance with their best judgment.


In particular, the persons namedManagement Proxies will have discretionary authority to vote with respect to the following matters that may come before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof:Annual Meeting: (i) approval of the minutes of the prior meeting if such approval does not amount to ratification of the action or actions taken at that meeting; (ii) any proposal omitted from the Proxy Statement and form of proxy pursuant to Rules 14a-8 and 14a-9 ofunder the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, referred to as the Exchange Act in this Proxy Statement;(the “Exchange Act”); and (iii) matters incident to the conduct of the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.Annual Meeting. In connection with such matters, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, Thomas A. Broughton, III or William M. Foshee,Management Proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment.


Who pays for this proxy solicitation?


We do. We will pay all costs in connection with the meeting, including the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the notice of the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement, and Proxy Card and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2011, as well as handling and tabulating the proxies returned. In addition to the use of mail, proxies may be solicited by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company, without additional compensation, in person or by other electronic means. We will reimburse brokerage houses and other nominees for their expenses in forwarding proxy materialmaterials to beneficial owners of our common stock.


Who can help answer your questions?


If you have questions about the annual meetingAnnual Meeting or would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement, you should contact our Secretary, William M. Foshee, 3300 Cahaba Road,850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300,200, Birmingham, Alabama 35223,35209, telephone (205) 949-0302.


949-0307.

Annual Report on Form 10-K


On written request, we will provide, without charge, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as amended2011 (including a list briefly describing the exhibits thereto), as filed with the SEC,Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (including any amendments filed with the SEC), to any record holder or beneficial owner of our common stock as of the close of business on April 3, 2009,March 8, 2012, the record date, or to any person who subsequently becomes such a record holder or beneficial owner. Requests should be directed to the attention of our Secretary at the address set forth above.

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PROPOSAL 1


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS


Our

Under our Bylaws, provide that the number of directors constituting our board of directors shall beconsists of six directors unless otherwisea different number is fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution passed by a majority of our board of directors.directors, which is the only means of fixing a different number. Six directors will be elected at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting to hold office until the 2010our 2013 Annual Shareholders Meeting is heldof Stockholders and until their successors are elected and have qualified.

Our board has nominated for election to our board of directors at this year’s annual meeting, each of the persons named below.below, all of whom currently serve as directors, for election as directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting. Each of those nominees has consented to serve as a director, if re-elected. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxyManagement Proxies intend to vote the proxies received by them for the election of all six of these nominees. If prior to the annual meeting, any nominee of the board of directorsidentified below becomes unable to serve as a director before the proxy holdersAnnual Meeting, the Management Proxies will vote the proxies received by them for the election of a substitute nominee selected by our board of directors.


Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Directors


The six nominees receiving the most votes cast in the election of directors by holders of shares of common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting will be elected to serve as directors of the Company for the ensuingnext year. As a result, although shares as to which the authority to vote is withheld, which will be counted, such “withhold” votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED BELOW.


Information regarding directors and director nominees and their ages as of the record date is as follows:

      ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. ServisFirst Bank
         
Name Age Director Since Position Director Since Position
           
Thomas A. Broughton III 54 2007 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 2005 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
           
Stanley M. Brock 58 2007 Chairman of the Board 2005 Chairman of the Board
           
Michael D. Fuller 55 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
James J. Filler 65 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
Joseph R. Cashio 51 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
Hatton C. V. Smith 58 2007 Director 2005 Director

    ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. ServisFirst Bank
           
Name Age DirectorSince Position DirectorSince Position
           
Thomas A. Broughton III 56 2007 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 2005 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
           
Stanley M. Brock 61 2007 

Chairman of the Board

and Director

 2005 

Chairman of the Board

and Director

           
Michael D. Fuller 58 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
James J. Filler 68 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
J. Richard Cashio 54 2007 Director 2005 Director
           
Hatton C. V. Smith 61 2007 Director 2005 Director

The following summarizes the business experience and background of each of our nominees.


Thomas A. Broughton IIIMr. Broughton has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and a director since 2007 and as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. Mr. Broughton has spent the entirety of his 30-year banking career in the Birmingham area. In 1985, Mr. Broughton was named President of the de novo First Commercial Bank. When First Commercial Bank was bought by Synovus Financial Corp. in 1992, Mr. Broughton continued as President and was named Chief Executive Officer of First Commercial Bank. In 1998, he became Regional Chief Executive Officer of Synovus Financial Corp., responsible for the Alabama and Florida markets. In 2001, Mr. Broughton'sBroughton’s Synovus region shifted, and he became Regional Chief Executive Officer for the markets of Alabama, Tennessee and parts of Georgia. He continued his work in this position until his retirement from Synovus in August 2004. Mr. Broughton'sBroughton’s experience in banking has afforded him opportunities to work in many areas of banking and has given him exposure to all bank functions. Mr. Broughton received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama in 1976 and a Master of Business Administration from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1977.  Mr. Broughton also servesserved on the Board of Directors of Cavalier Homes, Inc.


from 1986 until 2009, when the company was sold to a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. We believe that Mr. Broughton’s extensive experience in banking in Alabama and the Southeast, and, in particular, his success in building and growing new banks and developing new markets, makes him highly qualified to serve as a director.

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5


Stanley M. BrockMr. Brock has served as our Chairman of the Board and a director since 2007 and has served as Chairman of the Board and a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. He has served as President of Brock Investment Company, Ltd., a private venture capital firm, since its formation in 1995. Prior to 1995, Mr. Brock practiced corporate law for 20 years with one of the largest law firms based in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Brock also served as a director of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company, from 1992 to 1995. We believe that Mr. Brock receivedBrock’s experience as a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Virginia in 1972corporate lawyer and a Doctorbank holding company director, as well as his history of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt Universitycommunity involvement in 1975.


Michael D. Fullerour largest market, makes him highly qualified to serve as a director.

J. Richard CashioMr. FullerCashio has served as a director of the Company since 2007 and as a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. For over twenty years, Mr. Fuller has been a private investor in real estate investments.  Prior to that time, Mr. Fuller played professional football for nine years.  Mr. Fuller received a BachelorCashio serves as Chief Executive Officer of Arts in Business Administration from Auburn University in 1976TASSCO, LLC and received a Master of Business Administration from San Diego National University in 1979.  Mr. Fuller has served as Presidentthe Chief Executive Officer of Double Oak Water Reclamation,Tricon Metals & Services, Inc. from 2000 until its sale in October 2008. He served in various other positions with Tricon Metals & Services, Inc. prior to 2000. We believe that Mr. Cashio’s experience as the chief executive officer of successful industrial enterprises allows him to offer our board both the benefit of his business experience and the perspectives of one of our target customer groups, making him highly qualified to serve as a private collection and wastewater treatment facility in Shelby County, Alabama since 1998.


director.

James J. FillerMr. Filler has served as a director of the Company since 2007 and as a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. Mr. Filler has been a private investor since his retirement in 2006. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Filler spent 44 years in the metals recycling industry with Jefferson Iron & Metal, Inc. and Jefferson Iron & Metal Brokerage Co., Inc. We believe that Mr. Filler attended Samford University.


J. Richard CashioFiller’s extensive business experience and strong ties to the Birmingham business community offer us valuable strategic insights and make him highly qualified to serve as a director.

Michael D. FullerMr. CashioFuller has served as a director of the Company since 2007 and as a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. For over 20 years, Mr. Cashio serves as CEO of TASSCO, LLC andFuller has been a private investor in real estate investments. Prior to that time, Mr. Fuller played professional football for nine years. Mr. Fuller has served as President of Double Oak Water Reclamation, a private wastewater collection and treatment facility in Shelby County, Alabama since 1998. We believe that Mr. Fuller’s experience in the CEOreal estate sector, which is a major focus of Tricon Metals & Services, Inc. from 2000 until its sale in October 2008,our business, as well as his overall business experience and had served in various other positions with Tricon Metals & Services, Inc. priorcommunity presence, make him highly qualified to 2000.  Mr. Cashio receivedserve as a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1979.


director.

Hatton C. V. Smith Mr. Smith has served as a director of the Company since 2007 and as a director of the Bank since its inception in May 2005. Mr. Smith has served as the CEO of Royal Cup Coffee since 19861996 and various other positions with Royal Cup Coffee prior to 1986.  Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington & Lee University in 1973.1996. He is involved in many different charities and is a director of the United Way and the Baptist Health System.


We believe that Mr. Smith’s business experience, his strong roots in the greater Birmingham business and civic community, and his high profile and extensive community contacts make him highly qualified to be a director.

THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


General

In accordance with our Bylaws and Delaware law, our board of directors oversees the management of the business and affairs of the Company. The members of our board also are members of the board of directors of our wholly-owned subsidiary Alabama state charteredstate-chartered bank, ServisFirst Bank, (as defined supra, the "Bank"), which accounts for substantially all of the Company’s consolidated operating results. The members of our board keep informed about our business through discussions with senior management and other officers and managers of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, by reviewing analyses and reports sent to them by management and outside consultants, and by participating in meetings of the board and meetings of those board committees on which they serve.

Board Leadership Structure

We believe that our stockholders are best served by a strong, independent board of directors with extensive business experience and strong ties to our markets. We believe that objective oversight of the performance of our management team is critical to effective corporate governance, and we believe our board provides such objective oversight.

Since our inception, we have kept separate the offices of chairman of the board and chief executive officer, and an independent director has always held the position of chairman of the board. We believe that this provides us with the benefit of complementary perspectives and ensures that our board’s oversight function remains fully objective. Although we do not have a fixed policy requiring the separation of such offices, instead believing that it is appropriate for our board to determine the structure that best meets our needs from time to time, it is our current intention to retain the present structure for the foreseeable future.

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In addition, our three standing committees, which are described below under “Committees of the Board of Directors”, are composed exclusively of independent directors. We believe that this structure further reinforces the board’s role as an objective overseer of our business, operations and day-to-day management.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our board is ultimately responsible for the management of risks inherent in our business. In our day-to-day operations, senior management is responsible for instituting risk management practices that are consistent with our overall business strategy and risk tolerance. In addition, because our operations are conducted primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, we maintain an asset-liability and investment committee meetings.


at the Bank level, consisting of four executive officers of the Bank. This committee is charged with monitoring our liquidity and funds position. The committee regularly reviews the rate sensitivity position on a three-month, six-month and one-year time horizon; loans-to-deposits ratios; and average maturities for certain categories of liabilities. This committee reports to our board of directors at least quarterly, and otherwise as needed. Outside of formal meetings, our board and its committees have regular access to senior executives, including our chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, as well as our senior credit officers. We believe that this structure allows the board to maintain effective oversight over our risks and to ensure that our management personnel are following prudent and appropriate risk management practices.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our board maintains three standing committees: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance. The governing charter for each of the three committees is available on our websitewww.servisfirstbancshares.com under the "Committee Charter"“Corporate Information - Committee Charters” heading.


Audit Committee


The Audit Committee assists our board of directors in maintaining the integrity of our financial statements and of our financial reporting processes and systems of internal audit controls, andas well as our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee reviews the scope of independent audits and assesses the results. The Audit Committee meets with management to consider the adequacy of the internal control over, and the objectivity of, financial reporting. The Audit Committee also meets with theour independent auditors and with appropriate financial personnel concerning these matters. The Audit Committee selects, determines the compensation of, appoints and oversees our independent auditors. The independent auditors periodically meet with the Audit


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Committee and always have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, which currently consists ofcomprises Michael J.D. Fuller, J. Richard Cashio and Stanley M. Brock, met eightsix times in 2008.2011. In conjunction with our Board's annual review of its committees, it has determined that Mr. Brock should be designated as an audit committee financial expert. This determination is based on the broad spectrum of Mr. Brock's experience. Among the other things described above under Proposal I outlining Mr. Brock's experience and background, our Board gave careful consideration to Mr. Brock's 16-plus years leading a private venture capital firm. His experience in this undertaking includes analyzing financial statements and audit results and making investment and acquisition decisions on the basis of those analyses. Our board of directors has determined that each of Messrs. Fuller, Cashio, and Brock is independent under the standards of independence of the Marketplace Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and Rule 10A-3 ofunder the Exchange Act. We have not designated any of our Audit Committee members as a “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K. While we believe that each of our Audit Committee members have had careers which provide them with the skills to understand financial statements and are competent to serve as members of the Audit Committee, none of the current members has the financial background or education which we believe unequivocally allows us to make such a designation and our board of directors does not believe that designating a member of the Audit Committee as a "audit committee financial expert" is necessary at this time.

Compensation Committee


The Compensation Committee administers incentive compensation plans, including stock option plans, and advises our board of directors regarding employee benefit plans. The Compensation Committee establishes the compensation structure for our senior management, approves the compensation of our senior executives, and makes recommendations to the independent members of our board of directors with respect to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers of the Company. The Compensation Committee, which currently consists of Hatton C.V. Smith, J. Richard Cashio and James J. Filler, met six (6) times in 2008.2011. Our board of directors has determined that each of Messrs. Smith, Cashio and Filler is independent under the standards of independence of the Marketplace Rules of theNASDAQ Stock Market and Rule 10A-3 ofunder the Exchange Act and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.


In January 2008, the Compensation Committee retained an outside consultant, Clark Consulting, to advise it regarding our compensation practices. Clark Consulting provided us with a report dated January 2008 (the "Clark Report"“Clark Report”) which compared the compensation paid to our president and chief executive officer in 2007 versus a peer group which included Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Nashville, TN)Tennessee), FNB United Corp. (Asheboro, NC)North Carolina), Great Florida Bank (Coral Gables, FL)Florida), Capital Bank Corporation (Raleigh, NC)North Carolina), Bancorp, Inc. (Wilmington, DE)Delaware), Gateway Financial Holding, Inc. (Virginia Beach, VA)Virginia), Integrity Bancshares, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA)Georgia), Bank of Florida Corporation (Naples, FL)Florida), Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. (Norfolk, VA)Virginia), Omni Financial Services, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)Georgia), Crescent Financial Corporation (Cary, NC)North Carolina), Patriot National Bancorp, Inc. (Stamford, CT)Connecticut), Tennessee Commerce Bancorp (Franklin, TN)Tennessee), Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (Greenville, SC)South Carolina) and Sun American Bancorp (Boca Raton, FL)Florida). The Clark Report concludes that while we arewere, at the time of the report, in the top 40% in most all performance measures and the top 5% for asset growth, the base salary of our president and CEO iswas in the bottom 12% and his total compensation iswas in the bottom 30% versus such peer group.

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We

Since the 2008 engagement of Clark Consulting, we have not retained Clark Consulting regardinga compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee, the full board or any members of management with respect to our compensation practices for fiscal year 2008 and upcoming fiscal year 2009.practices. Instead, the Compensation Committee independently determines the appropriate levels of compensation for executive officers and directors taking into account, among other factors, the performance of such individuals, our financial performance, shareholderstockholder return and efforts and undertakings and initiatives to build shareholderstockholder value.


Nominating/

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee


The Nominating/Nominating and Corporate Governance CommitteeCommittee's functions include establishing the criteria for selecting candidates for nomination to our board; actively seeking candidates who meet those criteria; and making recommendations to our board of nomineesdirectors to fill vacancies on, or asmake additions to, our board and to monitor the Company'sCompany’s corporate governance structure. The Nominating/Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which currently consists of Michael J.D. Fuller, J. Richard Cashio and Stanley M. Brock, met one (1) time in 2008.did not meet during 2011. Our board of directors has determined that each of Messrs. Fuller, Cashio and Brock is independent under the standards of independence of the Marketplace Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and Rule 10A-3 ofunder the Exchange Act and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.


The CompensationNominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks director candidates based upon a number of qualifications/criteria, including their independence, knowledge, judgment, character, leadership skills, education, experience and financial literacy.literacy and, for nominees standing for re-election, their prior performance as a director. The Committee does not assign relative weights to these factors, but attempts to form an overall judgment as to each individual nominee. The Committee will consider nominees for election to our board that are timely recommended by shareholdersstockholders provided that a complete description of the nominees'nominees’ qualifications, experience and background,


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together with a statement signed by each nominee in which he or she consents to act as such,a board member if elected, accompany the recommendations.

