UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X]    Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Exchange Act of 1934
       For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 1997
                                       OR
[  ]   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934
                          Commission file number 0-6253

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

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

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

                                 (501) 541-1000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

                                                        Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class                                      on Which Registered
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  None                                                            None

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

                      Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value
                                (Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                Yes X No _____

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge in definitive proxy or in information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]

The aggregate market value of common stock,  par value $1.00 per share,  held by
non-affiliates on March 17, 1998, was approximately $228,650,000.

The number of shares  outstanding of the  Registrant's  Common Stock as of March
17, 1998 was 5,728,872.

Part III is  incorporated  by reference from the  Registrant's  Proxy  Statement
relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 28, 1998.


                                 FORM 10-K INDEX

Part I

Item 1     Business..........................................................
Item 2     Properties........................................................
Item 3     Legal Proceedings.................................................
Item 4     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security-Holders...............


Part II

Item 5     Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6     Selected Consolidated Financial Data..............................
Item 7     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
           Results of Operations.............................................
Item 8     Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data..........
Item 9     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
           Financial Disclosure..............................................


Part III

Item 10    Directors and Executive Officers of the Company...................
Item 11    Executive Compensation............................................
Item 12    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....
Item 13    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions....................

Part IV

Item 14    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...
Signatures ..................................................................



                                     PART I

ITEM 1.           BUSINESS.

The Company and the Banks

          Simmons First National  Corporation  (the "Company") is a bank holding
company  registered  under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. At December 31,
1997 the Company had consolidated  total assets of $1.326 billion,  consolidated
net loans of $794.2  million and total  equity  capital of $112.1  million.  The
Company owns seven  subsidiary banks in Arkansas.  Its lead bank,  Simmons First
National Bank (the "Bank"), is a national bank which has been in operation since
1903.   The  Bank's   primary   market   area,   with  the   exception   of  its
nationally-provided  credit card and mortgage banking services,  is the State of
Arkansas.  The Company  also owns six  community  banks,  Simmons  First Bank of
Jonesboro  ("Simmons/Jonesboro"),  and  Simmons  First  Bank of  South  Arkansas
("Simmons/South"),   both  acquired  in  1984;   Simmons  First  Bank  of  Dumas
("Simmons/Dumas"),     Simmons     First    Bank    of    Northwest     Arkansas
("Simmons/Northwest"), both acquired in 1995; Simmons First Bank of Russellville
("Simmons/Russellville")  and Simmons  First Bank of Searcy  ("Simmons/Searcy"),
both  acquired  in  1997.  Simmons/Northwest,  formerly  Simmons  First  Bank of
Dermott,  changed its name when the charter  was moved to Rogers,  Arkansas,  in
August, 1996. The three branches of the Bank located in Rogers,  Springdale, and
Bella Vista,  Arkansas,  were then sold to the relocated bank.  Headquarters for
Simmons/Northwest  is now the Rogers office.  The banking facility  remaining at
Dermott,  along  with its  assets  and  liabilities,  were then  transferred  to
Simmons/South, formerly known as Simmons First Bank of Lake Village. The Dermott
location is now a branch of Simmons/South.  The Company's  banking  subsidiaries
conduct  their  operations  through 40  offices  located  in 21  communities  in
Arkansas.

          Through  its  banking  subsidiaries,  the  Company  emphasizes  retail
banking services, and it considers the Bank to be a national leader in providing
credit card services.  The Bank has offered credit card services since 1967, and
at December 31, 1997, the Bank had  approximately  $179.8 million in credit card
loans  in  the  loan  portfolio,   representing  approximately  22.6%  of  total
consolidated   loans.   The   Bank   has   consistently    employed   stringent,
subjectively-based  credit standards in making credit decisions  concerning card
applicants,  rather than using a credit scoring,  or statistical  profile system
typically  employed  by other  credit card  issuers.  Management  believes  this
individualized  approach to  decision-making,  emphasizing  credit histories and
individual  borrower  profiles,  has  been  a  significant  positive  factor  in
producing a high quality credit card loan portfolio, which continues to rank far
below the national averages in delinquency and net loss ratios.

          The  Bank  is a  leading  provider  of  guaranteed  student  loans  in
Arkansas. On December 31, 1997, the Bank owned and serviced  approximately $63.3
million, or approximately 8.0% of the Company's total consolidated loans.

          The Company  provides  mortgage  banking  services  through the Bank's
production and sale of Arkansas  residential real estate mortgages and servicing
of  residential  real estate  mortgages on properties  located  primarily in the
South,  Midwest and Southwest United States.  At December 31, 1997, the Bank was
servicing,  primarily for others, approximately $1.3 billion of residential real
estate mortgages.

          The  Company's  banks also  provide  commercial  banking  services  to
individuals   and   businesses,   including  a  wide  range  of  commercial  and
agricultural  loans,  deposit,  checking  and  savings  accounts,  personal  and
corporate  trust  services  and  investment   management,   and  securities  and
investment services through selected banking locations in the State of Arkansas.


Growth Strategy

          The Company's growth strategy is to expand in its primary market areas
by  capitalizing  on  opportunities  presented  by the  State  of  Arkansas  and
expanding   through  further   banking   acquisitions.   The  most   significant
opportunities   for   internal   growth   will  come   from   Simmons/Northwest,
Simmons/Searcy and  Simmons/Jonesboro,  which are located in some of the fastest
growing  areas in the state,  and the  Company's  continued  expansion  into the
Little Rock market. With an increased presence in Arkansas,  ongoing investments
in technology,  and enhanced  products and services the Company is positioned to
meet the demands of the State of Arkansas.

Competition

          The  activities  engaged in by the  Company and its  subsidiaries  are
highly  competitive.  In all aspects of its  business,  the  Company  encounters
intense  competition  from other banks,  lending  institutions,  credit  unions,
savings and loan associations,  brokerage firms, mortgage companies,  industrial
loan associations,  finance companies, and several other financial and financial
service institutions. The amount of competition among commercial banks and other
financial institutions has increased significantly over the past few years since
the  deregulation  of the  banking  industry.  The  Company's  subsidiary  banks
actively compete with other banks and financial institutions in their efforts to
obtain  deposits and make loans, in the scope and type of services  offered,  in
interest  rates paid on time  deposits and charged on loans and in other aspects
of commercial banking.

          Management believes that the single most important  competitive factor
in the  credit  card  business  is  price,  in the form of  interest  rates  and
membership fees charged to cardholders,  discount fees charged to  participating
merchants,  and the level of fees and credits  shared with  members of the agent
bank network for their  participation in the Bank's network.  Maintenance of the
Bank's agent bank network is a key element in  maintaining  the Bank's  dominant
position in the credit card business in Arkansas.

