UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 23, 2001



                       SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Arkansas                              0-6253             71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission         (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)     file number)        identification No.)




       501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas               71601
     (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)



                                 (870) 541-1000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



ITEM: 5

The  following is the text of a press release issued by the registrant at 8:30
A.M. Central Standard Time on January 23, 2001.




FOR RELEASE: January 23, 2001

                 SIMMONS FIRST EXPANDS STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

     Pine Bluff, AR - - J. Thomas May,  chairman,  president and chief executive
officer  of  Simmons  First  National  Corporation  (SFNC),  has  announced  the
expansion of the stock purchase  program  adopted last year by the  Corporation.
The program,  as originally  approved by the Board of Directors,  authorized the
repurchase of up to 200,000 shares of Class A common stock. The shares are to be
purchased from time to time at prevailing market prices,  through open market or
unsolicited negotiated transactions,  depending upon market conditions. To date,
181,827 shares have been repurchased  under the program.  The Board has approved
the repurchase of an additional 200,000 shares or 2.8% of the outstanding common
stock under the program.

     The  Corporation  may  discontinue  purchases  at any time that  management
determines  additional  purchases  are not  warranted.  SFNC  intends to use the
repurchased  shares to satisfy stock option  exercises,  payment of future stock
dividends and general corporate purposes.

     "We  believe our stock is an  excellent  investment  at its  current  price
range", May said. "The repurchase program will allow us to acquire shares needed
for corporate  purposes as well as make an investment in our organization  which
demonstrates our commitment and confidence in its future."

     Under  the  repurchase  program,  there  is no time  limit  for  the  stock
repurchases,  nor is there a  minimum  number  of  shares  that the  Corporation
intends to repurchase.

     Simmons First  National  Corporation  is a $1.9 billion  financial  holding
company,  with community  banks  headquartered  in Pine Bluff,  Jonesboro,  Lake
Village,  Dumas,  Rogers,  Russellville,  Searcy  and El Dorado,  Arkansas.  The
Company's  eight  banks  conduct  financial  operations  from 63  offices  in 33
communities throughout Arkansas.

                                      # # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry L. Crow
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Simmons First National Corporation
870-541-1350
Ticker symbol:  SFNCA







                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                   SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION


Date:    January 23, 2001         /s/ Barry L.Crow
     ---------------------        ---------------------------------------------
                                  Barry L. Crow, Executive Vice President
                                   and Chief Financial Officer