In evaluating nominees for director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that, at this stage of the Company’s existence, it is of primary importance to ensure that the board's composition reflects a diversity of business experience and community leadership, as well as a demonstrated ability to promote the Company’s strategic objectives and expand its presence, profile and customer base in its local markets. Accordingly, while the Committee may consider other types of diversity in evaluating nominees, the Committee does not follow any specific formula for considering factors such as race, gender or national origin in evaluating nominees and potential nominees, nor does it apply any quotas with respect to such factors.

Committee Membership


The following chart provides a summary of our board committee membership for our fiscal year ended December 21, 2008.


31, 2011.

  Committee Membership
Names 
Nominating and Corporate
Governance
 Audit Compensation
Thomas A. Broughton III      
Stanley M. Brock X X  
Michael D. Fuller X X  
James J. Filler     X
Joseph R.J. Richard Cashio X X X
Hatton C.V. Smith     X

Advisory Boards


In addition to the boards of directors of the Company and the Bank, which are identical in composition, the Bank also has a non-voting advisory board of directors in each of the Huntsville, Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida markets. These advisory directors represent a wide array of business experience and community involvement in the service areas where they live. As residents of our primary service areas, they are sensitive and responsive to the needs of our customers and potential customers. In addition, our directors and advisory directors bring substantial business and banking contacts to us. The Bank has established the following regional advisory boards for the Huntsville, Montgomery and Dothan markets:boards:

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Huntsville Market:

E. Wayne Bonner
Hoyt A. “Tres” Childs, III, MD
Donald J. Davidson
David J. Slyman, Jr.
Irma Tuder
Danny J. Windham
Sidney R. White
William (Bill) B. Watson, Jr.
Thomas J. Young

Montgomery Market:

Ray B. Petty
Todd Strange
G. L. Pete Taylor
W. Ken Upchurch, III
Alan E. Weil, Jr.

Dothan Market:

Charles H. Chapman III
William C. (Bill) Thompson
John Downs
Charles E. Owens


Huntsville Region:Montgomery Region:
E. Wayne BonnerRay B. Petty
Dr. Hoyt A. “Tres” Childs, IIITodd Strange
Donald J. DavidsonG.L. Pete Taylor
David J. Slyman, Jr.W. Ken Upchurch, III
Irma TuderAlan E. Weil, Jr.
Sidney R. White
Danny J. WindhamDothan Region:
Thomas J. Young
Charles H. Chapman III
John Downs
Pensacola Region:Charles E. Owens
William C. (Bill) Thompson
Thomas M. Bizzell
Bo Carter
Leo Cyr
Dr. Mark S. Greskovich
Ray Russenberger
Roger Webb

INDEPENDENCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our common stock is not being listed on any exchange, upon registration, and we have no current plans to list our common stock on any exchange; therefore, the Exchange Act requires that we select an exchange’s director independence requirements with which to comply. We have selected the director independence requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has conducted and will in the future conduct, as deemed necessary, conduct a review of director independence utilizing the listing standards of The NASDAQ Global


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Market. During thisits most recent review, our board considered transactions and relationships between each director or any member of his immediate family and us and our only subsidiary or affiliate, the Bank. Our board also considered whether there were any transactions or relationships between directors or with any member of their immediate family (or any entity of which a director or an immediate family member is an executive officer, general partner or significant equity holder). The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions existed that were inconsistent with a determination that a director is independent. Independent directors must be free of any relationship with us or our management that may impair the director’s ability to make independent judgments.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee hasdetermined in its business judgment that five (5) of the Company'sCompany’s six (6) Directors are independent as defined in the applicable NASDAQGlobal Market listing standards, including that each member is free of any relationships that would interfere with his individual exercise of independent judgment: Stanley M.judgment. Our independent directors are Messrs. Brock, Michael D.Cashio, Filler, Fuller James J. Filler, J. Richard Cashio and Hatton C. V. Smith.

Mr. Broughton is considered an inside director because of his employment as our President and Chief Executive Officer.


COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS


You may contact any of our independent directors, individually or as a group, by writing to them c/o William M. Foshee, Chief Financial Officer, ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., 3300 Cahaba Road,850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300,200, Birmingham, Alabama 35223.35209. Mr. Foshee will review and forward to the appropriate directors copies of all such correspondence that, in the opinion of Mr. Foshee, deals with the functions of the board of directors or its committees or that he otherwise determines requires their attention. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be brought promptly to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee and will be handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES


Our board of directors believes that sound governance practices and policies provide an important framework to assist them in fulfilling their oversight duty. In December 2007, our board formally adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Governance Guidelines”), which include a number of the practices and policies under which our board has operated for some time, together with concepts suggested by various authorities in corporate governance and the new requirements under the NASDAQ’s listed company rules and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Some of the principal subjects covered by our Governance Guidelines include:


comprise:

Director Qualifications, which includeinclude: a board candidate’s independence, experience, knowledge, skills, expertise, integrity, ability to make independent analytical inquiries; his or her understanding of our business and the business environment in which we operate; and the candidate’s ability and willingness to devote adequate time and effort to board responsibilities, taking into account the candidate’s employment and other board commitments.
 
Responsibilities of Directors, includingwhich include: acting in the best interests of all shareholders;stockholders; maintaining independence; developing and maintaining a sound understanding of our business and the industry in which we operate; preparing for and attending board and board committee meetings; and providing active, objective and constructive participation at those meetings.
 
Director Access to management and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors,includingwhich cover: encouraging presentations to our board from the officers responsible for functional areas of our business and from outside consultants who are engaged to conduct periodic reviews of various aspects of the Company’sour operations or the quality of certain of the Company’sour assets, such as the loan portfolio.
 
Director Orientation and Continuing Education, includingsuch as: programs to familiarize new directors with our business, strategic plans, significant financial, accounting and risk management issues,issues; our compliance programs and conflicts policies,policies; our code of business conduct and ethics and our corporate governance guidelines. In addition, each director is expected to participate in continuing education programs relating to developments in the Company’sour business and in corporate governance.
 
Regularly Scheduled Executive Sessions, without management, will be held by our board and by the Audit Committee, which meets separately with the Company’s outsideour independent auditors.



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CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. The Code of Ethics covers compliance with law; fair and honest dealings with us, with competitors and with others; fair and honest disclosure to the public; and procedures for compliance with the Code of Ethics. A copy of our Code of Ethics is available free of charge on our website at www.servisfirstbancshares.com.www.servisfirstbancshares.com.


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION


The primary functions of the compensation committeeCompensation Committee are to evaluate and administer the compensation of our president and chief executive officer and other executive officers and to review our general compensation programs. As of December 31, 2008,2011, and currently, the members of this committee are:are Hatton C. V. Smith, J. Richard Cashio and James J. Filler. No member of this committee has served as onean officer or employee of our officersServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. or employees or of any subsidiary. In addition, none of our executive officers has served as a director or as a member of the compensation committee of a company which employs any of our directors. (For further information, see the section below entitled "Compensation Discussion and Analysis.")

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation of our non-employee directorsfor the year ended December 31, 2008. 2011.Thomas A. Broughton III is a named executive officer, and his compensation is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.


 
Name
 
Fees earned
or paid in cash
 Stock Awards 
 
Total
  ($) ($) ($)
Stanley M. Brock, Chairman of the Board 22,500 47,222(1) 69,722
Michael D. Fuller 23,000 47,222(1) 70,222
James J. Filler 17,500 47,222(1) 64,722
J. Richard Cashio 17,750 47,222(1) 64,972
Hatton C. V. Smith 17,000 47,222(1) 64,222

 (1)  Each director received a warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock on May 2, 2005 at $10.00 per share which are fully vested as of May 2008 and each director further received an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock on December 20, 2007 at $20.00 per share which vest 100% at one time at the end of five years from the date of the grant.  Consequently, each of the Directors held warrants/options to purchase up to 20,000 shares as of December 31, 2008.   The dollars amount recognized here is fair value in accordance with FAS 123R.

  

Fees earned

or paid in cash

(b)

 

Stock Awards

(c)

  

Name

(a)

   

Total

(h)

  ($) ($) ($)
Stanley M. Brock, Chairman of the Board 22,000 58,800 80,800
Michael D. Fuller 22,250 58,800 81,050
James J. Filler 17,250 58,800 76,050
J. Richard Cashio 17,000 58,800 75,800
Hatton C. V. Smith 17,500 58,800 76,300

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


In 2008, our

Our board of directors held seven (7) meetings. In 2008, each11 meetings in 2011. Each director attended more than 75% of the aggregate of: (i) the number of meetings of the board of directors held during the period he served on the board; and (ii) the number of meetings of committees of the board of directors held during the period he served on such committees.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

We have not entered into any business transactions with related parties required to be disclosed under Rule 404(a) of Regulation S-K other than banking transactions in ourthe ordinary course of our business with our Directorsdirectors and officers, as well as members of their families and corporations, partnerships or other organizations in which they have a controlling interest. Management recognizes that related party transactions can present unique risks and potential conflicts of interest (in appearance and in fact). Therefore, we maintain written policies around interactions with related parties which require that these transactions are entered into and maintained on the following terms:


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Inin the case of banking transactions, each is on substantially the same terms, including price or interest rate, collateral and fees, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated parties and will not bethat are expected to involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features to the Bank; and


Inin the case of any related party transactions, including banking transactions, each is approved by a majority of the directors who do not have an interest in the transaction.

The aggregate amount of indebtedness from directors and executive officers (including their affiliates) to the Bank as of December 31, 2008,2011, including extensions of credit or overdrafts, endorsements and guarantees outstanding on such date, was $15,934,000,approximately $8,676,000, which equaled 18.36%5.57% of our total equity capital as of that date. Less than 5%1% of these loans were installment loans to individuals. These loans are secured by real estate and other suitable collateral to the same extent, including loan to value ratios, as loans to similarly situated unaffiliated borrowers. We anticipate making related party loans in the future to the same extent as we have in the past.


SECTION 16(A)16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC, initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely upon information made available to us, we believe that each filing required to be made pursuant to Section 16(a) was timely filed by our executive officers and directors and the beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock, except for: (1) one initial statement of beneficial ownershipthat Mr. Broughton reported on his Form 5 for the year ended December 31, 2011, 8,816 shares that were held by his wife and stepchildren that were inadvertently not reported on his Form 3 in connection with Mr. DeVane's appointment as an officer, as such term is defined under Exchange Act Rule 16a-3, and in connection with1,200 shares purchased by his wife and stepchildren that should have been reported on a stock option granted to Mr. DeVane to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock, which vests 4,000 shares per year beginning on September 11, 2010 and each year thereafter with the final 34,000 shares vesting on September 11, 2014  and  (2) one change in beneficial ownership on Form 4 in connection with 8,000February 2011. Mr. Broughton disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock acquiredowned by Mr. DeVane pursuant to the Dothan private placement offering.his wife and stepchildren.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS


Introduction


Our compensation process is designed to address both annual and longer termlonger-term corporate objectives. We have been in a period of accelerated growth and change in recent years, and our compensation processes have been designed to permit us to attract and retain highly skilled executive and management staff in our competitive market place. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our compensation program for our "named“named executive officers"officers”, who are Thomas A. Broughton III, William M. Foshee and Clarence C. Pouncey III, Andrew N. Kattos, G.III.

Since November 2007, when we completed our reorganization in which ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. was formed and Carlton Barker.


On November 29, 2007,became the parent of the Bank, we consummated the Bank's holding company reorganization causing us to becomehave been a bank holding company andcompany. We conduct most of our operations through the Bank, to becomewhich is our wholly-owned subsidiary. Our board of directors and the Bank's board of directors of the Bank consist ofinclude the same individuals. OfAt the holding company level, we have three named executive officers, threeeach of them were appointed as executive officers of us and, in each case,whom also holds the same position with the same title as they hold for the Bank, namelyBank. These officers are Thomas A. Broughton III, President and CEO,Chief Executive Officer, Clarence C. Pouncey III, Executive Vice President and COO, andChief Operating Officer, William M. Foshee, Executive Vice President and CFO.  Consequently, from May 2, 2005 until November 29, 2007, the Bank operated as an independent bank with no holding company and, consequently, all compensation decisions for the named executiveChief Financial Officer. All of such officers to date, including for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been made solely by the compensation committeeremain employees of the Bank for payroll and approved by thetax purposes.

The board of directors of the Bank.


In December 2007, following ourBank has a compensation committee. At the time we became a bank holding company, reorganization, our board of directors appointed a separate compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”, as discussed above), consisting of the same individuals as the compensation committee of the Bank, with the authority to determine the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and, either independently or with other independent directors of the board, the compensation of our other executive officers, and to further administer any stockequity or other incentive plans. To date, all of the named executiveBecause our officers, including Mr. Broughton, Mr. Foshee and Mr. Pouncey, remain employees of the Bank for payroll and tax purposes, including Mr. Broughton, Mr.Foshee and Mr. Pouncey. Ittheir compensation is expected that, at this time, the name

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executive officers will remain employees of the Bank and thereforeset by the compensation committee of the Bank, will continue to setas a technical matter. However, such compensation for the named executive officers asis then approved by the Bank's board of directors of the Bank and subsequently approved by our board of directors. We have not yet determined when any of our named executive officers will have their compensation determined by our compensation committee rather than the Bank's compensation committee.  However, as stated above,Because both compensation committees consist of the same individuals.  Referencespersons, as do both boards of directors, references herein to "our"“our” or "the"“the” Compensation Committee will be deemed to refer to our compensation committeeCompensation Committee and/or the Bank'sBank’s compensation committee, as applicable.

No executive officers of the Company make any recommendations to the Compensation Committee or participate in any way regarding the compensation of other executive officers, other than the President and CEO, Mr. Broughton. The Compensation Committee consults with Mr. Broughton to gain a better insight into the performance of the executive team as a basis for the committee's determinations regarding executive compensation. While the Compensation Committee consults with Mr. Broughton, the Compensation Committee makes its decisions independently.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

In order to recruit and retain the most qualified and competent individuals as executive officers, we strive to maintain a compensation program that is competitive in our market. Our Compensation Committee believes that the most effective executive compensation program is one that is designed to reward the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals by us and the Bank, and which aligns executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by rewarding performance, with the ultimate objective of improving stockholder value. The Compensation Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to ensure that we maintain our ability to attract and retain superior employees in key positions and that compensation provided to the named executive officers and other officers remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to similarly situated executives of our peers; provided that, ourpeers. Our Compensation Committee has not yet designated a specific peer group for this purpose.  To that end, the compensation committeepurpose, but relies on general information about similarly sized banks and bank holding companies in similar markets.

The Compensation Committee believes that executive compensation packages should include cash, annual short-term cash incentives and long-term equity based incentives that reward performance as measured against established goals. These goals may include any number of criteria, and may be unique to the particular executive officer based upon his or her duties, and may include, among others, criteria based upon our net income, our asset growth, our loan growth, such executive officer’s personal deposit production and our efficiency and asset quality. Additionally, the Compensation Committee believes that we should offer competitive benefit plans, including health insurance and a 401(k). plan. We have also entered into change in control agreements in particular circumstances where we believe it is important to ensure the retention of certain key executives during the critical period immediately preceding a change in control, if and when applicable.


In order to recruit and retain the most qualified and competent individuals as executive officers, we strive to maintain a compensation program that is competitive in our market.

The fundamental purpose of our executive compensation program is to assist us in achieving our financial and operating performance objectives. Specifically, our compensation program has three basic objectives:


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 ·To attract, retain and motivate our executive officers, including our named executive officers;


to attract, retain and motivate our executive officers, including our named executive officers;

·Toto reward executives upon the achievement of measurable corporate, business unit and individual performance goals; and


to align each executive’s interests with the creation of stockholder value.
·To align each executive's interests with the creation of stockholder value.

Role of Say-on-Pay Advisory Vote

At the 2011 Annual Meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved the advisory say-on-pay proposal by the affirmative vote of 98% of the shares cast on the proposal. The Compensation Committee considered the results of the advisory say-on-pay advisory vote and did not implement any significant changes to our executive compensation as a result of the say-on-pay advisory vote. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the say-on-pay advisory votes when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

At the 2011 Annual Meeting, the board recommended and the stockholders approved holding annual advisory say-on-pay votes. The Board has decided to hold the say-on-pay advisory vote every year.

Elements of our Compensation Program


Base salary:This element is intended to directly reflect an executive’s job responsibilities and his or her value to us; weus. We also use this element to attract and retain our executives and, to some extent, acknowledge each executive’s individual efforts in furthering our strategic goals.


goals.