          Management believes that the Bank's principal  competitive strength in
both the Arkansas and national markets for new cardholder  business has been its
low interest rate charged to cardholders  and the resulting  favorable  national
recognition.  Within the past few years,  more Arkansas  banks have commenced or
recommenced  active marketing as a Visa and MasterCard issuer inside and outside
the state.  Management  cannot predict the effect on its credit card business of
these and other new entrants into the market, but believes the Bank's continuous
participation  and  experience in this market since 1967 provides it with unique
marketing and other strengths in competing for new cardholder business.

          As more  credit card  issuers  have  entered  the market for  merchant
customers in Arkansas during the past several years, competition has intensified
for merchant  customers  and their related  business,  primarily on the basis of
price and quality of service. Independent sales organizations employed by out of
state processors  constitute the majority of this increased  competition.  While
the Bank's merchant volume has shown a modest increase for the past three years,
management  believes  that  most  card  issuers  in  the  Arkansas  market  have
experienced  declines in their merchant  volume and expects the Bank's  merchant
volume will  experience a period of flat or declined growth in the future due to
these continuing competitive conditions.

          The Company's banking  subsidiaries are also in competition with major
national and international  retail banking  establishments,  brokerage firms and
other financial institutions within and outside Arkansas. Competition with these
financial institutions is expected to increase,  especially with the increase in
interstate banking.

Employees

          As of December 31, 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries had 721 full
time equivalent employees. None of the employees are represented by any union or
similar  groups,  and the  Company  has not  experienced  any labor  disputes or
strikes arising from any such organized labor groups.  The Company considers its
relationship with its employees to be good.


Executive Officers of the Company

          The  following  is a list of all  executive  officers of the  Company.
Executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors.


NAME                       AGE      POSITION                                            YEARS SERVED
                                                                               
J. Thomas May              51       President and Chief Executive Officer               11

Barry L. Crow              55       Executive Vice President and                        26
                                    Chief Financial Officer

John L. Rush               63       Secretary                                           30



         SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

The Company

        The Company,  as a bank holding company,  is subject to both federal and
state  regulation.  Under  federal  law, a bank holding  company must  generally
obtain  approval  from the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System
("FRB") before  acquiring  ownership or control of the assets or stock of a bank
or a bank holding company.  Prior to approval of any proposed  acquisition,  the
FRB will review the effect on competition of the proposed  acquisition,  as well
as other regulatory issues.

        The federal law generally prohibits a bank holding company from directly
or indirectly  engaging in non-banking  activities.  This  prohibition  does not
include loan servicing,  liquidating  activities or other  activities so closely
related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto.

        As a bank holding company,  the Company is required to file with the FRB
an annual report and such additional information as may be required by law. From
time to time,  the FRB examines the  financial  condition of the Company and its
subsidiaries.  The FRB, through civil and criminal  sanctions,  is authorized to
exercise   enforcement  powers  over  bank  holding  companies  and  non-banking
subsidiaries,  to limit activities that represent unsafe or unsound practices or
constitute violations of law.

        The Company is subject to certain laws and  regulations  of the State of
Arkansas  applicable  to  bank  holding  companies,  including  examination  and
supervision  by the  Arkansas  Bank  Commissioner.  Under  Arkansas  law, a bank
holding company is prohibited from owning more than one subsidiary  bank, if any
subsidiary  bank owned by the holding company has been chartered for less than 5
years and, further,  requires the approval of the Arkansas Bank Commissioner for
any  acquisition of more than 25% of the capital stock of any other bank located
in Arkansas. No bank acquisition may be approved if, after such acquisition, the
holding company would control,  directly or indirectly,  banks having 25% of the
total bank deposits in the State of Arkansas,  excluding deposits of other banks
and public funds.

        Legislation  enacted in 1994, which became effective September 29, 1995,
which now allows bank holding  companies from any state to acquire banks located
in any state without regard to state law, provided that the bank holding company
(1) is adequately capitalized,  (2) is adequately managed, (3) would not control
more than 10% of the insured  deposits in the United  States or more than 30% of
the insured  deposits in such state,  and (4) such bank has been in existence at
least five years if so required by the applicable state law.


Subsidiary Banks

        Simmons First National Bank, a national banking association,  is subject
to regulation and supervision, of which regular bank examinations are a part, by
the Office of the  Comptroller  of the  Currency of the United  States  ("OCC").
Simmons/Jonesboro,      Simmons/South,     Simmons/Dumas,     Simmons/Northwest,
Simmons/Russellville  and Simmons/Searcy,  as state chartered banks, are subject
to the  supervision  and regulation,  of which regular bank  examinations  are a
part, by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  ("FDIC") and the Arkansas
State Bank  Department.  The lending powers of each of the subsidiary  banks are
generally  subject to certain  restrictions,  including  the amount which may be
lent to a single borrower.

        The  subsidiary  banks,  with  numerous  exceptions,  are subject to the
application  of the laws of the State of Arkansas,  including the  limitation of
the maximum  permissible  interest rate on loans.  This  limitation  for general
loans is 5% over the Federal Reserve  Discount Rate, with an additional  maximum
limitation of 17% per annum for consumer  loans and credit sales.  Certain loans
secured by first liens on residential  real estate and certain loans  controlled
by federal law (e.g., guaranteed student loans, SBA loans, etc.) are exempt from
this limitation;  however,  a very substantial  portion of the loans made by the
subsidiary  banks,  including  all  credit  card  loans,  are  subject  to  this
limitation.

         All of the Company's  subsidiary  banks are members of the FDIC,  which
currently  insures the deposits of each member bank to a maximum of $100,000 per
deposit relationship. For this protection, each bank pays a statutory assessment
to the FDIC each year.

        Federal law substantially restricts transactions between banks and their
affiliates.  As a result,  the Company's  subsidiary banks are limited in making
extensions of credit to the Company,  investing in the stock or other securities
of the Company and engaging in other  financial  transactions  with the Company.
Those  transactions which are permitted must generally be undertaken on terms at
least as favorable to the bank, as those  prevailing in comparable  transactions
with independent third parties.

Potential Enforcement Action for Bank Holding Companies and Banks

        Enforcement  proceedings  seeking  civil or  criminal  sanctions  may be
instituted  against any bank,  any director,  officer,  employee or agent of the
bank,  that is believed  by the federal  banking  agencies to be  violating  any
administrative  pronouncement  or engaged in unsafe and  unsound  practices.  In
addition,  the FDIC may terminate the insurance of accounts,  upon determination
that the insured  institution has engaged in certain wrongful conduct,  or is in
an  unsound   condition  to  continue   operations.   Recent   legislation   has
significantly  expanded the enforcement  powers of the federal banking  agencies
and increased the penalties for violations of the law and regulations.

Risk-Weighted Capital Requirements for the Company and the Banks

        Since 1993, banking organizations  (including bank holding companies and
banks)  were  required  to meet a  minimum  ratio  of  Total  Capital  to  Total
Risk-Weighted  Assets  of 8%, of which at least 4% must be in the form of Tier 1
Capital.  A well  capitalized  institution is one that has at least a 10% "total
risk based capital" ratio. For a tabular summary of the Company's  risk-weighted
capital ratios, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of  Operations - Capital"  and Note 18 of the Notes To  Consolidated
Financial Statements.

