EJF Capital SC 13G Smartfinancial Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

SmartFinancial, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

83190L208

(CUSIP Number)

January 25, 2017

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

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

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

ý Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 83190L208 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Capital LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			431,659
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			431,659
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	431,659
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IA

(1) Based on 8,020,726 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Common Stock") outstanding, as reflected in the Issuer's January 24, 2017 Supplement to its January 9, 2017 Prospectus, as filed by the Issuer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on January 26, 2017 (indicating that the total amount of Common Stock outstanding after the Issuer's public offering, and the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, would be 8,020,726 shares), and the Issuer's Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2017 (indicating that the public offering had closed and the underwriters had fully exercised their option to purchase additional shares in the over-allotment).

CUSIP No. 83190L208 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Emanuel J. Friedman
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			431,659
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			431,659
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	431,659
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IN

(1) Based on 8,020,726 shares of Common Stock outstanding, as reflected in the Issuer's January 24, 2017 Supplement to its January 9, 2017 Prospectus, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on January 26, 2017 (indicating that the total amount of Common Stock outstanding after the Issuer's public offering, and the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, would be 8,020,726 shares), and the Issuer's Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2017 (indicating that the public offering had closed and the underwriters had fully exercised their option to purchase additional shares in the over-allotment).

CUSIP No. 83190L208 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			431,659
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			431,659
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	431,659
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

(1) Based on 8,020,726 shares of Common Stock outstanding, as reflected in the Issuer's January 24, 2017 Supplement to its January 9, 2017 Prospectus, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on January 26, 2017 (indicating that the total amount of Common Stock outstanding after the Issuer's public offering, and the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, would be 8,020,726 shares), and the Issuer's Form 8-K dated January 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2017 (indicating that the public offering had closed and the underwriters had fully exercised their option to purchase additional shares in the over-allotment).

Item 1. (a)    Name of Issuer

SmartFinancial, Inc.

Item 1. (b)        Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

SmartFinancial, Inc.5401 Kingston Pike, Suite 600Knoxville, Tennessee  37919

Item 2. (a)        Name of Person Filing

This Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of the following persons (the “Reporting Persons”)*:

(i)	EJF Capital LLC;
(ii)	Emanuel J. Friedman; and
(iii)	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E.

*Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement among the Reporting Persons that this Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

Item 2.(b)        Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

The address of the principal business office of each reporting person is:

2107 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 410

Arlington, VA 22201

Item 2.(c)        Citizenship

See Item 4 of the attached cover pages.

Item 2. (d)        Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Common Stock")

Item 2.(e)        CUSIP Number

83190L208

Item 3.               If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

Not Applicable.

Item 4.             Ownership

(a)	Amount beneficially owned:
	See Item 9 of the attached cover pages.
(b)	Percent of class:
	See Item 11 of the attached cover pages.
(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:
	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 5 of the attached cover pages.
	(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 6 of the attached cover pages.
	(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 7 of the attached cover pages.
	(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 8 of the attached cover pages.

EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E is the record owner of the number of shares of Common Stock shown on Item 9 of its respective cover page.

EJF Capital LLC is the managing member of EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E is the record owner.

Emanuel J. Friedman is the controlling member of EJF Capital LLC and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock over which EJF Capital LLC may share beneficial ownership.

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

Not Applicable.

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

Not Applicable.

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

Not Applicable.

Item 8.            Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable.

Item 9.            Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable.

Item 10.         Certification

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

SIGNATURE

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

Dated:  February 6, 2017

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name: Neal J. Wilson
	Title:   Chief Operating Officer

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name: Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SERIES E
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Manager and Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name: Neal J. Wilson
	Title:   Chief Operating Officer

EXHIBIT A

The undersigned, EJF Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Emanuel J. Friedman, and EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Series E, a Delaware limited liability company, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information required by this Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them.  The undersigned further agree that any further amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.

Dated:  February 6, 2017

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name: Neal J. Wilson
	Title:   Chief Operating Officer

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name: Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SERIES E
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Manager and Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name: Neal J. Wilson
	Title:   Chief Operating Officer