Annual short-term cash incentives: This annual cash incentive is one of the performance-based elements of our compensation; itcompensation. It is intended to motivate our executives and to provide a current or immediate reward for short-term (annual) measurable performance.


Equity-based incentives: The grant of stock options and/or other equity-based incentive compensation is the most important method we use to align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders, which is another element of performance-based compensation.


Perquisites and benefits: These benefits and plans are intended to attract and retain qualified executives, by ensuring that our compensation program is competitive and provides an adequate opportunity for retirement savings;savings. We believe that, to a limited degree, these programs tend to reward long-term service or loyalty to us.


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Change in control agreements: These agreements, or suchcomparable provisions in an employment or similar agreement, provide a form of severance payable in the event we are the subject of a change in control of us.control. They are primarily intended to align the interests of our executives with our stockholders by providing for a secure financial transition in the event of termination in connection with a change in control.


General Compensation Policies

To reward both shortshort- and long-term performance in the compensation program and in furtherance of our compensation objectives noted above, our executive officer compensation philosophy includes the following principles:

Compensation should be related to performance. The Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of an executive officer’s compensation should be tied not only to individual performance, but also companythe Company’s performance measured against both financial and non-financial goals and objectives.


Incentive compensation should represent a portion of an executive officer’s total compensation. The Compensation Committee is committed to providing competitive compensation that reflects theour performance of us and that of the individual officer or employee.


Compensation levels should be competitive. The Compensation Committee reviews the available data to ensure that our compensation is competitive with that provided by other comparable companies. The Compensation Committee believes that competitive compensation enhances our ability to attract and retain executive officers.  Clark Consulting has issued a report to us in January 2008 that compares our compensation arrangements with those of other comparable banks and industry standards.  The report indicates that Mr. Broughton’s compensation is below average overall, particularly his base salary, and our compensation committee will review accordingly.


Incentive compensation should balance short-term and long-term performance.The Compensation Committee seeks to achieve a balance between encouraging strong short-term annual results and ensuring our long-term viability and success. To reinforce the importance of balancing these perspectives, executive officers will be provided both short- and long-term incentives.  For year ended December 31, 2008 and fiscal years ended prior,Prior to 2009, we provided our executive officers, non-employee directors and employees with the means to become stockholders of us and to share accretion in value with our external stockholders through our 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan. In order to continue to be able to make Awards to2009, we continued that process through the adoption and approval by our named executive officers, other employees and non-employee directors in fiscal year 2009 and years forward,stockholders of our board of directors has adopted and is recommending that the stockholders vote in favor of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, described more fully in Proposal 3 below.Plan.

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The Compensation Committee does not use a specific formula to determine the amount allocated to each element of compensation. Instead, the Compensation Committee evaluatesanalyzes the total compensation paid to each executive and makes individual compensation decisions as to the mixture between base salary, annual short-term cash incentives and equity-based incentives. To date, in determining the amount or mixture of compensation to be paid to any executive, the Compensation Committee has not considered any severance payment to be paid under an employment agreement or change-in-control agreement or any equity-based incentives previously awarded. Further, the Compensation Committee has not adopted any specific stock ownership or holding guidelines that would affect such determinations.

For fiscal year 2008,2011, an average of 14.2%33% of our named executive officers'officers’ compensation was in annual short-term cash incentives and an average of 13.8%19% of our named executive officers'officers’ compensation was in long-term equity-based incentives, or stock options. The following table illustrates the percentage of each named executive officer’s total compensation, as reported in the "Summary“Summary Compensation Table"Table” below, related to base salary, annual short-term cash incentives and long-term equity-based incentives:


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Percentage of Total Compensation
(Fiscal Year 2008)
Named Executive Officer 
Annual Base
Salary
 
Annual Short-
Term Cash
Incentives
 
Equity-Based
Incentives
 
Perquisites
and Benefits
Thomas A. Broughton III, PEO 55.8% 22.3% 10.7% 11.2%
William M. Foshee, PFO 70.1% 13.1%   8.5%   8.3%
Clarence C. Pouncey III 64.5% 16.9% 11.8%   6.8%
G. Carlton Barker 64.6%      n/a 25.4% 10.0%
Andrew N. Kattos 62.6% 14.8% 12.6%   9.9%

  Percentage of Total Compensation
(Fiscal Year 2011)
 
Named Executive Officer Annual Base Salary  Annual Short-Term Cash Incentives  Equity-Based Incentives  Perquisites and Benefits 
Thomas A. Broughton III, Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”)  37   36   20   7 
William M. Foshee, Principal Financial Officer (“PFO”)  56   34   6   4 
Clarence C. Pouncey III  61   33   --   6 
                 

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

The compensation of Thomas A. Broughton III, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is discussed throughout the following paragraphs. The Compensation Committee establishes Mr. Broughton’s compensation package each year with the intent of providing compensation designed to retain Mr. Broughton’s services and motivate him to perform to the best of his abilities. Mr. Broughton’s 2011 base salary and incentive compensation reflect the Compensation Committee’s and our board’s determination of the total compensation package necessary to meet this objective.

Annual Base Salary


The Compensation Committee endeavors to establish base salary levels for executives that are consistent and competitive with those provided for similarly situated executives of other similar financial institutions, taking into account each executive'sexecutive’s areas and level of responsibility. To date, the Compensation Committee has not designated a specific peer group for its use.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Compensation Committee increased Mr. Broughton’s base compensation to $250,000 from $225,000, an increase of $25,000 or 11.11%.


For the year ended December 31, 2008,2011, the Compensation Committee increased the base salarysalaries of our named executive officers as follows: Thomas A. Broughton III to $283,250 from $275,000, an increase of 3%; William M. Foshee to $160,000$200,000 from $140,000,$180,000, an increase of $20,000 or 14.29%,11.1% and Clarence C. Pouncey III to $210,000$235,000 from $200,000,$225,000, an increase of $10,000 or 5.00%, Andrew N. Kattos to $190,000 from $180,000, an increase of $10,000 or 5.60%; G. Carlton Barker's base salary remained the same at $200,000.

4.4%.

None of the named executive officers have employment agreements other than Mr. Barker and Mr. Kattos.  Mr. Kattos has an employment agreement which set his base salary initially at $170,000 and required a $10,000 increase to $180,000 on March 28, 2007 and required another $10,000 increase in his base salary to $190,000 beginning on March 28, 2008, as reflected in the above paragraph.  Mr. Barker's employment agreement provides that his minimum base salary shall be $200,000 subject to periodic discretionary raises.agreements. See "Employment Agreements"“Employment Agreements” below for a more detailed discussion.


Annual Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation

For the year ended December 31, 2008,2011, the Compensation Committee relied on various performance measurements for defining executive officer cash incentive compensation for the named executive officers which included, among others, our net income, our asset growth, our loan growth, the executive’s individual loan production and our efficiency and asset quality. Each of the performance measurements was applied and determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The potential award level for Mr. Broughton is purely discretionary, but the potential cash award level for each of our other named executive officers Mr. Pouncey, Mr. Foshee, Mr. Barker and Mr. Kattos, is generally limited to 50% of their respective base salaries. EachThe Compensation Committee also has discretionary authority to establish “stretch” performance goals for individual officers, potentially allowing for cash incentive compensation in excess of 50% of an officer’s base salary. In 2011, the employment agreementsCommittee established such “stretch” goals for each of our named executive officers other than Mr. Barker and Mr. Kattos provideBroughton, meaning that they shall haveeach of such officers had the opportunity to receive discretionary annual short-termearn cash incentive compensation of up to 50%60% of their respective base salaries. We do not have any contractual obligations to provide the opportunity to earn specified levels of cash incentive compensation, and thus such determination is entirely within the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee makes a determination of awards based on the information available to it at the time.time the award is made. The Compensation Committee has no policy to adjust or recover awards or payments if the relevant companyCompany performance measures upon which they are based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of an award or payment.

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The table below details, for each named executive officer, the various elements comprising the performance targets for each named executive officer, the range of cash incentive cash compensation each was eligible to earn (expressed as a percentage of base salary), cash incentive compensation paid as a percentage of base salary and cash incentive compensation paid for 20082011 performance.


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Name Performance Targets 
2008 Incentive
Range(%)
 
2008 Incentive as
a Percentage of
Base Salary(%)
 
2008 Incentive
Paid($)
Thomas A. Broughton III
 
 None None   40% $100,000
         
William M. Foshee 
Net Income
Regulatory Compliance
 0%-50% 18.8% $30,000
         
Clarence C. Pouncey III 
Net Income
Non Performing Asset Levels
 0%-50% 26.2% $55,000
         
G. Carlton Barker 
Montgomery Office Deposits and Loans
Montgomery Office Net Income
Non Performing Asset Levels
 0%-50% n/a n/a
         
Andrew N. Kattos 
Huntsville Office Net Income
Non Performing Asset Levels
 0%-50% 23.7% $45,000
         

 

Name

 Performance Targets 

2011 Incentive

Range (%)

 

2011 Incentive as

a Percentage of

Base Salary (%)

 2011 IncentivePaid ($)
         
Thomas A. Broughton III None None 97% 275,000
         

William M. Foshee

 

 

Net Income

Regulatory Compliance

 0%-60% 60% 120,000
         

Clarence C. Pouncey III

 

 

Net Income

Non-performing Asset plus

ORE/Loans

Classified Loans plus ORE plus

Non-performing Assets/Capital

 0%-60% 53% 125,000
         

The Compensation Committee did not set specific objective numerical targets for any of the above-stated criteria for each named executive officer. Instead, the Compensation Committee made a subjective determination for each namedexecutive officer'sofficer’s performance using, other than in the case of Mr. Broughton, the above criteria as guidelines. The Compensation Committee determinedbelieved that, based upon our overall performance and the specific individual performance levels of our named executive officers, it was appropriate to provide significant cash incentive bonuses to all of the Company performed exceptionally with regard to the above criteria, particularly when considering that the financial services industry as a whole, as well as the securities markets generally, have been materially and adversely affected by very significant declines in the values of nearly all asset classes and by a very serious lack of liquidity. Forour named executive officers for 2011. Accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 20082011 and based upon its subjective determination of our overall performance and such officers’ individual performance for 2008,2011, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Broughton $100,000 or 40.0% of his base salary.  Thethe cash incentive compensation committee awarded Mr. Foshee $30,000 or 18.8% of his base salary; Mr. Pouncey $55,000 or 26.2% of his base salary and Mr. Kattos $45,000 or 23.7% of his base salary.


      Equity –Basedset forth in the table above.

Equity-Based Incentive Compensation

On May 19, 2005, Mr. Broughton received a stock option to purchase up to 75,000 shares of our common stock at $10.00 per share, and a nowwarrant (now vested warrantin full) in his capacity as a founding director to purchase up to 10,000 shares of our common stock for $10.00 per share. Such 75,000 share75,000-share option vests 10,000 shares per year each May 19 and thus has vested 30,00060,000 shares to date anddate. It will vest an additional 10,000 shares on May 19, 20092012 (for an aggregate of 40,00070,000 shares) and each May 19 thereafter until the final 5,000 shares vest on May 19, 2013. Since such time,In addition, Mr. Broughton has not beenwas granted any further stock options as performance compensation, but was granted(i) a stock option to purchase up to 10,000 shares of common stock at $20.00 per share in December 2007, which vests 100% after five years, for his services as a director.  The Compensation Committee based its determinationdirector, and (ii) a stock option to purchase up to 11,000 shares of common stock in January 2011, which vests in a lump sum five years from the grant date.On October 26, 2009, Mr. Broughton’s compensation package withBroughton was awarded 20,000 shares of restricted common stock. These shares vest in five equal installments beginning on the intent of providing a compensation package designed to retain Mr. Broughton’s services and motivate him to perform to the best of his abilities.  Mr. Broughton’s 2008 base salary reflects our board’s determinationfirst anniversary of the salary level necessarygrant date. On November 28, 2011, Mr. Broughton was granted a stock option to meet this objective.  


To date,purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at $30.00 per share for services as a director. These shares will vest in a lump sum five years from the grant date.

In general, we have granted incentive stock options to our other named executive officers only uponin connection with their initial hiring, but with vesting schedules designed to enhance their retention and align their interestinterests with those of our stockholders. These incentive stock options generally vest fully vest over 6six to 8eight years from their date of grant, with most of such grants not beginning to vest until 3three to 5five years following their date of grant, the first of which just began to vestvested in February 2009. In addition, (i) in February 2010 we granted a stock option to purchase up to 5,000 shares to Mr. Foshee, which vests 1,000 shares on the fourth anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, and (ii) in January 2011 we granted a stock option to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock to Mr. Foshee, which vests in a lump sum five years from the grant date, See "Outstanding“Executive Compensation – Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End"Year-End” below for a detailed description of the vesting schedules of each of the options granted to the named executive officers.officers that were outstanding at December 31, 2011.

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Certain provisions exist under our 2005 Amended and Restated

Our Stock Incentive Plan and our proposed 2009 Stock Incentive Plan toPlans allow for the accelerationaccelerated vesting of vesting equity awards in the event of a change ofin control. Under both the 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan and the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan,In general, under these Plans a “change ofin control” means a reorganization, merger or consolidation of usthe Company with or into another corporation or entity where our


15


stockholders before the transaction own less than 50 percent50% of our combined voting power after the transaction, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a purchase of more than 50 percent50% of the combined voting power of our outstanding capital stock in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by one “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) or more than one person acting in concert.

Severance and Change in Control.


We do not have an employment or other agreement withMr. Broughton which requiresthat would require us to pay him severance payments upon termination of his employment. We have however, entered into agreements to pay severance payments under certain circumstances to Mr. Barker and Mr. Kattos under their employment agreements, and we have entered into change in control agreements with Mr. Foshee and Mr. Pouncey. Mr. Barker's employment agreement also contains a change in control provision.  See “Employment“Executive Compensation – Employment Agreements”, “Change“ – Change in Control Agreements” and "Estimated“ – Estimated Payments upon a Termination or Change in Control"Control” below.


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE


The Compensation Committee of the board of directors of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for the Company for the year ended December 31, 20082011 with management. In reliance on the reviews and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the board of directors, and the board of directors has approved, that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the required company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),SEC, including the Proxy Statement for the 20092012 Annual Meeting.


Meeting of Stockholders.

The Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any document previously or subsequently filed with the SEC that incorporates by reference all or any portion of this Proxy Statement.


Submitted by the Compensation Committee:

Hatton C.V. Smith, Chairman

J. Richard Cashio

James J. Filler

15
 
Hatton C.V. Smith, Chairman
J. Richard Cashio
James J. Filler



16


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


Summary Compensation Table


The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid by us or the Bank for services for the years ended December 31, 2008, 20072011, 2010 and 20062009 to our named executive officers:


Name and Principal
Position Held
YearSalaryBonus
Stock
Awards
Option
Awards (1)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
Change in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
All Other
Compensation
Total
  ($)($)($)($)($)($)($)($)
          
Thomas A. Broughton III,
   President and CEO
   (PEO)
2008250,000100,00047,996       50,149 (3)448,145
2007225,000175,00038,57641,611480,187
2006
 
200,000
 
150,000
 
38,394
 
 
 
 
388,394
 
          
William M. Foshee,
   Executive Vice
   President and Chief
   Financial Officer (PFO)
2008160,00030,00019,433       18,961 (4)228,394
2007140,00070,00014,73116,068240,799
2006
 
120,000
 
36,000
 
13,630
 
 
 
 
169,630
 
          
Clarence C. Pouncey III
   Executive Vice
   President and Chief
   Operating Officer
2008210,00055,00038,286       22,236 (5)325,522
2007200,00080,00038,28621,198339,484
2006
175,000
 
52,500
 
26,747
 
 
 
 
254,247
 
          
G. Carlton Barker (2)
   Executive Vice
   President of Bank and
   Montgomery President
   and CEO of Bank
2008200,00078,561        31,045 (6)309,606
2007200,00060,00070,46025,231355,691
2006 
         
          
Andrew N. Kattos (2)
   Executive Vice
   President of Bank
   Huntsville President
   and CEO of Bank
2008190,00045,00038,286        30,130 (7)303,416
2007180,00089,10038,286 29,765337,151
2006170,00051,00026,747 247,747
         
_________________

Name and Principal
Position Held
(a)
 Year
(b)
  Salary
(c)
  Bonus
(d)
  Stock Awards
(e)
  Option Awards(1)
(f)
  Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Comp
(g)
  Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
(h)
  All Other Compensation
(i)
  Total
(j)
 
     ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($) 
                                     
Thomas A. Broughton III  2011   283,250   275,000    -   152,740    -    -   48,679(2)  759,669 
President & CEO  2010   275,000   137,500   -   -   -   -   47,730   460,230 
  2009   250,000   -   500,000   -   -   -   47,494   797,494 
                                     
Clarence C. Pouncey III  2011   235,000   125,000    -    -    -    -   23,839(3)  383,839 
EVP and Chief  2010   225,000   112,800   -   -   -   -   22,472   360,272 
Operating Officer  2009   215,000   -   -   -   -   -   21,936   236,936 
                                     
William M. Foshee  2011   200,000   120,000    -   21,350    -    -   15,101(4)  356,451 
EVP and Chief  2010   180,000   90,000   -   37,150   -   -   9,704   316,854 
Financial Officer  2009   165,000   -   -   -   -   -   17,482   182,482 
                                     
                                     

   
(1) The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value under FAS 123(R)FASB ASC Topic 718 of awards made during the respective year.
   