        A  banking  organization's  qualifying  total  capital  consists  of two
components:  Tier 1 Capital  (core  capital)  and Tier 2 Capital  (supplementary
capital).  Tier 1 Capital is an amount equal to the sum of common  shareholders'
equity, certain preferred stock and the minority interest in the equity accounts
of consolidated  subsidiaries.  For bank holding companies,  goodwill may not be
included in Tier 1 Capital.  Identifiable  intangible  assets may be included in
Tier 1 Capital for banks and bank holding companies,  in accordance with certain
further  requirements.   At  least  50%  of  the  banking  organization's  total
regulatory capital must consist of Tier 1 Capital.

        Tier 2 Capital is an amount equal to the sum of the  qualifying  portion
of the allowance for loan losses,  certain  preferred stock not included in Tier
1, hybrid capital  instruments  (instruments  with  characteristics  of debt and
equity),  certain long-term debt securities and eligible term subordinated debt,
in an amount up to 50% of Tier 1 Capital.  The  eligibility  of these  items for
inclusion as Tier 2 Capital is subject to certain  additional  requirements  and
limitations of the federal banking agencies.

        Under the  risk-based  capital  guidelines,  balance  sheet  assets  and
certain off-balance sheet items, such as standby letters of credit, are assigned
to one of four risk weight categories (0%, 20%, 50%, or 100%),  according to the
nature of the asset, its collateral or the identity of the obligor or guarantor.
The  aggregate  amount in each risk  category  is  adjusted  by the risk  weight
assigned to that category, to determine weighted values, which are then added to
determine  the total  risk-weighted  assets for the  banking  organization.  For
example,  an asset, such as a commercial loan, assigned to a 100% risk category,
is  included in  risk-weighted  assets at its  nominal  face  value,  but a loan
secured by a one-to-four family residence is included at only 50% of its nominal
face value. The applicable ratios reflect capital, as so determined,  divided by
risk-weighted assets, as so determined.

Recent Legislation for Bank Holding Companies and Banks


        As part of the omnibus  spending  bill passed by Congress in  September,
1996,  banks  which  have  acquired  thrift  deposits  must  contribute  to  the
re-capitalization  of the Savings  Association  Insurance  Fund (SAIF).  For the
"Bank" the one-time pretax charge of $687,000 was charged against third quarter,
1996, earnings.

        The Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  Improvement Act ("FDICIA"),
enacted in 1991,  requires  the FDIC to  increase  assessment  rates for insured
banks and  authorizes  one or more "special  assessments",  as necessary for the
repayment  of funds  borrowed  by the FDIC or any other  necessary  purpose.  As
directed in FDICIA,  the FDIC has adopted a transitional  risk-based  assessment
system,  under which the assessment rate for insured banks will vary,  according
to the level of risk  incurred in the bank's  activities.  The risk category and
risk-based assessment for a bank is determined from its classification, pursuant
to  the   regulation,   as   well   capitalized,   adequately   capitalized   or
undercapitalized.

        FDICIA  substantially  revised  the bank  regulatory  provisions  of the
Federal  Deposit  Insurance Act and other federal  banking  statutes,  requiring
federal  banking  agencies to establish  capital  measures and  classifications.
Pursuant to the regulations  issued under FDICIA, a depository  institution will
be deemed to be well capitalized if it  significantly  exceeds the minimum level
required for each relevant capital measure;  adequately  capitalized if it meets
each  such  measure;  undercapitalized  if it fails  to meet  any such  measure;
significantly  undercapitalized  if it is significantly  below any such measure;
and critically  undercapitalized  if it fails to meet any critical capital level
set forth in  regulations.  The federal banking  agencies must promptly  mandate
corrective  actions  by  banks  that  fail  to  meet  the  capital  and  related
requirements,  in order to minimize  losses to the FDIC. The Company was advised
by the FDIC  and OCC  that the  subsidiary  banks  had been  classified  as well
capitalized under these regulations.

        The  federal  banking  agencies  are  required  by FDICIA  to  prescribe
standards  for banks and bank  holding  companies,  relating to  operations  and
management,  asset quality,  earnings,  and stock valuation and compensation.  A
bank or bank holding  company that fails to comply with such  standards  will be
required  to  submit  a plan  designed  to  achieve  compliance.  If no  plan is
submitted  or the plan is not  implemented,  the bank or holding  company  would
become subject to additional regulatory action or enforcement proceedings.

        A  variety  of other  provisions  included  in  FDICIA  may  affect  the
operations  of the Company and the  subsidiary  banks,  including  new reporting
requirements,  revised regulatory  standards for real estate lending,  "truth in
savings" provisions,  and the requirement that a depository  institution give 90
days prior notice to customers and  regulatory  authorities  before  closing any
branch.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

        The  principal  offices  of the  Company  and  the  Bank  consist  of an
eleven-story  office building and adjacent office space,  located in the central
business district of the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The building and adjacent
office space is comprised of  approximately  166,000 square feet of floor space,
approximately 7,500 square feet of which is leased to a tenant as office space.

        The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  own or  lease  additional  offices
throughout the State of Arkansas.  As of December 31, 1997, the company's  seven
banks are  conducting  financial  operations  from 40 offices in 21  communities
throughout Arkansas.

ITEM 3.          LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        The Company and/or its  subsidiary  banks have various  unrelated  legal
proceedings,  most of which involve loan foreclosure activity pending, which, in
the  aggregate,  are not  expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries.

ITEM 4.          SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY-HOLDERS

        No matters  were  submitted to a vote of  security-holders,  through the
solicitation  of proxies or otherwise,  during the fourth  quarter of the fiscal
year covered by this report.


                                     PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

         The Common  Stock is traded and quoted on the  over-the-counter  NASDAQ
National Market System under the symbol "SFNCA." The following table sets forth,
for all the periods  indicated,  cash  dividends  paid, and the high and low bid
prices for the Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ.




                                                                           Quarterly
                                                Price Per                  Dividends
                                               Common Share                Per Common
                                           High            Low               Share
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               
1997

1st quarter                           $     28.00      $     25.50      $      0.13
2nd quarter                                 30.00            27.00             0.14
3rd quarter                                 36.50            29.50             0.14
4th quarter                                 42.00            35.00             0.15


1996

1st quarter                           $     22.67      $     20.50      $      0.11
2nd quarter                                 22.42            22.00             0.12
3rd quarter                                 23.00            21.83             0.12
4th quarter                                 27.25            26.00             0.13


        At  December  31,  1997,   the  Common  Stock  was  held  of  record  by
approximately 1,225 stockholders. On March 17, 1998, the last sale price for the
Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ was $47.00 per share.