(2) Although Mr. BarkerAll Other Compensation for 2011 includes car allowance ($9,000), director’s fees ($16,000), country club allowance ($5,830), healthcare premiums ($7,173), matching contributions to 401(k) plan ($9,800) and Mr. Kattos are employees of the Bank only, we have included them as named executive officers due to their salary levelgroup life and since they are president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville and Montgomery offices, respectively.long-term disability insurance premiums ($876).
   
(3) All Other Compensation for 20082011 includes car allowance ($9,000), director’s fees ($16,800), country club allowance ($5,547)6,790), healthcare premiums ($6,135), matching contributions to 401(k) plan ($14,375) and group life and long-term disability insurance premiums ($1,212)876) and healthcare premiums ($7,173).
   
(4) All Other Compensation for 20082011 includes car allowance ($9,000), matching contributions to 401(k) plan ($9,134)5,225) and group life and long-term disability insurance premiums ($827).
(5)All Other Compensation for 2008 includes car allowance ($9,000), country club allowance ($6,040), group life and long-term disability insurance premiums ($1,061) and healthcare premiums ($6,135).
(6)All Other Compensation for 2008 includes car allowance ($9,000), matching contributions to 401(k) plan (9,200), country club allowance ($5,649), group life and long-term disability insurance premiums ($1,061) and healthcare premiums ($6,135)876).
   



17



16
(7)All Other Compensation for 2008 includes car allowance ($9,000), matching contributions to 401(k) plan ($7,200), country club allowance ($6,704), group life and long-term disability insurance premiums ($1,091) and healthcare premiums ($6,135).

Fiscal Year 2009 Compensation

In order to continue to be able to make option awards to our named executive officers, other employees and non-employee directors in fiscal year 2009 and years forward, our board of directors has adopted and is recommending to that the stockholders vote in favor of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, described more fully in Proposal 3 below.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2008


2011

The table below sets forth information regarding grants of plan-based awards made to our named executive officers during 2008.

2011.

NameGrant Date

All Other Option Awards:

Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)

All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) 

Grant Date Fair Value ($)

(a)(b)(i)(j) (k)(l)

 

Thomas A. Broughton III (PEO)

 

 

 

1/19/11

11/28/11

 

11,000

10,000

 

 

$25.00

$30.00

 

 

93,940

58,800

William M. Foshee (PFO)1/19/112,500 $25.00 21,350

 

Clarence C. Pouncey III

 

 

  


Name Grant Date 
All Other Option Awards:
Number of Securities
Underlying Options (#)
 
Exercise or Base Price of
Option Awards ($/Sh)
 
Grant Date Fair
Value ($)
         
Thomas A. Broughton III,
   President and CEO (PEO)
   —   —   —   —
William M. Foshee,
   Executive Vice President
   Chief Financial Officer
   2/18/2008   5,000   $20   $27,050
Clarence C. Pouncey III
   Executive Vice President
   Chief Operating Officer
   —   —   —   —
G. Carlton Barker
   Executive Vice President
   President and CEO
   Montgomery Bank
   —   —   —   —
Andrew N. Kattos
   Executive Vice President
   President and CEO
   Huntsville Bank
   —   —   —   —
17
 ____________________
 (1)  Awarded under our 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End


The following table details all outstanding equity grantsawards as of December 31, 2008.




2011.

Option AwardsStock Awards

Name

(a)

Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable

(b)

Option Awards
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable

(c)

Option exercise price ($)

(e)

Option expiration date

(f)

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)

(g)

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

(h)

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

(i)

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested ($)

(j)

         

Thomas A. Broughton III, (PEO) (1) 

37,50011,000$25.001/19/201612,000$360,000
10,000$20.0012/20/2017    
 10,000$30.0011/28/2021    

William M. Foshee (PFO) (2)

 

 

20,000 $10.005/19/2015    
5,000 $11.004/20/2016
5,000$20.002/19/2018

 

5,000

2,500

$25.00

$25.00

2/16/2020

1/19/2021

Clarence C. Pouncey III (3)

 

 

27,000

 

 

 

23,000

 

 

 

$11.00

 

 

 

4/20/2016

 

 

 

    

 
18



____________________
(1)The option to purchase 75,000 shares at $10.00 per share granted to Mr. Broughton on May 19, 2005 vests 10,000 shares per year with the final 5,000 vesting on May 19, 2013. The option to purchase 10,000 shares at $20.00 per share granted to Mr. Broughton on December 20, 2007 vests 100% on December 20, 2012. The option to purchase 10,000 shares at $30.00 per share granted to Mr. Broughton on November 28, 2011 vests 100% on November 28, 2016. The award of 20,000 shares of restricted stock made to Mr. Broughton on October 26, 2009 vests in five equal annual installments, beginning on October 26, 2010. The market value of this restricted stock award is based on $30.00 per share, the last sale price of the Company’s common stock known to the Company.
(2)The option to purchase 20,000 shares at $10.00 per share granted to Mr. Foshee on May 19, 2005 vests 10,000 shares on May 19, 2010 and 10,000 shares on May 19, 2011. The option to purchase 5,000 shares at $11.00 per share granted to Mr. Foshee on April 20, 2006 vests all 5,000 sharesin a lump sum on April 20, 2011. The option to purchase 5,000 shares at $20.00 per share granted to Mr. Foshee on February 19, 2008 vests allin a lump sum on February 19, 2013. The option to purchase 5,000 shares at $25.00 per share granted to Mr. Foshee on February 16, 2010 vests 1,000 shares on February 16, 2014 and 4,000 shares on February 16, 2015. The option to purchase 2,500 shares at $25.00 per share granted to Mr. Foshee vests in a lump sum on January 19, 2013.2016.
(3)The option to purchase 50,000 shares at $11.00 per share granted to Mr. Pouncey on April 20, 2006 vests 9,000 shares per year beginning on April 20, 2009, with the final 5,000 shares vesting on April 20, 2014.
(4)   The option to purchase 75,000 shares at $15.00 per share granted to Mr. Barker on February 1, 2007 vests 6,666 shares per year beginning on February 1, 2009 with the final 48,336 shares vesting at one time on February 1, 2013.
(5)   The option to purchase 50,000 shares at $11.00 per share granted to Mr. Kattos on April 20, 2006 vests 9,000 shares per year beginning on April 20, 2009, with the final 5,000 shares vesting on April 20, 2014.

Plan Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2008


There were no options exercised during fiscal 2008,2011

The following table sets forth information regarding option exercises by and we have no restricted stock or othervesting for our named executive officers during 2011:

 Option Awards Stock Awards

 

 

 

Name

 

(a)

 

 

Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)

 

(b)

 

Value Realized on Exercise ($)

 

(c)

 

 

Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)

 

(d)

 

 

Value Realized on Vesting ($)

 

(e)

      
Thomas A. Broughton  III12,500250,000 4,000120,000
William M. Foshee     
Clarence C. Pouncey III     

Mr. Broughton received a restrictive stock awardsaward of 20,000 shares in 2009 and 4,000 shares of such award as referenced in the table above vested on October 26, 2011. Based upon a value of $30.00 per share, the last sale price of the Company’s common stock known to have vested.


the Company at the time of vesting, the value realized by Mr. Broughton on the vesting of such shares was $120,000.

Non-Plan Warrants and Stock Options


We also issued to each of our directors upon

Upon the formation of the Bank in May 2005, we issued to each of our directors warrants to purchase up to 10,000 shares of our common stock, or 60,000 shares in the aggregate, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, expiring in ten years. These warrants vest over three years from date of grant and thus became fully vested in May 2008.


We have granted non-plan stock options to persons representing certain key business relationships to purchase up to an aggregate of 55,000 shares of our common stock at between $15.00 and $20.00 per share for 10 years. These stock options are non-qualified“non-qualified stock options” under the Internal Revenue Code and are not part ofissued under our 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan.stock incentive plans. They vest 100% at one timein a lump sum five years after thetheir date of grant.

During 2011, each of Mr. Broughton and Mr. Cashio exercised his warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per shares. No warrants or non-plan options were exercised during fiscal year 2008.


2011.

Effect of Compensation Policies and Practices on Risk Management and Risk-Taking Incentives

There is inherent risk in the business of banking. However, we do not believe that any of our compensation policies and practices provide incentives to our employees to take risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. We believe that our compensation policies and practices are consistent with those of similar bank holding companies and their banking subsidiaries and are intended to encourage and reward performance that is consistent with sound practice in the industry.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL


G. Carlton Barker.  G. Carlton Barker entered into an employment agreement with the Bank on February 1, 2007, pursuant to which he serves as executive vice president of the Bank and president and chief executive officer of the Montgomery office.  Mr. Barker’s agreement provides that he will receive a base salary of $200,000 per year, an option to purchase up to 75,000 shares of our common stock as set forth in the above table, automobile allowance and reimbursement, life, health, dental, and disability insurance, and other benefits afforded to employees of the Bank. Mr. Barker is eligible to receive incentive-based compensation up to fifty percent (50%) of base salary, the terms of which shall be established by the Bank annually.  In addition, the Bank may increase Mr. Barker's base salary upon a periodic review. The agreement's initial term is until January 31, 2012, and upon expiration of the initial term shall automatically renew for subsequent one-year terms, unless earlier terminated.

The Bank may terminate Mr. Barker's employment upon his death, disability or for “cause.”  The Bank may further terminate Mr. Barker's employment at any time without cause by providing proper notice and the payment to Mr. Barker in a lump sum an amount equal to what Mr. Barker would have been paid during the remainder of the term or twelve months, whichever is greater, plus any other cash payments due including incentive pay.  Comparatively, Mr. Barker can terminate his employment voluntarily by providing proper notice.  Under his agreement, Mr. Barker agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Bank's confidential information during the term of the agreement and at all times thereafter.  Furthermore, Mr. Barker agrees to not solicit, directly or indirectly, any individual who is employed by the Bank, for himself or as an employee or agent of any person, firm, or corporation, for a period of no less than twelve (12) months, but no greater than twenty-four (24) months, following his employment with the Bank.

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For purposes of this agreement, "Cause" shall mean any of the following: (i) conviction in connection with a felony, (ii) conviction in connection with any crime, whether a felony or a misdemeanor, involving the purchase or sale of any security, mail or wire fraud, theft, embezzlement, moral turpitude or misappropriation of the Bank’s property; (iii) willful or gross neglect of his duties or obligations hereunder; (iv) willful misconduct in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder; (v) a material breach of the Bank’s Code of Ethics; or (vi) suspension or removal by any bank or securities regulator or such regulatory agency.

Furthermore, Mr. Barker’s agreement provides that, in the event of a change of control, Mr. Barker may elect to terminate his employment and shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to three times his base salary and any unvested stock options shall immediately vest.  In the event that the payments due in a change in control results in adverse tax consequences to Mr. Barker, then we will reduce such payment to such amount as Mr. Barker determines will not result in such adverse tax consequences.  For purposes of this agreement, the term "change in control" means (i) the occurrence of any transaction with respect to which either notice or application must be filed with the Federal Reserve Board pursuant to certain provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations, and as a result of which more than 50% of our outstanding shares becomes owned by any person, or group of persons acting in concert, who prior to the transaction owned less than 50% of our outstanding shares, (ii) individuals who were our directors immediately prior to a "control transaction" shall cease within one year of such control transaction to constitute a majority of our board of directors, or (iii) we are merged or consolidated with another corporation and are not the surviving corporation or we sell or otherwise dispose of substantially all of our assets.  A "control transaction" is (i) any tender offer for or acquisition of our shares, (ii) any merger, consolidation, or sale of substantially all of our assets, (iii) any contested election of directors or (iv) any combination of the foregoing which results in a change in voting power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors.

Andrew N. Kattos.  Andrew N. Kattos entered into an employment agreement with the Bank on April 27, 2006, pursuant to which he serves as executive vice president of the Bank and president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville office.  Mr. Kattos’ agreement provides that he will receive a base salary of $180,000 per year, subject to an additional $10,000 increase in March 2008, an option to purchase up to 50,000 shares of our common stock as set forth in the table above, automobile allowance and reimbursement, partial health and disability insurance and other benefits afforded to employees of the Bank.  Mr. Kattos is eligible to receive incentive-based compensation up to fifty percent (50%) of base salary, the terms of which shall be established by the Bank annually.  Mr. Kattos may be eligible for additional incentive based compensation based on performance as may be awarded at the discretion of the Bank.  The agreement's initial term expires on March 29, 2009 and, upon expiration of the initial term, shall automatically renew for a subsequent two-year term, ending on March 29, 2011.

The Bank may terminate Mr. Kattos' employment upon his death, disability or for “cause.”  The Bank may terminate Mr. Kattos' employment without cause by providing proper notice and continuing to pay his salary every two weeks for the remainder of the term or twelve months, whichever is greater, plus all other cash obligations (unused vacation) and 50% of any incentive compensation earned as of the termination date.  Comparatively, Mr. Kattos can terminate his employment voluntarily by providing proper notice.  Under the agreement, Mr. Kattos agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Bank's confidential information during the term of the agreement and at all times thereafter.  Furthermore, Mr. Kattos agrees to not solicit, directly or indirectly, any individual who is or was employed by the Bank at or within 180 days of his termination, for himself or as an employee or agent of any person, firm, or corporation, for a period of no less than twelve (12) months, following his employment with the Bank, and Mr. Kattos agrees to refrain from becoming employed by or become a consultant to any individual or entity other than the Bank or its subsidiaries or affiliates, for said period.  For purposes of this agreement, "Cause" shall mean any of the following: (i) indictment in connection with a felony, (ii) indictment in connection with any crime whether a felony or misdemeanor, involving the purchase or sale of any security, mail or wire fraud, theft, embezzlement, moral turpitude or misappropriation of the Bank’s property, (iii) willful or gross neglect of his duties hereunder, (iv) willful misconduct in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, (v) a material breach of the Bank’s Code of Ethics, or (vi) suspension or removal by any bank or securities regulator or such regulatory agency.  

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Change in Control Agreements


General


As of

At December 31, 2008,2011, we had two change in control severance agreements with named executive officers, William M. Foshee and Clarence C. Pouncey III; however, there is a similar change in control provision in Mr. Barker’s employment agreement as set forth above.III. Each of these change in control agreements werewas originally entered into with the Bank, but now also applyapplies to a change in control of us since our holding company reorganization in 2007.


Thesethe Company.

Mr. Foshee's and Mr. Pouncey's agreements generally provide for a lump sum payment (equal to two times annual base salary for Mr. Foshee and one times annual base salary for Mr. Pouncey) in the event of the termination of their respective employment within 24 months after a "change“change in control"control” (as defined in their agreements) either: (i) by us, other than for “Cause”“cause” (as defined in the respective agreements), death, disability or the attainment of normal retirement date, or (ii) by themthe employee for the specific reasons set forth in the contract. These agreements are not employment agreements and do not guarantee employment for any term or period; they only apply if a change in control occurs.  In the case of Mr. Barker, in the event of a change of control as defined in his employment agreement above, Mr. Barker may elect to terminate his employment at anytime within one year following the change of control in which case we must pay him a lump sum payment equal to three times his base salary.

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The size of each benefit was set through arms' lengtharm’s-length negotiations with each of such individuals upon their employment and consistent with general industry standards. Each of these respective agreements werewas approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank.


Definitions


The term “change in control” is defined in theMr. Foshee's and Mr. Pouncey's change in control agreements to include:

a merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization (other than a holding company reorganization) the Company in which we do not survive, or if we survive, our stockholders before such transaction do not own more than 50% of, respectively, (i) the common stock of the surviving entity, and (ii) the combined voting power of any other outstanding securities entitled to vote on the election of directors of the surviving entity.


the acquisition, other than from us, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either the then outstanding shares of our common stock or the combined voting power of our then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that neither of the following shall constitute a change in control:

·a merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization (other than a holding company reorganization) of us in which we do not survive, or if we survive, our stockholders before such transaction do not own more than 50% of, respectively, (i) the common stock of the surviving entity, and (ii) the combined voting power of any other outstanding securities entitled to vote on the election of directors of the surviving entity.

·the acquisition, other than from us, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either the then outstanding shares of our common stock or the combined voting power of our then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that neither of the following shall constitute a change in control:

-any acquisition by us, by any of our subsidiaries, or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of us or our subsidiaries, or;

-any acquisition by any corporation, entity, or group, if, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstandingthen-outstanding voting rights of such corporation, entity or group are owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the persons who were the owners of our common stock immediately prior to such acquisition; or

approval by our stockholders of:

·approval by our stockholders of:

-our complete liquidation or dissolution, or

-the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all our assets, other than to a corporation,an entity with respect to which immediately following such sale or other disposition, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstandingthen-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, and the combined voting power of the then outstandingthen-outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of our outstanding common stock, and our

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outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or disposition, of our outstanding common stock and our outstanding securities, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code would apply to any payment or right arising under the change in control agreements as a result of a change in control as described above, then with respect to such saleright or other disposition,payment the only events that would constitute a change in substantiallycontrol will be deemed to be those events that would constitute a change in the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such sale or disposition,effective control of our outstanding common stock and our outstanding securities, as the case may be.Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 409A.

·Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Section 409A of the Code would apply to any payment or right arising hereunder as a result of a change in control as hereinabove described, then with respect to such right or payment the only events that would constitute a change in control for purposes hereof shall be those events that would constitute a change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation in accordance with said section 409A.

Mr. Pouncey’s agreement further defines a “change in control” to include any circumstance in which individuals who, as of the effective date of his agreement, constituteconstituted our board of directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of our board of directors, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date, whose election, or nomination for election by our stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then compromising the Incumbent Board, shall be consideredexcept as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act).


The term “Cause” is defined in each of the agreements to include: (i) a pattern of conduct which tends to hold us up to ridicule, or which adversely affects us,otherwise provided in the business community, (ii) engaging in conduct disloyal to us, (iii) non-diligent performance of their duties, (iv) failure to appear for work during regularly scheduled hours without a sufficient reason, (v) failure to comply with any of our policies and procedures as from time to time amended, (vi) any action against them by federal or state banking regulatory authorities acting under lawful authority pursuant to provisions of federal or state law or regulation which may be in effect from time to time, (vii) any act (including any omission or failure to act) that constitutes, on the part of them, fraud, dishonesty, gross negligence, misconduct, incompetence, or breach of fiduciary duty involving direct or indirect gain to or personal enrichment of them, (viii) conviction of any felony crime and (ix) dependence upon, or abuse of, any addictive substance, including but not limited to, alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, LSD, cocaine, marijuana, or narcotic drugs.

agreement.

Mr. Foshee and Mr. Pouncey can each terminate their employment and still trigger the change in control payment if they terminate because, after the change in control, (i) they are assigned to duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent with their position, duties, responsibilities or status immediately preceding such change in control, or a change in their reporting responsibilities or titles in effect at such time resulting in a reduction of their responsibilities or position, (ii) the reduction of their base salary or, to the extent such has been established by the board of directors or its Compensation Committee, target bonus (including any deferred portions thereof) or substantial reduction in their level of benefits or supplemental compensation from those in effect immediately preceding such change in control; or (iii) their transfer to a location requiring a change in residence or a material increase in the amount of travel normally required of them in connection with their employment.


In addition to the cash payments set forth in the change in control agreements, any incentive stock options granted to named executive officersthe affected employee will immediately vest upon a change in control.

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Estimated Payments upon a Termination or Change in Control


Termination

In the event that Mr. Barker had been terminated by us without "Cause" as of December 31, 2008, then we would have been required to pay a lump sum cash payment to Mr. Barker equal to $600,000 upon the date of termination.

In the event that Mr. Kattos had been terminated by us without "Cause" as of December 31, 2008, then we would be required to continue to pay Mr. Kattos his salary equal to $15,833 per month through December 31, 2009.



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Change in Control


Assuming that we had a change in control as of December 31, 20082011, as defined in both the change in control agreements above, and Mr. Barker's employment agreement, and assuming further that each of the requisite triggering events had occurred as of such date, for each, then we would have had to pay cash payments of $320,000$400,000 to Mr. Foshee and $210,000$235,000 to Mr. Pouncey, each in a lump sum payment within 30 days of their respective termination, and $600,000 to Mr. Barker no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days following his notice of his intent to exercise his change of control rights.


termination.

Furthermore, assuming we had a change in control as of December 31, 20082011, as defined in the 2005 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Planeither of our stock incentive plans, and further assuming that the value of the stock as of that date was $25$30.00 per share (the most recent sale price), then each of the named executive officers would become immediately vested in their unvested incentive stock options as of such date equal to the following value based upon the difference between $25$30.00 per share and their respective exercise prices per share for such shares: (i) Thomas A. Broughton III – $725,000,$155,000, (ii) William M. Foshee - $395,000,$87,500, and (iii) Clarence C. Pouncey, III - $700,000, (iv) G. Carlton Barker - $683,340 and (v) Andrew N. Kattos - $700,000.$437,000.


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION


The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options and rights under all of our existing equity compensation plans and arrangements as of December 31, 2008. On March 23, 2009, our board of directors adopted the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. This data does not include the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan since our board of directors do not intend to make grants under it unless approved by the stockholders.


Plan Category 
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
 
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans
Equity compensation awards plans
approved  by security holders
801,000 13.98 284,000
Equity compensation awards plans not
approved  by security holders
  55,000 17.27 
Total856,000 14.19 284,000

2011:

Plan Category

 

 

Number of securities issued/to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans

 

Equity compensation awards  plans approved  by security holders

 

1,048,800

 $18.59 401,200

Equity compensation awards plans not

approved by security holders

55,000 $17.27 

 

Total

1,103,800 $18.52 401,200

We grant stock options as an incentive to employees, officers, directors, and consultants, as a means to attract or retain these individuals, to maintain and enhance our long-term performance and profitability, and to allow these individuals to acquire an ownership interest in the Company. Our Compensation Committee administers this program, making all decisions regarding grants and amendments to these awards. All shares to be issued upon the exercise of these options must be authorized and unissued shares. In the event an option holder leaves us, we may provide for varying time periodstime-periods for exercise of options after the termination of onesone's employment; provided, that, an incentive stock option plan may not be exercised later than 90 days after an option holder terminates his or her employment with us unless such termination is a consequence of such optionsoption holder’s death or disability in which case the option period may be extended for up to 1one year after termination of employment. All of our issued options will vest immediately upon a transaction in which we merge or consolidate with or into any other corporation, or sell or otherwise transfer our property, assets, or business substantially in its entirety to a successor corporation. At that time, upon the exercise of the option, the option holder will receive the number of shares of stock or other securities or property, including cash, to which the holder of a like number of shares of common stock would have been entitled upon the merger, consolidation, sale or transfer if such option had been exercised in full immediately prior thereto. All of our issued options have a term of 10 years. This means the options must be exercised within 10 years from the date of the grant. At December 31, 2008,2011, we havehad issued and outstanding options to purchase 681,0001,103,800 shares of our common stock.




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STOCKstock (including options granted outside of our stock incentive plans).

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT


Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners


As of December 31, 2008,2011, there iswas no beneficial ownership by any person (including any group) who is known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock.

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Security Ownership of Management


The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 3, 2009March 8, 2012 by: (i) each of our directors; (ii) our named executive officers; and (iii) all of our directors and our executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, each person listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown to be beneficially owned by him except to the extent that such power is shared by a spouse under applicable law. The information provided in the table is based on our records, information filed with the SEC and information provided to the Company.


Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Owner
 Percentage of
Outstanding Common
Stock (%C)(2)
     
Thomas A. Broughton III 
132,252 (3)(4)
 2.40%
Stanley M. Brock 
138,500 (3)(5)
 2.51%
Michael D. Fuller 
135,002 (3)     
 2.45%
James J. Filler 
161,252 (3)     
 2.92%
J. Richard Cashio 
  87,502 (3)(6)
 1.59%
Hatton C. V. Smith 
  37,500 (3)(7)
 *
William M. Foshee 
39,992(8) 
 *
Clarence C. Pouncey III 
83,667 (9)  
 1.52%
Andrew N. Kattos 
19,400 (10)
 *
G. Carlton Barker 
56,666(11)
 1.03%
Ronald A. DeVane 
8,000(12)
 *
Directors and executive officers (11 total) 899,733           16.32%

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock (%)(2) 
       
Thomas A. Broughton III  184,452(4)(5)  3.07%
         
Stanley M. Brock  159,250(3)(4)(6)  2.66%
         
Michael D. Fuller  135,002(3)(4)(7)  2.27%
         
James J. Filler  185,252(3)(4)(8)  3.10%
         
J. Richard Cashio  108,902(4)(9)  1.83%
         
Hatton C. V. Smith  53,500(3)(4)(10)  * 
         
William M. Foshee  64,992(11)  1.09%
         
Clarence C. Pouncey III  101,667(12)  1.70%
         
         
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)  993,017(13)  16.11%

*Less than 1%.

(1)The addresses for all above listed individuals is 3300 Cahaba Road, Suite 300, Birmingham, Alabama 35223.

(2)Except as otherwise noted herein, the percentage is determined on the basis of 5,513,482 shares of our common stock outstanding plus securities deemed outstanding pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(1) The addresses for all above listed individuals is 850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35209.

(2) Except as otherwise noted herein, the percentage is determined on the basis of 5,947,182 shares of our common stock outstanding plus securities deemed outstanding pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Under Rule 13d-3, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security owned by certain family members and any security of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days, including, without limitation, shares of our common stock subject to currently exercisable options.


(3)Includes the shares underlying a warrant issued to each director on May 13, 2005 pursuant to which each director may purchase an additional 10,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share which vests in three equal annual installments beginning on May 13, 2006, and thus each director has the right to acquire within 60 days up to the entire 10,000 shares.  Does not include an option granted to each director on December 20, 2007 to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock for $20.00 per share which vests 100% after five years.

(4)Includes 40,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of an option granted on May 19, 2005 to Mr. Broughton to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share which vests 10,000 shares per year beginning May 19, 2006 and each year thereafter with the final 5,000 vesting on May 19, 2013.

(5)Includes 22,000 shares owned by immediate family members. Mr. Brock was issued a warrant to purchase up to 6,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the

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60th days, including, without limitation, shares of our common stock subject to currently exercisable options.

(3) Includes the shares underlying a warrant issued to each director on May 13, 2005 pursuant to which each director may purchase an additional 10,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share which vested in three equal annual installments beginning on May 13, 2006, and thus each director has the right to acquire within 60 days up to the entire 10,000 shares.

(4) Does not include an option granted to each director on December 20, 2007 to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock for $20.00 per share which vests 100% after five years or an option granted to each director on November 28, 2011 to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock for $30.00 per share which vests 100% after five years.

(5) Includes 37,500 shares obtainable within 60 days pursuant to an option granted on May 19, 2005 to Mr. Broughton to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share, which vests 10,000 shares per year beginning May 19, 2006 and each year thereafter, with the final 5,000 vesting on May 19, 2013. Does not include an option granted to Mr. Broughton on January 19, 2011 to purchase 11,000 shares of common stock for $25.00 per share which vests 100% after five years. Does not include 7,816 shares owned by his spouse and 1,100 shares owned by each of his two stepchildren. Mr. Broughton disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

(6) Includes 22,000 shares owned by immediate family members and 24,000 shares obtainable upon conversion of ServisFirst Capital Trust II’s 6.0% Mandatory Convertible Trust Preferred Securities, including 8,000 shares obtainable upon conversion of such securities owned by one of Mr. Brock’s children, as to which Mr. Brock may still be deemed to be the beneficial owner. Mr. Brock was issued a warrant to purchase up to 6,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the 60th day following the date upon which our common stock is listed on a “national securities exchange” as defined under the Exchange Act.

Mr. Brock transferred ownership of such warrant to his children in 2010 but may still be deemed to be the beneficial owner of warrants owned by one of his children covering 3,250 of such shares. Mr. Brock disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares not directly owned by him.


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(6)
Includes 2,500 shares owned by immediate family members.  Mr. Cashio was issued a warrant to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the 60th day following the date upon which our common stock is listed on a “national securities exchange” as defined under the Exchange Act.

(7)
Includes 2,500 shares owned by immediate family members.  Mr. Smith was issued a warrant to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the 60th day following the date upon which our common stock is listed on a “national securities exchange” as defined under the Exchange Act.

(8)Does not include an option granted to Mr. Foshee on May 19, 2005 to purchase up to 20,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share which vest 10,000 shares per year beginning on May 19, 2010 and 10,000 shares on May 19, 2011, an option granted on April 20, 2006 to purchase up to 5,000 shares of common stock for $11.00 per share which vests 100% on April 20, 2011 and an option granted on February 19, 2008 to purchase up to 5,000 shares of common stock for $20.00 per share which vests 100% on February 19, 2013.

(9)Includes 9,000 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of an option granted to Mr. Pouncey on April 20, 2006 to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock for $11.00 per share which vests at 9,000 shares per year beginning on April 20, 2009 and 5,000 shares on April 20, 2014.  Includes 3,000 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Pouncey’s wife through a limited liability company.

(10)Includes 9,000 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of an option granted to Mr. Kattos on April 20, 2006 to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock for $11.00 per share which vests at 9,000 shares per year beginning on April 20, 2009 and 5,000 shares on April 20, 2014.  Includes 7,000 shares owned through a family limited liability company.

(11)Includes 6,666 shares of common stock currently exercisable on an option granted to Mr. Barker on February 1, 2007 to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock for $15.00 per share which vests beginning on February 1, 2009 at 6,666 shares each year thereafter with the final 48,336 shares vesting on February 1, 2013.

(12)Does not include an option granted to Mr. DeVane on September 11, 2008 to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock for $25.00 per share, which vests 4,000 shares per year beginning September 11, 2010 and each year thereafter with the final 34,000 vesting on September 11, 2014.

(7) Does not include 4,000 shares obtainable upon conversion of ServisFirst Capital Trust II’s 6.0% Mandatory Convertible Trust Preferred Securities held by Mr. Fuller’s spouse. Mr. Fuller disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

(8) Includes 24,000 shares obtainable upon conversion of ServisFirst Capital Trust II’s 6.0% Mandatory Convertible Trust Preferred Securities.

(9) Includes 2,946 shares owned by immediate family members and 6,400 shares obtainable by Mr. Cashio or immediate family members upon conversion of ServisFirst Capital Trust II’s 6.0% Mandatory Convertible Trust Preferred Securities. Mr. Cashio was issued a warrant to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the 60th day following the date upon which our common stock is listed on a “national securities exchange” as defined under the Exchange Act.

(10) Includes 16,000 shares obtainable upon conversion of ServisFirst Capital Trust II’s 6.0% Mandatory Convertible Trust Preferred Securities. Mr. Smith was issued a warrant to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock for the purchase price of $25 per share until the later of September 1, 2013 or such date as is the 60th day following the date upon which our common stock is listed on a “national securities exchange” as defined under the Exchange Act.

(11) Includes 20,000 shares obtainable within 60 days pursuant to an option granted to Mr. Foshee on May 19, 2005 to purchase up to 20,000 shares of common stock for $10.00 per share, which vests 50% on May 19, 2010 and 50% on May 19, 2011, and 5,000 shares obtainable within 60 days pursuant to an option granted on April 20, 2006 to purchase up to 5,000 shares of common stock for $11.00 per share which vests 100% on April 20, 2011. Does not include an option granted on February 19, 2008 to purchase up to 5,000 shares of common stock for $20.00 per share, which vests 100% on February 19, 2013, an option granted February 16, 2010 to purchase 5,000 shares at $25.00 per share which vests 1,000 shares on February 16, 2014 and 4,000 shares on February 16, 2015, or an option granted on January 19, 2011 to purchase up to 2,500 shares of common stock for $25.00 per share which vests 100% on January 19, 2016.