        The Company's  policy is to declare  regular  quarterly  dividends based
upon the Company's earnings,  financial position,  capital requirements and such
other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. This dividend policy is
subject to change,  however,  and the  payment of  dividends  by the  Company is
necessarily  dependent  upon the  availability  of  earnings  and the  Company's
financial  condition in the future. The payment of dividends on the Common Stock
is also subject to regulatory capital requirements.

        The  Company's  principal  source of funds for dividend  payments to its
stockholders are dividends  received from its subsidiary banks. Under applicable
banking laws, the declaration of dividends by the Bank in any year, in excess of
the sum of net income for that year and retained  earnings for the preceding two
years,  must be  approved  by the  Office of the  Comptroller  of the  Currency.
Further,   as   to    Simmons/Jonesboro,    Simmons/Dumas,    Simmons/Northwest,
Simmons/South,   Simmons/Russellville   and   Simmons/Searcy,   regulators  have
specified that the maximum  dividends  state banks may pay to the parent company
without  prior  approval is 75% of the  current  year  earnings  plus 75% of the
retained net earnings of the preceding year. At December 31, 1997, approximately
$5 million was  available for the payment of dividends by the  subsidiary  banks
without  regulatory  approval.  For further  discussion of  restrictions  on the
payment of dividends,  see  "Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial
Condition-Liquidity  and  Market  Risk  Management,"  and  Note 18 of  Notes  to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

        On October 29,  1996,  the  Company  declared a 50% stock  dividend.  An
additional  share of stock was distributed to  shareholders  for each two shares
owned on December 6, 1996.

Forward Looking Statements

        When used in this Form 10-K or future  filings by the  Company  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  in the Company's  press releases or other
public  or  shareholder  communications,  or in oral  statements  made  with the
approval of an authorized  executive  officer,  the words or phrases "would be",
"will allow",  "intends  to",  "will likely  result",  "are expected to ", "will
continue", "is anticipated",  "estimate",  "project", or similar expressions are
intended  to  identify  "forward-looking  statements"  within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

        The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any
such  forward-looking  statements,  which speak only as of the date made, and to
advise readers that various factors,  including  regional and national  economic
conditions,  substantial  changes in levels of market interest rates, credit and
other risks of lending and investment activities and competitive, and regulatory
factors,  could affect the Company's  financial  performance and could cause the
Company's  actual  results for future  periods to differ  materially  from those
anticipated or projected.

        The  Company  does  not  undertake,   and  specifically   disclaims  any
obligation,  to update any forward-looking  statements to reflect occurrences or
unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

ITEM 6:           SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following  table sets forth  selected  consolidated  financial  data
concerning  the  Company  and is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by the  detailed
information  and  consolidated  financial  statements,  including notes thereto,
included  elsewhere in this annual report.  The income statement,  balance sheet
and per common share data as of and for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996,
1995, 1994, and 1993 were derived from consolidated  financial statements of the
Company, which were audited by Baird, Kurtz & Dobson.  Earnings per common share
and dividends per common share  presented in the financial  statements have been
restated  retroactively  to  reflect  the  effects  of the stock  dividend  on a
consisitent  basis.  The selected  consolidated  financial  data set forth below
should be read in conjunction  with the financial  statements of the Company and
related notes  thereto and  "Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this annual report.



                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA


                                                               Years Ended December 31 (1)
(In thousands,
except per share data)                        1997            1996            1995            1994          1993
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        
Income statement data:
   Net interest income                   $      40,415    $    33,805    $    31,764    $    29,259    $    28,450
   Provision for loan losses                     4,013          2,341          2,092          2,050          3,006
   Net interest income after provision
     for loan losses                            36,402         31,464         29,672         27,209         25,444
   Non-interest income                          27,545         25,116         24,365         24,847         26,129
   Non-interest expense                         46,934         41,956         39,820         38,415         38,711
   Provision for income taxes                    5,024          4,323          4,198          3,781          3,466
   Net income                                   11,989         10,301         10,019          9,860          9,396

Per share data:
   Basic earnings                                 2.10           1.81           1.77           1.79           1.85
   Diluted earnings                               2.07           1.79           1.75           1.77           1.84
   Cash earnings                                  2.24           1.85           1.82           1.84           1.91
   Book value                                    19.57          18.02          16.91          15.17          13.66
   Dividends                                      0.56           0.48           0.40           0.31           0.27

Balance sheet data at period end:
   Assets                                    1,326,145        881,332        839,884        713,262        738,760
   Loans                                       794,183        510,813        471,956        418,392        394,426
   Allowance for loan losses                    12,628          8,366          8,418          7,790          7,430
   Deposits                                  1,104,501        736,367        704,768        583,538        610,355
   Long-term debt                               50,281          1,067          4,757         12,144         12,178
   Stockholders' equity                        112,082        102,825         96,797         83,700         75,335
Capital ratios at period end:
   Stockholders' equity to
     total assets                                8.45%         11.67%         11.53%         11.73%         10.20%
   Leverage (2)                                  7.52%         11.70%         10.91%         11.47%         10.21%
Tier 1                                          11.55%         18.66%         18.63%         19.25%         17.19%
   Total risk-based                             12.81%         19.91%         20.03%         21.56%         20.01%

Selected ratios:
   Return on average assets                      1.13%          1.22%          1.30%          1.39%          1.33%
   Return on average common equity              11.13%         10.31%         10.95%         12.28%         14.31%
   Net interest margin(3)                        4.37%          4.65%          4.77%          4.80%          4.75%
   Allowance/nonperforming loans               156.81%        168.58%        260.46%        248.73%        177.92%
Allowance for loan losses as a
     percentage of average loans                 1.98%          1.73%          1.91%          1.99%          1.88%
   Nonperforming loans as a percentage
     of period-end loans                         1.01%          0.97%          0.68%          0.75%          1.06%
   Net charge-offs as a percentage
     of average total assets                     0.35%          0.28%          0.24%          0.24%          0.19%
   Dividend payout                              26.72%         26.47%         22.79%         17.32%         14.59%

<FN>
(1) The selected  consolidated  financial data set forth above should be read in
conjunction   with  the   financial   statements  of  the  Company  and  related
Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations, included elsewhere in this Annual Report. (2) Leverage ratio is Tier
1 capital to quarterly  average  total assets less  intangible  assets and gross
unrealized  gains/losses on  available-for-sale  investments.  (3) Fully taxable
equivalent (36.25% for 1997 through 1995 and 34% for 1994 and 1993)
</FN>



Item 7.           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                  CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

         Simmons First National  Corporation  (SFNC)  achieved  record  earnings
performance  in 1997.  Earnings  for the period ended  December  31, 1997,  were
$11,989,000, or an increase of $1,688,000 over the December 31, 1996 earnings of
$10,301,000.  Basic  earnings per share for the year were $2.10,  an increase of
16.0% from $1.81 in 1996. Diluted earnings per share for the year were $2.07, an
increase of 15.6% from $1.79 in 1996.  Net income for 1996  includes a one-time,
pretax charge of $687,000 to recapitalize the Savings Association Insurance Fund
(SAIF).  The negative  impact of this charge in 1996 was $.08 per share.  If the
earnings for 1996 were  adjusted  for the SAIF  assessment,  basic  earnings per
share  would have been  $1.89.  Return on  average  assets and return on average
stockholder's  equity  for the  period  ended  December  31,  1997 was 1.13% and
11.13%, compared to 1.22% and 10.31%, respectively, for the same period in 1996.