(12) Includes 27,000 shares of common stock obtainable within 60 days pursuant to an option granted to Mr. Pouncey on April 20, 2006 to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock for $11.00 per share, which vests at 9,000 shares per year beginning on April 20, 2009 and 5,000 shares on April 20, 2014. Includes 3,000 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Pouncey’s wife through a limited liability company.

(13) Includes 216,150 shares obtainable within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the conversion of outstanding convertible securities.

PROPOSAL 2


RATIFICATION OF KPMG LLP AS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS' DECISION TO ENGAGE  MAULDIN & JENKINS,

LLC AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

FOR THE 2009 FISCAL YEAR


On March 23, 2009, ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012

Subject to the ratification by our stockholders, our board of directors appointed Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCintends to engage KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.


2012.

The submission of this matter for approvalratification by stockholders is not legally required; however, our board of directors believes that such submission is consistent with best practices in corporate governance and is an opportunity for stockholders to provide direct feedback to the directors on an important issueissues of corporate governance. A majority of the total votes cast at the annual meeting,Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, will be required for the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm. If our stockholders do not ratify the selection of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP, the appointment of the independent registered public accountingaccount firm will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the board of directors.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”"FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF MAULDIN & JENKINS, LLCKPMG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORSREGISTERED PUBLIC AQCCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE 2009 FISCAL YEAR.YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012.

23

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


There have been no disagreements with our independent registered public accounting firm and no changes in the past two fiscal years.

Our consolidated balance sheetssheet as of December 31, 2008 and 20072011, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, (loss), stockholders'stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years thenyear ended 2008, 2007 and


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2006,December 31, 2011 have been audited by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC,KPMG LLP, our independent auditor,registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing hereinin our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. KPMG LLP was initially engaged as our independent registered public accounting firm on May 20, 2011. Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be in attendance at our Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and has been so included.are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

On May 20, 2011, the Audit Committee determined not to reengage Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC ("Mauldin & Jenkins") as the principal independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements. Mauldin & Jenkins's reports on the Company's financial statements for the past two years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that Mauldin & Jenkins's report dated March 8, 2010, that was engagedincluded in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, expressed an opinion that the Company and its subsidiaries had not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim periods preceding Mauldin & Jenkins' dismissal, there have been no disagreements with Mauldin & Jenkins on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Mauldin & Jenkins, would have caused Mauldin & Jenkins to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Company's financial statements. Mauldin & Jenkins's report dated March 8, 2011, that was included in our independent auditorAnnual Report on July 11, 2006.


Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. The Company has provided Mauldin & Jenkins with a copy of the disclosures made in this paragraph and requested that Mauldin & Jenkins furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not Mauldin & Jenkins agreed with such disclosures. Mauldin & Jenkins has provided such a letter to the Company, and a copy of such letter is included as Exhibit 16 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011.

Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy


The Audit Committee’s Chartercharter provides that the Audit Committee must pre-approve services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with that requirement, the Audit Committee pre-approved the engagementsengagement of KPMG LLP pursuant to which it provided the audit and audit-related services described below for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and pre-approved the engagement of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC pursuant to which it provided the audit and audit-related services described below for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20082010. One hundred percent of the fees set forth below were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and 2007.

Audit Fees

for the reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for such fiscal year were approximately $148,000 . The aggregate fees billed by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC for professional services rendered for the audit of our annualconsolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, for the audit of our financial statements included on our registration statement on Form 102010, and for the reviewsreview of the interim consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for such fiscal year were approximately $122,000. $157,000.

Audit-Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statementsassurance and related services for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20072011 were approximately $75,000.


Audit-Related Fees

$0. The aggregate fees billed by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC for professional services rendered for assurance and related services for the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2008 and 20072010 were $5,000 and $3,500, respectively.$10,000. These fees related to services performed by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC in connection with providing its consent to include, or incorporate by reference, our annualconsolidated financial statements in filings with the SEC, including registration statements and proxy statements.statements, its services provided on private placements of securities and its services in connection with an audit of the Bank’s mortgage operations by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Tax Fees


KPMG LLP did not provide tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC did not provide tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

All Other Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Crowe Horwath,KPMG LLP for professionalother products and services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planningprovided for the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 20082011 were $0. The aggregate fees billed by Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC for other products and 2007services for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $20,000 and $19,000, respectively. Tax services included federal and state tax reviews and consulting services.


$0.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE


The Audit Committee of the board of directors of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary, ServisFirst Bank, with management of the Company and Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC,KPMG LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008.2011. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.


principles.

The Audit Committee has discussed with Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communication with Audit Committees,” as amended. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and confirming letter from Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” and has discussed with Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP their independence from the Company.


Based on these reviews and discussions with management of the Company and Mauldin & Jenkins, LLCKPMG LLP referred to above, the Audit Committee has recommended to our board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20082011 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.


2011.

This Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any document previously or subsequently filed with the SEC that incorporates by reference all or any portion of this Proxy Statement.



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Submitted by the Audit Committee:

Michael J. Fuller, Chairman
J. Richard Cashio
Stanley M. Brock

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A

Michael D. Fuller, Chairman

J. Richard Cashio

Stanley M. Brock

PROPOSAL 3

ADVISORY VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF MAULDIN & JENKINS, LLC AS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE 2009 FISCAL YEAR.


PROPOSAL 3

APPROVAL OF THE SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.  2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

On March 23, 2009 our boardON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of directors adopted2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) included a provision that requires publicly traded companies to hold an advisory, or non-binding, stockholder vote to approve or disapprove the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2009 Stock Incentive Plan").compensation of executive officers. Consistent with that requirement, we are conducting an advisory vote on the compensation of the executive officers named in this proxy statement. The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan shall be effective upon its approvalcompensation of our stockholders. The followingexecutive officers is a summary of certain principal features of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, and is qualifieddisclosed in its entirety by the full text of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement under the headings “Executive Compensation” and incorporated herein by this reference.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADOPTION OF THE SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.

General
The general purpose“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above in accordance with rules and regulations of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan is to attract and retain valued employees, officers and directors by offering them a greater stake in the success of us or the Bank, and to encourage ownership of our stock by those employees, officers and directors of us or the Bank. SEC.

We believe that the most effective executive compensation program is one that is designed to reward the achievement of our of the Bank's specific annual, long-term and strategic goals by us and the Bank, and which aligns employees, officers and Directors’executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by rewarding performance, with the ultimate objective of improving stockholder value. As a stockholder, you have the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive compensation program and policies through an advisory vote, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” vote, on the following resolution:

25

Summary

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed herein pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan


        The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan will authorizeCompensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.

This vote is intended to address the grant of Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs"), Restricted Stock, Options, Non-stock share equivalents, performance shares or performance units and other equity-based awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively referred to as "Award(s)"). Options granted under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan may be either "incentive stock options" as defined in Section  422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), or nonqualified stock options, as determined by our Compensation Committee. Sharesoverall compensation of our commons stock that may be awarded undernamed executive officers and the plan may consist,policies and practices described in whole or in part, of authorizedthis Proxy Statement. This vote is advisory and unissued shares or treasury shares.


        Subject to an adjustment necessary upon a stock dividend, recapitalization, forward split or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase or share exchange, extraordinary or unusual cash distribution or other similar corporate transaction or event,therefore not binding on the maximum number of shares of common stock available for Awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan shall be 425,000.

        If any Award is forfeited, or if any option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, shares of common stock subject to such Award will again be available for future grant. If there is any change in our corporate capitalization,Company, the Compensation Committee, shall proportionatelyor the Board. The Board and equitably adjust the number and kind of shares of common stock which may be issued in connection with future Awards, the number and kind of shares of common stock covered by Awards then outstanding under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the number and kind of shares of common stock available under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the exercise or grant price of any Award, or if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment with respect to any outstanding Award, provided that no adjustment may be made that would adversely affect the status of any Award that is intended to be a performance-based Award under Section 162(m) of the Code, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Compensation Committee may make adjustments invalue the termsopinions of shareholders and conditions of any Awards, including any performance goals, in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting us orwill take into account the Bank, or in response to

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changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, provided that no adjustment may be made that would adversely affect the status of any Award that is intended to be a performance-based Award under Section 162(m)outcome of the Code, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee.

Administration

The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides that it shall be administered by our board of directors or a committee of the board of directors designated by it. The board of directors has designated its Compensation Committee to administer, and to make grants of Awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. References to the Compensation Committee shall refer to our board of directors if the Compensation Committee ceases to exist and the board of directors does not appoint a successor committee.  The Compensation Committee may also delegate all or a portion of its responsibility to one or more of its members, one or more of the officers of the Company, or to a secondary committee made up of one or more board members, however, only the Compensation Committee may grant Awards to participants subject to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code.  Subject to the terms of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee is authorized to select persons eligible to receive Awards and to determine the form, amount, timing and other terms of the Awards to be granted. The Compensation Committee is authorized to interpret and construe the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, to prescribe such rules and procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, to interpret and  amend any of such rules or procedures and to make all other decisions and determinations required pursuant to the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan or any Awards or as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. With respect to any or all Awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee may accelerate the Award, meaning that the Compensation Committee may determine that outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully exercisable, all restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse and applicable performance objectives shall be deemed satisfied. In exercising its discretion to accelerate Awards under the plan, the Compensation Committee may distinguish among recipients and among Awards.

Eligibility

        All employees, officers, consultants and directors are eligible to participate in the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. However, only employees, officers, consultants and directors who are selected by the Compensation Committee will receive Awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. Each Award granted under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan will be evidenced by a written Award agreement between the participant and us describing the Award and the terms and conditions to which the Award is subject.

Types of Awards Under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan

Options.     An option is a right to purchase shares of common stock for a specified period of time at a fixed price (the "Exercise Price"). An option may be either an "incentive stock option," satisfying the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or a nonqualified stock option, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Incentive stock options may not be granted to non-employee directors.  Each option agreement will specify the number of shares which may be purchased pursuant to the option, the Exercise Price, the term of the option, the date or dates on which the option will become exercisable and the terms and conditions under which the option may be exercised.

No options may be granted under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan after the date of the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan’s approval, expected to be May 28, 2019. The option price per share of non-qualified stock options shall not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. Options may be exercised by payment in cash, or in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, by delivery of shares having a market value equal to the option price, or in any combination of cash and shares. An option may be exercised only subject to such terms as the Compensation Committee may impose at the time the option is granted. In general, an option must terminate not later than ten years after the date of the grant.

Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs).     SARs may be granted under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan in connection with all or any part of non-qualified stock options, or independent of stock options. SARs permit the recipient to receive from us an amount determinable in relation to any increase in fair market value of our common stock. The amount awardable upon exercise of a SAR for each share covered by the exercise is equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to establish the terms of a SAR award at the time of grant, including the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of the Award. Any

28


SAR Award and the terms and conditions thereof must be evidenced by an award agreement between us and the recipient. The aggregate amount due on exercise of a SAR may be paid wholly or partly in cash or in common stock, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

Restricted Stock.     An Award of restricted stock under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan consists generally of a grant or sale of our common stock to the recipient subject to conditions determined by the Compensation Committee. The terms determinable by the Compensation Committee in each Award of restricted stock include the number of shares, the price, if any, to be paid by the recipient, the time within which the Award may be subject to forfeiture, the nature of the restrictions, including performance criteria if any, and the circumstances upon which restrictions will lapse. A recipient of restricted stock may not sell or transfer such shares during the restriction period, and the certificates representing such shares remain in the custody of the Company until the conditions of restriction are satisfied. Upon lapse or removal of the restrictions, the recipient will have unrestricted ownership of the covered shares.

Performance-Based Awards.  The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan also provides for the grant of Awards in the form of performance shares and performance units. Performance-based Awards are certain Awards that are based on the attainment of specified performance goals. A performance-based Award will vest and become payable to and/or exercisable by the participant upon achievement during a specified performance period of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. If the specific performance objectives are exceeded, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may award a multiple of the Award, and if the performance objectives are satisfied in part, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may grant the recipient a portion of the Award. Performance goals may be established on a Company-wide basis, or with respect to the Bank or any business unit of ours.

        In the case of performance-based Awards which are intended to satisfy Section 162(m) of the Code and which are granted to participants who are "covered employees" under Section 162(m) of the Code, the applicable performance goals are limited to one or more of the following:  (i) interest income or interest income growth, (ii) net interest income or net interest income growth, (iii) net interest margin or net interest margin improvements, (iv) non-interest income or non-interest income growth, (v) reductions in non-interest expense or improvement in the Company’s efficiency ratio, (vi) reductions in non-accrual loans or other problem assets, (vii) earnings before income taxes, (viii) net income, (ix) per share earnings, (x) increases in core deposits, either in absolute dollars or as a percentage or total deposits, or both, (xi) return on average equity, (xii) total stockholder return, (xiii) share price performance, (xiii) return on average assets or on various categories of assets, (xiv) comparisons of selected Company performance metrics, including any of the metrics set forth in the preceding clauses, to the comparable metrics of a selected peer group of banking institutions or a stock index, as applicable, (xv) customer satisfaction, (xvi) individualized business or performance objectives established for the participant, or (xvii) any combination of the foregoing.

Dividend Equivalents.  The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for the grant of full value stock Awards in the form of dividend equivalents. Generally, a dividend equivalent entitles the recipient to receive an amount equivalent to the cash dividends declared on our common stock over a specified period. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to set the terms and conditions of a dividend equivalent Award at the time of grant, including the number of shares referable to the Award, the time period, the form of consideration in which an Award is to be settled, and the method of settlement.

Reorganization

The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for appropriate adjustment, as determined by the Compensation Committee, in the number of shares reserved under the plan and in the number and kind of shares subject to unexercised options in the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock by reason of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of shares, recapitalization, merger or similar event.  In the event of specified corporate reorganizations, the Compensation Committee, may, within the terms of the plan and the applicable agreement, substitute, cancel, accelerate, cancel for cash or otherwise adjust the terms of an Award.

Effective Date, Amendments, and Termination

        The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan will be effective as of the date of approval by our shareholders. Our board of directors has the authority to amend, terminate or suspend the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.  Our board of Directors will not be required to obtain stockholder approval to amend, suspend or terminate the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.  However, no such action may be taken without stockholder approval which would materially increase the total number of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents which may be issued under the 2009 Stock

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Incentive Plan, relax the performance objectives for performance based awards, or materially increase the benefits of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan within the meaning of NASDAQ listing standards. Also, no action may be taken without a recipient’s consent which would reduce or impair any vested rights or obligations under any then outstanding award under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

New Plan Benefits

        There have been no grants made under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. Employees and directors who will participate in the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan in thevote when considering future and the amounts of their Awards, will be determined by the Compensation Committee subject to the restrictions outlined above. The amount of shares subject to these Awards has not yet been determined. As no additional determinations have yet been made, it is not possible to state the terms of any individual Awards that may be issued under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan or the names or positions of, or respective amounts payable or allocable to any participants in the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, other than as provided in this summary.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE CODE, AND THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT THERETO. THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION INCLUDE CURRENT TAX LAW ONLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY PROPOSALS TO REVISE CURRENT TAX LAW.

        Incentive Stock Options.     In general, neither the grant nor the exercise of an incentive stock option results in taxable income to an option holder or a deduction to us. If the option holder holds the stock received upon exercise for at least two years from date of grant and one year after the date of exercise, then the gain realized on disposition of the stock is treated as a long-term capital gain, and we will not be entitled to a deduction. If, however, the shares are disposed of prior to the completion of this period (a "disqualifying disposition"), then the option holder will include asexecutive compensation income for the year of the disposition, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares upon exercise over the exercise price of the option, or if less, the excess of the amount realized upon disposition over the exercise price. We will be entitled to a corresponding deduction at that time. Any proceeds in excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise will be treated as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending upon whether the shares have been held for more than one year. If the sales price is less than the exercise price of the option, this amount will be treated as a short-term or long-term capital loss, depending on whether the shares have been held for more than one year.