         Because of the  Corporation's  emphasis on cash  acquisitions as both a
growth and a capital  management  strategy,  cash earnings (net income excluding
amortization of intangible assets) are an integral  component of earnings.  Cash
earnings,  on a per share basis as of December 31, 1997,  were $2.24 compared to
$1.85 at December 31, 1996, reflecting a 21.1% increase.  Cash return on average
assets was 1.22% and cash return on average  stockholders' equity was 11.88% for
the  period  ended   December  31,  1997,   compared   with  1.26%  and  10.58%,
respectively, for the same period in 1996.

         Total assets for the  Corporation  at December  31,  1997,  were $1.326
billion,  an increase  of $444.8  million  over the same figure at December  31,
1996.  Stockholders'  equity  at the  end of 1997  was  $112.1  million,  a $9.3
million, or 9.0%, increase for the period ended December 31, 1996.

         Asset  quality  remains  strong with the allowance for loan losses as a
percent of total loans at 1.59% as of December 31,  1997,  compared to 1.64% for
the same date in 1996.  As of December 31, 1997,  non-performing  loans  equaled
1.01% of total  loans,  while the  allowance  for loan  losses  equaled  157% of
non-performing loans.

         Simmons First  National  Corporation is a multi-bank  holding  company,
with banks in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro,  Lake Village, Dumas, Rogers,  Russellville
and Searcy,  Arkansas.  The Corporation's  seven banks are conducting  financial
operations from 40 offices in 21 communities throughout Arkansas.

Acquisitions

         On April 1,  1995,  the  Company  completed  the  acquisition  of Dumas
Bancshares,  Inc. (DBI) by issuing  205,851 shares of common stock and utilizing
cash of $1.5 million in a transaction valued at $5 million.  DBI was merged into
the Company.  DBI owned Dumas State Bank, Dumas,  Arkansas and First State Bank,
Gould,  Arkansas,  with consolidated  assets at March 31, 1995, of approximately
$42  million.  First  State  Bank,  which had  branches  in Grady and Star City,
Arkansas,  in addition to its primary  location in Gould,  Arkansas,  was merged
into Simmons  First  National  Bank,  SFNC's lead bank.  Dumas State Bank became
Simmons First Bank of Dumas and has continued to operate as a subsidiary bank of
the Company.

         On August 1, 1995,  the Company  completed the  acquisition  of Dermott
State Bank Bancshares,  Inc.  (DSBB),  located in Dermott,  Arkansas,  in a cash
transaction  valued at approximately  $2.4 million,  at the time of acquisition.
DSBB, the single-bank  holding company for Dermott State Bank, had approximately
$20 million in  consolidated  assets.  DSBB was liquidated  into the Company and
Dermott State Bank became Simmons First Bank of Dermott.

         In February,  1996,  the flagship  bank,  Simmons First  National Bank,
located in Pine Bluff,  opened an  additional  branch in Little Rock,  Arkansas.
This branch  represents  the Company's  initial entry into the this key Arkansas
market.

         In August,  1996, the Company  repositioned  its banking  operations to
benefit  its  customers   through   improved   personal  service  and  operating
efficiency.  The  Simmons  First  Bank of Dermott  charter  was moved to Rogers,
Arkansas.  The three branches of Simmons First National Bank, located in Rogers,
Springdale  and Bella Vista,  Arkansas,  were acquired by the relocated bank and
the bank name was changed to Simmons  First Bank of  Northwest  Arkansas,  whose
headquarters  is now the  Rogers  office.  The  banking  facility  remaining  at
Dermott, along with its assets and liabilities, was transferred to Simmons First
Bank of Lake  Village,  Arkansas  and is now a branch of that bank.  The name of
Simmons  First Bank of Lake Village was  subsequently  changed to Simmons  First
Bank of South Arkansas.

         On August 1, 1997 Simmons First National  Corporation  acquired all the
outstanding capital stock of First Bank of Arkansas , Searcy, Arkansas and First
Bank of Arkansas, Russellville,  Arkansas, in a cash purchase transaction of $53
million and changed the  respective  names of the banks to Simmons First Bank of
Searcy  and  Simmons  First  Bank  of  Russellville.   The  banks  acquired  had
consolidated assets, as adjusted of $362 million, as of August 1, 1997.

Earnings Review For the Years 1997, 1996 and 1995

         In 1997, the Company  reported  record net earnings of $11,989,000  and
basic earnings per share of $2.10.  This compares to net earnings of $10,301,000
and  $10,019,000,  and basic earnings per share of $1.81 and $1.77,  reported in
1996 and 1995, respectively. The earnings increase in 1997 was predominantly the
result  of growth  in both  loans  and  deposits  coupled  with an  increase  in
non-interest income.


Net Interest Income

         Net interest income, the Company's principal source of earnings, is the
difference between the interest income generated by earning assets and the total
interest  cost of the deposits  and  borrowings  obtained to fund those  assets.
Factors that  determine the level of net interest  income  include the volume of
earning assets and interest bearing  liabilities,  yields earned and rates paid,
the  level of  non-performing  loans  and the  amount  of  non-interest  bearing
liabilities  supporting  earning assets.  Net interest income is analyzed in the
discussion and tables below on a fully taxable  equivalent basis. The adjustment
to convert  certain  income to a fully  taxable  equivalent  basis  consists  of
dividing tax exempt  income by one minus the  combined  federal and state income
tax rate (36.25% for 1997 through 1995).

         For the year ended  December 31, 1997,  net interest  income on a fully
taxable  equivalent basis was $42.3 million,  an increase of approximately  $6.8
million,  or 19.2%,  from 1996 net interest income.  The increase in 1997 in net
interest  income  resulted  primarily  from the growth due to  acquisitions  and
general  growth in earning assets  throughout  the company.  The growth offset a
decrease in net interest margin  resulting from a higher cost of funds.  The net
interest margin was 4.37% in 1997,  compared to 4.65% in 1996 and 4.77% in 1995.
For the year ended  December 31, 1996,  net interest  income on a fully  taxable
equivalent basis was $35.5 million,  an increase of approximately  $2.2 million,
or 6.5%, from  comparable  figures in 1995. The increase in 1996 in net interest
income resulted  primarily from growth in earning  assets.  The growth offsets a
decrease in net  interest  margin  resulting  from a higher  cost of funds.  The
tables  below  reflect an analysis  of net  interest  income on a fully  taxable
equivalent  basis  for the  years  ended  December  31,  1997,  1996  and  1995,
respectively, as well as changes in fully taxable equivalent net interest income
for the years 1997 versus 1996 and 1996 versus 1995.



Analysis of Net Interest Income
(FTE =Fully Taxable Equivalent)


                                          Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)                           1997       1996       1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    
Interest income                        $78,406    $61,367    $56,229
FTE adjustment                           1,880      1,692      1,551
                                       -------    -------    -------

Interest income - FTE                   80,286     63,059     57,780
Interest expense                        37,991     27,562     24,465
                                       -------    -------    -------

Net interest income - FTE              $42,295    $35,497    $33,315
                                       =======    =======    =======

Yield on earning assets - FTE            8.29%      8.26%      8.27%

Cost of interest bearing liabilities     4.61%      4.36%      4.28%

Net interest spread - FTE                3.68%      3.90%      3.99%

Net interest margin - FTE                4.37%      4.65%      4.77%




Changes in Fully Taxable Equivalent Net Interest Margin


(In thousands)                                           1997 vs. 1996   1996 vs.1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
Increase due to change in earning assets                    $ 17,195      $  5,713
Increase (decrease) due to change in earning asset yields         32          (434)
Decrease due to change in interest rates paid on
       interest bearing  liabilities                         (10,047)         (559)
Decrease due to change in interest bearing liabilities          (382)       (2,538)
                                                            --------      --------
Increase in net interest income                             $  6,798      $  2,182
                                                            ========      ========



         The following  table shows,  for each major  category of earning assets
and interest bearing liabilities,  the average amount outstanding,  the interest
earned or expensed on such  amount and the average  rate earned or expensed  for
each of the years in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1997. The table
also shows the  average  rate  earned on all earning  assets,  the average  rate
expensed on all interest  bearing  liabilities,  the net interest spread and the
net interest  margin for the same periods.  The analysis is presented on a fully
taxable  equivalent  basis.  Nonaccrual loans were included in average loans for
the purpose of calculating the rate earned on total loans.

     Under Financial  Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 91 (SFAS 91), loan
fees and related costs are deferred and amortized as part of interest income.



Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis


                                                                        Years Ended December 31
                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1997                          1996                           1995
                                        ----------------------------  ---------------------------  --------------------------
                                         Average      Income/ Yield/   Average   Income/  Yield/    Average  Income/  Yield/
(In thousands)                           Balance     Expense  Rate(%)  Balance   Expense  Rate(%)   Balance  Expense  Rate(%)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            
ASSETS

Earning Assets
   Interest bearing balances
     due from banks                     $    4,678  $      233  4.98  $    5,258 $     291  5.54  $  2,069  $     120  5.82
Federal funds sold                          46,281       2,593  5.60      32,213     1,680  5.22    33,571      1,858  5.54
Investment securities - taxable            202,576      12,944  6.39     161,537    10,499  6.50   150,871     10,080  6.68
Investment securities - non-taxable         69,005       5,316  7.70      60,951     4,739  7.78    54,164      4,378  8.08
Mortgage loans held for sale,
   net of unrealized gains (losses)          5,567         407  7.31      17,768     1,333  7.50    16,383      1,250  7.63
Assets held in trading accounts              2,224         139  6.25       1,110        68  6.13     1,513         88  5.83
Loans                                      637,754      58,654  9.20     484,578    44,449  9.17   440,109     40,006  9.09
                                        ----------  ----------        ---------- ---------        --------  ---------
   Total interest earning assets           968,085      80,286  8.29     763,415    63,059  8.26   698,680     57,780  8.27
                                                    ----------                   ---------                  ---------
Non-earning assets                          96,541                        81,710                    74,023
                                        ----------                    ----------                  ---------
   Total assets                         $1,064,626                    $  845,125                  $772,703
                                        ==========                    ==========                  ========


LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Liabilities
   Interest bearing liabilities
   Interest bearing transaction
     and savings accounts               $  295,530  $    8,573  2.90  $  254,812 $   7,106  2.79  $235,411  $   6,167  2.62
   Time deposits                           462,785      25,296  5.47     343,906    18,663  5.43   300,530     16,097  5.36
                                        ----------  ----------        ---------- ---------        --------  ---------
     Total interest bearing deposits       758,315      33,869  4.47     598,718    25,769  4.30   535,941     22,264  4.15
Federal funds purchased and
   securities sold under agreement
   to repurchase                            38,481       2,036  5.29      27,681     1,406  5.08    24,862      1,308  5.26
Other borrowed funds
   Short-term debt                           3,296         114  3.46       2,369       129  5.44     1,511         92  6.06
   Long-term debt                           23,459       1,972  8.41       2,861       258  9.02     8,977        801  8.92
                                        ----------  ----------        ---------- ---------        --------  ---------
     Total interest bearing liabilities    823,551      37,991  4.61     631,629    27,562  4.36   571,291     24,465  4.28
                                                    ----------                   ---------                  ---------
Non-interest bearing liabilities
   Non-interest bearing deposits           120,823                       103,546                    99,839
Other liabilities                           12,527                        10,033                    10,067
                                        ----------                    ----------                  --------
   Total liabilities                       956,901                       745,208                   681,197
                                        ----------                    ----------                  --------
Stockholders' equity                       107,725                        99,917                    91,506
                                        ----------                    ----------                  --------
   Total liabilities and
   stockholders' equity                 $1,064,626                    $  845,125                  $772,703
                                        ==========                    ==========                  ========
Net interest margin                                 $   42,295  4.37             $  35,497  4.65            $  33,315  4.77
                                                    ==========                   =========                  =========


         The  following  table  shows  changes in interest  income and  interest
expense, resulting from changes in volume and changes in interest rates for each
of the years ended  December 31, 1997 and 1996, as compared to prior years.  The
changes in interest  rate and volume have been  allocated  to changes in average
volume and  changes in average  rates,  in  proportion  to the  relationship  of
absolute dollar amounts of the changes in rates and volume.