        Non-Qualified Stock Options.     A non-qualified stock option results in no taxable income to the option holder or deduction to us at the time it is granted. An option holder will recognize compensation income at the time a non-qualified stock option is exercised in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares on the exercise date over the exercise price. We will generally be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes in the same amount as the amount included in compensation income by the option holder. Gain or loss on a subsequent sale or other disposition of the shares acquired upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option will be measured by the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the tax basis of such shares, and will be short-term or long-term capital gain depending on whether the shares have been held for more than one year. The tax basis of the shares acquired upon the exercise of any non-qualified stock option will be equal to the sum of the exercise price and the amount included in income with respect to such option.

Stock Appreciation Rights.     A recipient realizes no taxable income when an SAR is granted. Upon exercising an SAR, a recipient will realize ordinary income in an amount equal to the cash or value of the shares received. Generally, there will be no federal income tax deduction allowed to us upon the grant or termination of SARs. However, upon exercise of a SAR, we will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the recipient is required to recognize as a result of the exercise.

Restricted Stock.     Restricted stock received pursuant to Awards will be considered subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for federal income tax purposes. If a holder of restricted stock does not make the election described below, the holder realizes no taxable income upon the receipt of restricted stock and we are not entitled to a deduction at such time. When the forfeiture restrictions applicable to the restricted stock lapse, the holder will realize compensation income equal to the fair market value of the shares at that time, less any amount paid for the shares, and we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. A holder's tax basis in restricted stock will be equal to

30


the fair market value when the forfeiture restrictions lapse, and the holding period for such shares will begin at that time. Upon a subsequent sale of the shares, the holder will realize short-term or long-term gain or loss, depending on whether the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of sale. Such gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale of the shares and the holder's tax basis in the shares.

        Individuals receiving shares of restricted stock may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to the shares. By making a Section 83(b) election, the restricted stock holder elects to realize compensation income with respect to the shares when the restricted stock is granted rather than at the time the forfeiture restrictions lapse. The amount of such compensation income will be equal to the fair market value of the shares when the holder receives them (valued without taking the restrictions into account), less any amount paid for the shares, and we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction at that time. By making a Section 83(b) election, the holder will realize no additional compensation income with respect to the shares when the forfeiture restrictions lapse, and will instead recognize gain or loss with respect to the shares when they are sold. The holder's tax basis in the shares with respect to which a Section 83(b) election is made will be equal to their fair market value when received by the holder, and the holding period for such shares begins at that time. If, however, the shares are subsequently forfeited, the holder will not be entitled to claim a loss with respect to the shares to the extent of the income realized by the holder upon the making of the Section 83(b) election. To make a Section 83(b) election, a holder must file an appropriate form of election with the Internal Revenue Service and with us, each within 30 days after shares of restricted stock are received, and the holder must also attach a copy of his or her election to his or her federal income tax return for the year in which the shares are received.

        In general, during the restriction period, dividends and distributions paid with respect to restricted stock will be treated as compensation income (not dividend income) received by the holder. Dividend payments received with respect to shares of restricted stock for which a Section 83(b) election has been made generally will be treated as dividend income.

Withholding.     We are entitled to deduct from the payment of any Award all applicable income and employment taxes required by federal state or local law to be withheld, or to take such other action as the Compensation Committee may deem advisable to enable us or the Bank and participants to satisfy tax obligations relating to any Award.

Section 162(m) Limitations.     Section 162(m) of the Code limits the deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers, unless the compensation is "performance-based compensation" and meets certain other requirements outlined in Code Section 162(m) and related regulations. Under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee may in its discretion grant Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation.

arrangements.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

PROPOSAL 4

AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE

THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

On February 21, 2012, our board of directors approved an amendment to Article IV, Section 4.1 of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock of the Company from 15 million to 50 million. The approval by the board is subject to the approval of such amendment by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. A copy of the proposed amendment is attached to this Proxy Statement as Annex A.

Increase in Number of Shares of Authorized Common Stock

The board of directors recommends that the stockholders approve the proposed amendment because it considers such amendment to be in the best long-term and short-term interests of the Company, its stockholders and its other constituencies. The proposed increase in the number of shares of authorized common stock will ensure that a sufficient number of shares will be available, if needed, for issuance in connection with any possible future transactions approved by the board of directors, including, among others, stock splits, stock dividends, stock incentive plans, acquisitions and other corporate purposes. The board of directors believes that the availability of the additional shares for such purposes without delay or the necessity for a special stockholders' meeting (except as may be required by applicable law or regulatory authorities) will be beneficial to the Company by providing it with the flexibility to consider and respond to future business opportunities and needs as they arise. The availability of such additional shares will also enable us to act promptly when the board of directors determines that the issuance of additional shares of common stock is advisable. It is possible that shares of common stock may be issued at a time and under circumstances that may increase or decrease earnings per share and increase or decrease the book value per share of shares currently outstanding.

We do not have any immediate plans, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of any additional shares of our common stock that would be authorized upon approval of the proposed amendment. However, as described below, we have a relatively small number of authorized but unissued shares that are not already reserved for issuance, and if the proposed amendment is not approved, our flexibility to pursue potential future transactions or compensation arrangements involving our stock will be limited.

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we currently have authority to issue 15 million shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of which 5,947,182 shares were issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2012. In addition, as of such date, approximately (a) 401,200 shares were reserved for issuance under our incentive compensation plans, under which options to purchase a total of 1,018,800 shares were outstanding, (b) 55,000 shares of common stock subject to other outstanding options, (c) approximately 40,000 shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding warrants, (d) approximately 75,000 shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to our convertible trust preferred securities and (e) 15,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of an outstanding convertible subordinated note. After giving effect to such reserved shares, approximately 7,417,818 shares were available for issuance on such date.

There are no preemptive rights with respect to our common stock.

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Recommendation of the Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.  2009 AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.


FROM 15 MILLION TO 50 MILLION.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS


Under Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, any stockholder desiring to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 20102013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must provide the Company with a written copy of that proposal by no later than November 19, 2012, which is 120 days before the first anniversary of the date on which the Company’s proxy materials for 20092012 were first released or December 11, 2009.released. However, if the date of our annual meetingAnnual Meeting in 20102013 changes by more than 30 days from the date of our 2009 annual meeting,2012 Annual Meeting, then the deadline would be a reasonable time before we begin distributing our proxy materials for our 2010 annual meeting.2013 Annual Meeting. Matters pertaining to such proposals, including the number and length thereof, eligibility of persons entitled to have such proposals included and other aspects are governed by the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder and other laws and regulations, to which interested shareholdersstockholders should refer.



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GENERAL INFORAMTION


INFORMATION

As of the date of this proxy statement,Proxy Statement, the board of directors does not know of any other business to be presented for consideration or action at the Annual Meeting, other than that stated in the notice of the Annual Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in their best judgment.


 

By Order of the Board of Directors

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.
  
 /s/

William M. Foshee

William M. Foshee

Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

Birmingham, Alabama
March 19, 2012

27

Birmingham, Alabama
April 10, 2009

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APPENDIX

ANNEX A


PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.1 OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


1.           Establishment, Purpose and Duration of the Plan.

(a)           Establishment and Purpose.  ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the “ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”), as set forth herein.  The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, “Subsidiaries”) by encouraging selected employees, directors, consultants, agents, independent contractors and other persons who contribute or are expected to contribute materially to the Company's success (collectively, “Participants”) to obtain a proprietary interest in the Company through the ownership of stock or receipt of performance-based incentives, thereby providing such persons with added incentives to promote the best interests of the Company and affording the Company a means of attracting to its service persons of outstanding ability.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, no Award (as defined in Section 2 below) may be made to any Participant if such Award would cause this Plan to cease to be an “employee benefit plan”, as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, and any such Award shall be void and of no effect.

(b)           Effective Date and Duration.  The Plan shall be effective on March 26, 2009, the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Effective Date”), and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to the provisions hereof, until all shares of Common Stock of the Company subject to the Plan have been purchased or acquired pursuant to the provisions hereof; provided, however, that in no event may an Award of an Incentive Option (as such terms are defined in Sections 2 and 5(a) hereof, respectively) be granted under the Plan after March 25, 2019, although an Incentive Option granted prior thereto may extend beyond such date.

2.           Stock Subject to the Plan.  An aggregate of 425,000  shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), shall be reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options (as defined in Section 5 hereof) or SARs (as defined in Section 6(a) hereof) or as Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 6(b) hereof) or Performance Shares (as defined in Section 6(c) hereof) (such Options, SARS, Restricted Stock and Performance Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Awards”).  Such shares of Common Stock may be, in whole or in part, authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have been reacquired by the Company.  If, for any reason, an Option or SAR shall lapse, expire or terminate without having been exercised in full, or if Restricted Stock or Performance Shares are forfeited, the unused shares of Common Stock covered by such Option, Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, or the number of shares of Common Stock upon which the SAR is based, shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.

3.           Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.  If at any time after the date of grant of an Award, the Company shall by stock dividend, split-up, combination, reclassification or exchange, or through merger, consolidation or otherwise, change its shares of Common Stock into a different number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property, then the number of shares available for grant under the Plan or subject to outstanding Awards and, with respect to an Award, the price thereof, as applicable, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Compensation Committee (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof), in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however,AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012

RESOLVED, that, the numberfirst paragraph of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.


4.           Administration.

(a)           Administration by Compensation Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (“Compensation Committee”).  The Compensation Committee shall be composed of at least two Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor rule thereto.

(b)           Powers of Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee shall administer the Plan and, subject to the provisions of the Plan andArticle IV, Section 4.1 of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company,Corporation shall be amended to read as follows:

Section 4.1Authorization of Capital. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have sole authority in its discretion to determine the types of Awards to be granted, the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awardsissue shall be granted,Fifty-One Million (51,000,000) shares, comprising Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares of Common Stock, with a par value of $.001 per share, and the terms, conditions, and provisionsOne Million (1,000,000) shares of and restrictions relating to, each Award, including, without limitation, vesting provisions, and applicable performance criteria. In


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making such determinations, the Compensation Committee may take into account the naturePreferred Stock, with a par value of the services rendered by such Participants, their present and potential contributions to the Company's success and such other factors$.001 per share, as the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may deem relevant.  The Compensation Committee shall also have the authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating thereto, to establish procedures deemed appropriate for the administration thereof, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective agreements, which evidence the Awards that are granted (collectively, “Award Agreements”), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, all of which determinations shall be conclusive and not subject to review.  All determinations and decisions made by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Participants, and their respective estates and beneficiaries.

(c)           Definition of “Change in Control.”   For purposes of the Plan, a “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events: (i) the acquisition at any time by a “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power in the election of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years or less, the individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted a majority of the Board of Directors cease, for any reason other than death, disability or retirement,may decide to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors, unless the election of or nomination for election of each new director during such period was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) approval by the stockholders of the Company of any sale or disposition of substantially all of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of any merger, consolidation, or statutory share exchangeissue pursuant to Section 4.3, which the Company is a party and as a result of which the persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the merger, consolidation or share exchange shall have beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting power in the election of directors of the surviving corporation; provided, however, that no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, prior to such time as a Change in Control would otherwise be deemed to have occurred in accordance with the foregoing, the Board of Directors, by vote of at least 75% of the entire membership of the Board of Directors, determines that the event otherwise qualifying as a Change in Control shall not be treated as a Change in Control hereunder.  Each determination concerning whether an event constitutes a Change in Control under an Award Agreement shall be made in a consistent manner as to the particular event with respect to all Award Agreements of all Participants in effect at the time of the event.

5.           Options.

(a)           General.   The Company may grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock (“Options”) subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  The  Compensation Committee shall determine whether all or any portion of such Options shall be incentive stock options (“Incentive Options”) qualifying under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or stock options which do not so qualify (“Nonqualified Options”).  Both Incentive Options and Nonqualified Options may be granted to the same person at the same time; provided, however, that each type of Option must be clearly designated, and any Option not expressly designed as an Incentive Option shall be conclusively deemed to be a Nonqualified Option.  Incentive Options shall have a term of not more than ten years.

(b)           Exercise of Options.  The exercise of an Option shall be contingent upon the Company’s receipt from the holder thereof of a written representation that at the time of such exercise it is the optionee's then present intention to acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof (unless a registration statement covering such shares of Common Stock shall have been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission), and an Option may not be exercised for fewer than ten shares at any one time (or the remaining shares then purchasable if less than ten) and may not be exercised for fractional shares of Common Stock.  No shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon exercise of an Option until full payment therefor has been made and any withholding obligations of the Company have been satisfied.  The proceeds received by the Company upon exercise of an Option shall be added to the Company's workingtotal authorized capital and be available for general corporate purposes.

(c)           No Rights as a Stockholder.  The holder of an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Option until a certificate for such shares shall have been issued to the holder upon due exercise of the Option.

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(d)            Incentive Options.  Incentive Options may be granted only to employees (including officers) of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that Incentive Options may not be granted to any person who, at the time the Incentive Option is granted, owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary (a “10% Owner”), unless at the time the Incentive Option is granted, its exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7 hereof) of the Common Stock and such Incentive Option by its terms is not exercisable subsequent to five years from the date of grant.  A director or other person who is not an employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary is not eligible to receive Incentive Options under the Plan.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date the Award is granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000.  The exercise price of an Incentive Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant or 110% of Fair Market Value in the case of Incentive Options granted to a ten percent Owner.

(e)           Nonqualified OptionsFifty-One Thousand Dollars ($51,000.00).  Options may be granted to any Company employees (including employees who have been granted Incentive Options), directors, consultants, agents, independent contractors and other persons whom the Compensation Committee determines will contribute to the Company's success.

(f)           Substitute Options.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event that the Company or a Subsidiary consummates a transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code (e.g., the acquisition of property or stock from an unrelated corporation), persons who become employees of the Company or any Subsidiary on account of such transaction may be granted Options in substitution for the options granted by such former employer.  If such substitute Options are granted, the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, consistent with section 424(a) of the Code, shall determine the exercise price of such substitute Options.

6.           Other Awards.

(a)           SARs.  The Company may grant stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  An SAR shall constitute the right of the Participant to receive an amount equal to the appreciation, if any, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock from the date of grant of such right to the date of payment.  Upon exercise of the SAR, the Company shall pay such amount in cash or shares of Common Stock of equivalent value or in some combination thereof (as determined by the Compensation Committee) as soon as practicable after the date on which such election is made in accordance with the Award Agreement evidencing the SAR.

(b)           Restricted Stock.  The Company may grant shares of restricted Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) under the Plan, subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  Restricted Stock shall be subject to forfeiture provisions and such other restrictive terms and conditions as may be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement pursuant to which such Restricted Stock is issued, and shall not be transferable until all such restrictions and conditions (other than securities law restrictions) have been satisfied.  Restricted Stock shall be issued and delivered at the time of grant or at such other time as is determined by the Compensation Committee.  Certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall bear a restrictive legend referencing the risk of forfeiture and the non-transferability of such shares.  The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, require the automatic deferral of dividends or reinvestment of dividends for the purchase of additional shares of Restricted Stock.  During the period of restriction as set forth in the Award Agreement, the Participant owning shares of Restricted Stock may exercise full voting rights with respect to such shares.

(c)            Performance Shares.  The Company may grant the right to receive shares of Common Stock subject to the attainment of performance objectives determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (“Performance Shares”), subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  The performance goals to be met over a specified period (the “Performance Period”), the amount of payment to be made if the performance goals or other conditions are met and additional terms and conditions of the issuance of Performance Shares shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.  The value of a Performance Share at the time of an Award shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock at such time.  An Award of Performance Shares shall be expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock.  After the completion of a Performance Period, the performance of the Company, subsidiary, division or individual, as the case may be, shall be measured against the performance goals or other conditions, and the Compensation Committee shall determine whether all, none or a portion of an Award shall be paid.  The Compensation Committee shall pay any earned Performance Shares as soon as practicable after they are earned in

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the form of cash, Common Stock of equivalent value or in some combination thereof (as determined by the Compensation Committee) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares as of the date they are earned.  Any Common Stock used to pay earned Performance Shares may be issued subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee.  In addition, the Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may cancel any earned Performance Shares and grant Options to the Participant which the Compensation Committee determines to be of equivalent value based on a conversion formula stated in the applicable Award Agreement.  The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may also grant dividend equivalent rights with respect to earned but unpaid Performance Shares as evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement.  Performance Shares shall have no voting rights.