Volume/Rate Analysis


                                                              Years Ended December 31
                                                    1997 over 1996                 1996 over 1995
                                                       Yield/                          Yield/
(In thousands)                              Volume      Rate       Total     Volume     Rate       Total
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
Increase (decrease) in

Interest income
   Interest earning time deposits          $    (32)  $    (26)  $    (58)  $    176   $     (5)  $    171
   Federal funds sold                           734        179        913        (73)      (105)      (178)
   Investment securities - taxable            2,667       (222)     2,445        897       (478)       419
   Investment securities - non-taxable          627        (50)       577        528       (167)       361
   Mortgage loans held for sale, net of
     unrealized gains (losses)                 (915)       (11)      (926)       104        (21)        83
   Assets held in trading accounts               68          3         71        (24)         4        (20)
   Loans                                     14,046        159     14,205      4,105        338      4,443
                                            -------    -------   --------   --------    -------    -------

   Total                                     17,195         32     17,227      5,713       (434)     5,279
                                           --------    -------   --------   --------    -------    -------

Interest expense
   Interest bearing transaction and
     savings accounts                         1,136        331      1,467        525        414        939
   Time deposits                              6,455        178      6,633      2,352        213      2,565
   Federal funds purchased
     and securities sold under
     agreements to repurchase                   549         81        630        141        (43)        98
   Other borrowed funds
     Short-term debt                             50        (65)       (15)        45         (8)        37
     Long-term debt                           1,857       (143)     1,714       (525)       (17)      (542)
                                           --------    --------  --------   --------   --------   --------

   Total                                     10,047        382     10,429      2,538        559      3,097
                                           --------    -------   --------   --------    -------    -------
Increase (decrease) in
 net interest income                       $  7,148   $   (350)  $  6,798   $  3,175   $   (993)  $  2,182
                                            =======    ========   =======    =======    =======    =======



Provision for Loan Losses

           The provision for loan losses represents  management's  determination
of the amount necessary to be charged against the current period's earnings,  in
order to maintain the  allowance  for loan losses at a level which is considered
adequate, in relation to the estimated risk inherent in the loan portfolio.  The
provision for 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $4.0, $2.3 and $2.1 million, respectively.
The increase from 1997 to 1996 is attributable to acquisitions,  growth in loans
and bankruptcies in the bankcard portfolio.


Non-Interest Income

                  Total non-interest  income was $27.5 million in 1997, compared
to $25.1  million  in 1996 and $24.4  million  in 1995.  Non-interest  income is
principally  derived from three  sources:  fee income,  which  includes  service
charges on deposit  accounts,  trust fees,  credit card fees and loan  servicing
fees; income on the sale of mortgage loans and investment  banking profits;  and
any gain or loss on sold or called securities.

           The  table  below  shows  non-interest  income  for the  years  ended
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively,  as well as changes in 1997 from
1996 and in 1996 from 1995.


Non-Interest Income


                                                                                     1997                1996
                                                  Years Ended December 31        Change from         Change from
(In thousands)                                  1997       1996       1995           1996                1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
Trust income                                $  2,536    $  2,166   $  1,790   $    370   17.08%   $   376   21.01%
Service charges on deposit accounts            4,146       3,222      2,768        924   28.68        454   16.40
Other service charges and fees                 1,296       1,069        825        227   21.23        244   29.58
Income on sale of mortgage loans, 
   net of commissions                            415         287        325        128   44.60        (38) -11.69
Income on investment banking,
   net of commissions                          1,061         758      1,017        303   39.97       (259) -25.47
Credit card fees                               9,433       9,601     10,114       (168)  -1.75       (513)  -5.07
Mortgage servicing & related fees              7,766       7,095      6,092        671    9.46      1,003   16.46
Other income                                     893         648      1,400        245   37.81       (752) -53.71
Gains (losses) on sale of
   securities, net                                (1)        270         34       (271) -100.3        236  694.12
                                            --------    --------   --------   --------            -------
       Total non-interest income            $ 27,545    $ 25,116   $ 24,365   $  2,429    9.67%   $   751    3.08%
                                            ========    ========   ========   ========            =======



         Fee income for 1997 was $25.2  million,  an increase of $2 million,  or
8.7%, when compared with 1996 figures. Fee income for 1996 was $23.2 million, an
increase of $1.6 million,  or 7.4%,  when  compared with 1995 figures.  In 1997,
credit card fees  decreased  $168,000 from the 1996 level,  while  mortgage fees
increased  $671,000.  In 1996, credit card fees decreased $513,000 from the 1995
level, while mortgage fees increased $1 million.

         On the  consolidated  statements  of  income,  income  from the sale of
mortgage  loans and dealer bank profits is  presented  net of  commissions.  The
income recorded in these accounts results from the Company's  investment banking
operation,  as well as fee income  associated with the purchase of single family
residential  loans,  the  securitization  of those loans and subsequent sale and
delivery of those securities  against prior  commitments.  For 1997, income from
these areas  totaled  $1.5  million,  compared to $1.0  million in 1996 and $1.3
million in 1995.

Non-Interest Expense

         Non-interest  expense  consists  of  salaries  and  employee  benefits,
occupancy,  equipment  and other  expenses  necessary  for the  operation of the
Company.  Management  remains committed to controlling the level of non-interest
expense,  through the continued use of expense  control  measures that have been
installed.  The Company  utilizes an extensive  profit  planning  and  reporting
system involving all affiliates.  Monthly and annual profit plans are developed,
including manpower and capital expenditure budgets,  based on a needs assessment
of the business  plan for the upcoming  year.  These profit plans are subject to
extensive  initial  reviews and  monitored  by  management  on a monthly  basis.
Variances  from the plan are reviewed  monthly and,  when  required,  management
takes corrective  action intended to ensure financial goals are met.  Management
also  regularly   monitors   staffing  levels  at  each  affiliate,   to  ensure
productivity and overhead are in line with existing workload requirements.

         Non-interest  expense for 1997 was $46.9  million,  an increase of $5.0
million, or 11.9%, from 1996.  Non-interest  expense for 1996 was $42.0 million,
an increase of $2.1 million,  or 5.4%,  from 1995. The increase in  non-interest
expense in 1997, compared to 1996, primarily reflects the Company's acquisitions
on August 1, 1997.  The increase in  non-interest  expense in 1996,  compared to
1995,  primarily  reflects the Company's  entry into the Little Rock market,  an
expansion of the Company's Springdale facility and the increased amortization of
mortgage  servicing rights associated with the acquisition of approximately $400
million in mortgage loan servicing.

         The table below shows non-interest expense for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively,  as well as changes from 1997 to 1996 and
1996 to 1995, respectively.



Non-Interest Expense

                                                                            1997                1996
                                         Years Ended December 31        Change from         Change from
(In thousands)                          1997       1996      1995           1996                1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               
Salaries and employee benefits      $ 23,793  $  21,774  $ 21,192    $ 2,019     9.27%   $    582     2.75%
Occupancy expense, net                 2,857      2,310     2,512        547    23.68        (202)   -8.05
Furniture and equipment expense        3,219      2,416     2,167        803    33.24         249    11.50
Loss on foreclosed assets              1,064      1,135     1,401        (71)   -6.26        (266)  -18.99

Other operating expenses
   Professional services               1,584      1,553     1,400         31     2.00         153    10.92
   Postage                             1,281      1,277     1,319          4     0.31         (42)   -3.18
   Telephone                             965        861       841        104    12.08          20     2.38
   Credit card expenses                1,413      1,426     1,445        (13)   -0.91         (19)   -1.32
   Operating supplies                  1,147        958       846        189    19.73         112    13.23
   FDIC insurance                        175        942       830       (767)  -81.42         112    13.49
   Amortization of MSR's               2,578      2,120     1,371        458    21.60         749    54.63
   Amortization of intangibles         1,264        447       438        817   182.77           9     2.05

   Miscellaneous expenses              5,594      4,737     4,058        857    18.09         679    16.73
                                    --------  ---------  --------    -------             --------
       Total non-interest expense   $ 46,934  $  41,956  $ 39,820    $ 4,978    11.86%   $  2,136     5.36%
                                    ========  =========  ========    =======             ========


Income Taxes

         The provision  for income taxes for 1997 was $5.0 million,  compared to
$4.3 million in 1996 and $4.2 million in 1995.  The  effective  income tax rates
for  the  years  ended  1997,  1996  and  1995  were  29.5%,  29.6%  and  29.5%,
respectively.