7.           Fair Market Value.

(a)           Periods During Which Common Stock is Publicly Traded.  For purposes of the Plan, the “Fair Market Value” as of any date means (i) with respect to an Award of an Incentive Option and an Award which is intended to qualify under the “performance-based exception” set forth in section 162(m) of the Code, the average of the high and low sales price of a share of Common Stock on such date as reported by any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is actively traded or, if no Common Stock is traded on such exchange on such date, then on the next preceding date on which any Common Stock was traded on such exchange; and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the closing sales price of a share of Common Stock on such date as reported by any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is actively traded or, if no Common Stock is traded on such exchange on such date, then on the next preceding date on which any Common Stock was traded on such exchange.

(b)           Periods During Which Common Stock is Not Publicly Traded.  Notwithstanding subsection (a) above with respect to any date on which the Common Stock (or Common Stock convertible therefrom) is not listed or traded as set forth in subsection (a), above, “Fair Market Value” for a share of Common Stock as of any date of reference hereunder (the “Determination Date”) shall be the value per share of Common Stock as determined by the most recent appraisal conducted by a professional independent appraiser engaged by the Company for the purpose of determining Fair Market Value under the Plan, which appraisal is as of a date within 12 months prior to the Determination Date or, if no such appraisal has been made during such prior 12-month period, the highest of (i) the book value of the Common Stock as of the last day of the Company's fiscal year next preceding the Determination Date, (ii) the average price per share of the Common Stock paid by all persons (other than Participants) during the 12 months prior to the Determination Date in arms-length transactions with the Company, and (iii) the fair market value per share of the Common Stock as determined by the Compensation Committee as of the Determination Date.  Notwithstanding the preceding, in the case of the occurrence of a Change in Control involving the Company, for the period beginning with the Change in Control and extending until the one-year period following the Change in Control, Fair Market Value shall equal (x) in the case of a Change in Control involving the sale of Common Stock to an entity, person or group, the average price per share of Stock paid by the entity, person or group for the shares of Common Stock purchased by such entity, person or group in the 12-month period ending on the Change in Control date or, (y) in the case of a Change in Control involving the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the amount per share of Common Stock which each holder of record of Common Stock immediately following such sale would receive as a liquidation distribution.

(c)           Material Changes Affecting Fair Market Value.  Notwithstanding subsection (b) above, if, as of any Determination Date, subsection (a) above is inapplicable and, because of material events occurring prior to the Determination Date but subsequent to an event to be used to assess Fair Market Value under subsection (b) above, the Compensation Committee believes in its sole and absolute discretion that a business development or other event has occurred indicating that the amount otherwise determined under subsection (b) above does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the Determination Date, the Compensation Committee shall have the right in its sole and absolute discretion, but not the obligation, to obtain an independent appraisal of the Common Stock as of the Determination Date, and such independent appraisal shall be conclusive to determine Fair Market Value as of the Determination Date.  Pending any such determination by an independent appraiser, any payments due hereunder that require Fair Market Value assessment shall be delayed until the appraisal is complete.

8.           Payment and Withholding.

(a)           Payment.  Upon the exercise of an Option or Award that requires payment by a Participant to the Company, the amount due to the Company shall be paid in cash or by check payable to the order of the Company for the full purchase price of the shares of Common Stock for which such election is made.  Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee before the Option is exercised all or a part of the exercise price may be

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paid by the Participant by delivery of shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned by the Participant and acceptable to the Compensation Committee having an aggregate Fair Market Value (valued at the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of cash that would otherwise be required.

(b)           Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Awards paid any federal, state, local or employment taxes that the Company deems are required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.  Whenever shares of Common Stock are to be issued in satisfaction of the exercise of an Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant (or legal representative, as applicable) to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements or make other arrangements therefore prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares.  At the election of the Participant, and subject to such rules and limitations as may be established by the Compensation Committee from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied through the surrender of shares of the Company’s Common Stock which the Participant already owns, or to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan.

9.           Non-Transferability of Awards.  Except by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in an Award Agreement, no benefit provided under this Plan shall be subject to alienation, assignment or transfer by the Participant (or by any person entitled to such benefit pursuant to the terms of this Plan), nor shall it be subject to attachment or other legal process of whatever nature, and any attempted alienation, assignment, attachment or transfer shall be void and of no effect whatsoever and, upon any such attempt, the benefit shall expire and lapse.  Each Participant may, from time to time, designate any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of the Participant’s death before the participant receives any or all of such benefit.  Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.  In the absence of such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.  Shares of Common Stock shall be delivered only to the Participant entitled to receive the same or to the Participant's authorized legal representative.  Deposit of any sum in any financial institution to the credit of any Participant (or of any person entitled to such sum pursuant to the terms of this Plan) shall constitute payment to that Participant (or such person).

10.           Termination of Employment; Acceleration of Vesting

(a)           Options.  Upon termination of employment for any reason other than death, Disability (as defined below in this subsection 10(a)), Retirement or a Change in Control, any Option held by the Participant shall expire on the earlier of (i) the last day of the term of the Option or (ii) the date which is 90 days after the date of termination of such employment.  Upon termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, the Option held by such Participant shall expire on the earlier of (w) the last day of the term of the Option or (x) the date which is one year after the date of termination of such employment.  Upon termination of employment by reason of a Change in Control, the Option held by such Participant shall expire on its original expiration date.  The term “Disability” with respect to a Participant means physical or mental inability to perform the normal duties of his employment or engagement as determined by the Compensation Committee, after examination of the Participant by a physician, selected by the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that if such Participant fails or refuses to cooperate in such examination, the determination of his Disability shall be made by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.  The term “Retirement” with respect to a Participant means the Participant’s termination of employment in a manner which qualifies the Participant to receive immediately payable retirement benefits under any retirement plan adopted or hereafter adopted by the Company, or which in the absence of any such retirement plan is determined by the Compensation Committee to constitute retirement.

An installment of a Participant’s Option shall not become exercisable on the otherwise applicable vesting date of such Award if the Participant’s date of termination occurs on or before such vesting date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, an Option shall become fully and immediately exercisable upon (y) the death or Disability of the Participant or (z) or the occurrence of a Change of Control.

(b)           SARs.  Upon termination of employment for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement or a Change in Control, an SAR held by the Participant shall expire on the earlier of (i) the last day of the term of the Option or (ii) the date which is three months after the date of termination of such employment.  Upon termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, the SAR held by such Participant shall expire on the earlier of (w) the last day of the term of the SAR or (x) the date which is one year after the date of termination of such employment.  Upon termination of employment by reason of a Change in Control, the SAR held by such Participant shall expire on its original expiration date.

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An installment of an SAR shall not become exercisable on the otherwise applicable vesting date if the Participant’s date of termination occurs before such vesting date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, an SAR shall become fully and immediately exercisable upon (y) the death or Disability of the Participant or (z) the occurrence of a Change in Control.

(c)           Restricted Stock.  If the Participant’s date of termination  of employment does not occur during the restricted period set forth in the Award Agreement (the “Restricted Period”), then, at the end of the Restricted Period, the Participant shall become vested in the shares of Restricted Stock, and shall own the shares free of all restrictions otherwise imposed.  The Participant shall become vested in the shares of Restricted Stock, and become owner of the shares free of all restrictions otherwise imposed by this Agreement, prior to the end of the Restricted Period if the Participant’s date of termination of employment occurs by reason of the Participant’s death, Disability or a Change in Control.

Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered until the expiration of the Restricted Period or, if earlier, until the Participant is vested in the shares.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection 10(c), if the Participant’s date of termination of employment occurs prior to the end of the Restricted Period, the Participant shall forfeit the Restricted Stock as of the Participant s date of termination.

(d)           Performance Shares.  If the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates during the Performance Period because of the Participant’s Retirement, Disability, or death, the Participant shall be entitled to a prorated value of the Performance Shares earned, determined at the end of the Performance Period, and based on the ratio of the number of days the Participant is employed during the Performance Period to the total number of days in the Performance Period. If a Change in Control occurs during the Performance Period, and the Participant’s date of termination does not occur before the Change in Control date, the Participant shall earn the Performance Shares that would have been earned by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award as if 100% of the Performance measures set forth in the Award Agreement for the Performance Period had been achieved, but prorated based on the ratio of the number of days the Participant is employed during the Performance Period through the date of the Change in Control, to the total number of days in the Performance Period.

(e)           Forfeiture by Reason of Misconduct.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, if the Compensation Committee determines that a Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty or deliberate disregard of any rules of the Company or any Subsidiary which results in loss, damage or injury to the Company or any Subsidiary, neither the Participant nor his representative or estate shall be entitled to exercise any Award.  In making such determination, the Compensation Committee shall act fairly and shall give the Participant an opportunity to appear before the Compensation Committee and present evidence on his behalf.

(f)           Non-Employee Participants.  With respect to Awards made to Participants who are not employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, all references in this Section 10 to termination of employment shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of termination of any contractual arrangement (whether oral or written) pursuant to which any such non-employee Participant provides services to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

11.           Deferrals.  The Compensation Committee may permit a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Shares.  If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Compensation Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferral.

12.           No Right to Continued Employment or Engagement.  Nothing contained in this Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to continue the engagement of any Participant or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate such Participant's employment or engagement at any time.

13.           Vesting of Rights Under Awards.  Nothing contained in the Plan or in any resolution adopted by the Board of Directors shall constitute the vesting of any rights under any Award.  The vesting of such rights shall take place only pursuant to a written Award Agreement with respect to such Award, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which shall be duly executed and delivered by and on behalf of the Company and the Participant to whom the Award shall be granted.

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14.           Agreement to Refrain from Sales.  Holders of Options, Restricted Stock and Performance Shares shall agree, pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement, to refrain from selling or offering to sell the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Options or the unrestricted shares of Common Stock upon termination of the forfeiture and other restrictive provisions of the Restrictive Stock and Performance Shares for such reasonable period of time after the effective date of any registration statement relating to an underwritten offering of securities of the Company, as may be requested by the managing underwriter of such underwritten offering and approved by the Board of Directors.

15.           Termination, Amendment and Modification.  The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend or terminate this Plan in whole or in part, except (i) without such stockholder approval as may be required by law, no such action may be taken which changes the minimum Incentive Option price, increases the maximum term of Incentive Options, materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants receiving Incentive Options hereunder, materially increases the number of securities which may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options, extends the period for granting Incentive Options past the tenth anniversary of the initial effective date of the Plan or materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for receipt of Incentive Options hereunder, and (ii) without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted, no such action may be taken which adversely affects the rights of such Participant concerning such Award, except to the extent such action is required by statute, or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or as otherwise permitted hereunder.

16.           Indemnification.  Each person who is or at any time serves as a member of the Compensation Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under this Plan; and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such person in satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding relating to the Plan.  Each person covered by this indemnification shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend the same on such person's own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the charter or bylaws of the Company, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify such person or hold such person harmless.

17.           Reliance On Reports.  Each member of the Compensation Committee shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any report made by the independent public accountants of the Company, any independent appraisal of the Common Stock and any other information furnished in connection with this Plan.  In no event shall any such person be liable for any determination made or other action taken or any omission to act in reliance upon any such report or information, or for any action taken, including the furnishing of information, or failure to act, if on good faith, all consistent with and subject to the requirements of Section 141(e) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

18.           Miscellaneous.

(a)              Gender and Number.  Whenever the context so requires, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular and the gender of any pronoun shall include the other gender.

(b)              Severability.  The invalidity of this Plan with respect to one or more persons shall not affect the rights and obligations of any other person hereunder in any manner whatsoever.  The invalidity of one or more provisions of this Plan shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Plan in any manner whatsoever as long as the fundamental benefits and obligations of the parties hereto are not materially modified by such invalidity.

(c)              Requirements of Law.  The granting of Awards and the issuance of Common Stock under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be required.

(d)              Governing Law.  All matters relating to this Plan or to Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof, except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States.

(e)              Compliance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code and the parties shall take such actions as are required to comply in good faith with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.



A-7


REVOCABLE PROXY
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY MAY 28, 2009
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Thomas A. Broughton III and William M. Foshee, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them or either of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all of the common stock of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. to be held at Vulcan Park Center, and at any adjournments of the annual meeting, upon the proposals described in the accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting, receipt of which are hereby acknowledged.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS APPOINTED HEREIN UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE OR PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE VIA
THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
ÄFOLD AND DETACH HEREÄ

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. — ANNUAL MEETING, MAY 28, 2009
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Annual Meeting Materials are available on-line at:
http://www.cfpproxy.com/6547
You can vote in one of three ways:

 1.
Call toll free 1-866-809-5163 on a Touch-Tone Phone and follow the instructions on the reverse side. There is NO CHARGE to you for this call.
or
2.
Via the Internet at https://www.proxyvotenow.com/svfb and follow the instructions.
or
3.Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS





REVOCABLE PROXY
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

ý PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 28, 2009
For
Withhold
All
For All
Except
ForAgainstAbstain
Proposal 1o
o
o
Proposal 2
o
o
o
(01) Thomas A. Broughton III      (03) Stanley M. Brock        (05) Joseph R. Cashio
(02) James J. Filler                           (04) Michael D. Fuller        (06) Hatton C.V. Smith
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write that nominee(s’) name(s) or number(s) in the space provided below.
To ratify the appointment of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as the independent auditor of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
Proposal 3
For
Against
Abstain
To approve the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. ooo
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
"FOR" ALL OF THE PROPOSALS
Mark here if you plan to attend the meeting
o
Mark here for address change and note changeo
If stock is held in the name of more than one person, all holders must sign.  Signatures should correspond exactly with the name or names appearing on the stock certificate(s).  When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.  If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. 
Please be sure to date and sign
this proxy card in the box below.
Date 
Sign above
IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW


FOLD AND DETACH HERE IF YOU ARE VOTING BY MAIL
à                                                                                                            Ã
PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Shareholders of record have three ways to vote:
1. By Mail; or
2. By Telephone (using a Touch-Tone Phone); or
3. By Internet.
A telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned this proxy. Please note telephone and Internet votes must be cast prior to 3 a.m., May 28, 2009. It is not necessary to return this proxy if you vote by telephone or Internet.
Vote by Telephone
Call Toll-Free on a Touch-Tone Phone anytime prior to
3 a.m., May 28, 2009.
1-866-809-5163
Vote by Internet
anytime prior to
3 a.m., May 28, 2009 go to
https://www.proxyvotenow.com/svfb
Please note that the last vote received, whether by telephone, Internet or by mail, will be the vote counted.


ON-LINE ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS:
 http://www.cfpproxy.com/6547



Your vote is important!



ýPLEASE MARK VOTES
     AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
REVOCABLE PROXY
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

For
With-
hold
For All
Except
  SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY MAY 28, 2009
1.To elect the following persons to serve as directors for a one-year term until the 2010 annual meeting:
oo  o
The undersigned hereby appoints Thomas A. Broughton III and William M. Foshee, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them or either of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all of the common stock of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. to be held at Vulcan Park Center, and at any adjournments of the annual meeting, upon the proposals described in the accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting, receipt of which are hereby acknowledged.
Thomas A. Broughton III      James J. Filler         Stanley M. Brock
Michael D. Fuller                   Joseph R. Cashio     Hatton C.V. Smith
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark “For All Except” and write the nominee’s name on the line provided below.
For
Against
  Abstain
2.    To ratify the appointment of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as the independent auditor of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
oo  o
For
Against
Abstain
3.    To approve the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
ooo
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED ABOVE, FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS APPOINTED HEREIN UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF.
PLEASE CHECK BOX IF YOU PLAN TO ATTENDª
THIS MEETING.  
o
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" ALL OF THE PROPOSALS.
Please be sure to date and sign
this proxy card in the box below
Date
 Sign above

ÇDetach above card, sign, date and mail in the return envelope provided.Ç
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.
If stock is held in the name of more than one person, all holders must sign.  Signatures should correspond exactly with the name or names appearing on the stock certificate(s).  When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer.  If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
Please mark, sign and date this Proxy, and return it in the enclosed return-addressed envelope.
No postage necessary if mailed in the United States.
PLEASE RETURN PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to be held on May 28, 2009:
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.'s Proxy Statement, proxy card and Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 are available at https://www.cfpproxy.com/6547
IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.