Loan Portfolio

         The Company's  loan portfolio  averaged  $637.8 million during 1997 and
$484.6  million  during 1996.  As of December 31, 1997,  total loans were $794.2
million,  compared to $510.8 million on December 31, 1996. The most  significant
components  of the loan  portfolio  were  loans to  individuals,  in the form of
credit card  loans,  student  loans and single  family  residential  real estate
loans.  The loan  figures  for 1997 and 1995  include  $213.9  million and $28.4
million,  respectively,  increases  in  loans  as  a  result  of  the  Company's
acquisitions.

         The Company  seeks to manage its credit risk by  diversifying  its loan
portfolio,  determining  that borrowers  have adequate  sources of cash flow for
loan  repayment  without  liquidation  of  collateral,  obtaining and monitoring
collateral,  providing  an  adequate  allowance  for loan  losses and  regularly
reviewing loans through the internal loan review process.  The loan portfolio is
diversified  by  borrower,  purpose,  industry  and,  in the case of credit card
loans,  which are  unsecured,  by  geographic  region.  The Company seeks to use
diversification  within  the loan  portfolio  to  reduce  credit  risk,  thereby
minimizing the adverse impact on the portfolio,  if weaknesses develop in either
the economy or a particular  segment of borrowers.  Collateral  requirements are
based on credit  assessments of borrowers and may be used to recover the debt in
case of default.  The Company uses the  allowance for loan losses as a method to
value  the  loan  portfolio  at its  estimated  collectible  amount.  Loans  are
regularly   reviewed  to  facilitate  the   identification   and  monitoring  of
deteriorating credits.

         Consumer  loans  consist of credit card loans,  student loans and other
consumer  loans.  Consumer  loans were $355.9  million at December 31, 1997,  or
44.8% of total  loans,  compared to $295.9  million,  or 57.9% of total loans at
December 31, 1996. At year end, 1997, credit card loans were $179.8 million,  or
22.6% of total loans, versus $166.3 million, or 32.6% of total loans at December
31, 1996. This increase in credit card loans relates,  in part, to the Company's
efforts  to  maintain  its  market  share  through a variety  of  programs  that
encourage additional volume with minimum credit risk.

         At the end of 1997, commercial,  agricultural and financial institution
loans were $147.7 million,  or 18.6% of total loans, a 108.5% increase from 1996
year end's $70.8 million.  Real estate  construction loans at December 31, 1997,
were $43.2 million,  or 5.4% of total loans,  compared to $20.3 million, or 4.0%
of total loans at the end of 1996.  Single  family real estate loans at December
31,  1997,  were  $122.6  million,  or 15.4% of total  loans,  compared to $57.3
million, or 11.2% of total loans at December 31, 1996.

         The amounts of loans  outstanding at the indicated  dates are reflected
in the following table, according to type of loan.


Loan Portfolio


                                                               Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)                                 1997        1996        1995         1994        1993
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             
Consumer
   Credit cards                            $  179,828  $  166,346  $   154,808  $  164,501  $  168,673
   Student loans                               63,291      64,193       63,492      62,836      65,379
   Other consumer                             112,754      65,384       57,166      40,739      36,763
Real Estate
   Construction                                43,212      20,325       15,177       6,232       6,281
   Single family residential                  122,581      57,251       53,556      43,045      36,297
   Other commercial                           118,112      60,439       59,012      44,141      37,853
Commercial
   Commercial                                 110,480      41,375       36,553      29,047      20,007
   Agricultural                                31,161      21,003       20,588      16,048      16,088
   Financial institutions                       6,073       8,469        9,058       6,681       3,087
Other                                           6,691       6,028        2,546       5,122       3,998
                                           ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------

      Total loans                          $  794,183  $  510,813  $   471,956  $  418,392  $  394,426
                                            =========   =========   ==========   =========   =========


         The following table reflects the remaining maturities and interest rate
sensitivity of loans at December 31, 1997.


Maturity and Interest Rate Sensitivity of Loans


                                                             Over 1
                                                              year
                                                1 year       through          Over
(In thousands)                                  or less      5 years         5 years       Total
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Commercial, financial and agricultural      $   117,359    $   27,947     $   2,408    $  147,714
Real estate construction                         34,691         8,180           341        43,212
Other                                           434,399       140,107        28,751       603,257
                                             ----------    ----------     ---------    ----------

      Total                                 $   586,449    $  176,234     $  31,500    $  794,183
                                             ==========     =========      ========     =========


Predetermined  rate                         $   403,147    $  160,048     $  31,500    $  594,695
Floating rate                                   183,302        16,186            --       199,488
                                            -----------    ----------     ---------    ----------

      Total                                 $   586,449    $  176,234     $  31,500    $  794,183
                                             ==========     =========      ========     =========



Asset Quality

         A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will
not receive all amounts due according to the contracted terms of the loans. This
includes nonaccrual loans and certain loans identified by management.

         Non-performing  loans are comprised of (a) nonaccrual  loans, (b) loans
that are contractually past due 90 days and (c) other loans for which terms have
been restructured,  to provide a reduction or deferral of interest or principal,
because  of  deterioration  in  the  financial  position  of the  borrower.  The
subsidiary  banks  recognize   income   principally  on  the  accrual  basis  of
accounting.  When loans are  classified as nonaccrual,  the accrued  interest is
charged off and no further  interest is accrued.  Loans,  excluding  credit card
loans,  are placed on a  nonaccrual  basis  either:  (1) when there are  serious
doubts  regarding  the  collectability  of principal  or  interest,  or (2) when
payment of interest or  principal is 90 days or more past due and either (i) not
fully secured or (ii) not in the process of collection.  If a loan is determined
by  management  to be  uncollectible,  the portion of the loan  determined to be
uncollectible  is then charged to the  allowance  for loan  losses.  Credit card
loans are classified as sub-standard when payment of interest or principal is 90
days past due.  Litigation  accounts are placed on nonaccrual until such time as
deemed  uncollectible.  Credit card loans are generally charged off when payment
of interest or  principal  exceeds 180 days past due, but are turned over to the
credit  card  recovery  department,  to be  pursued  until such time as they are
determined, on a case-by-case basis, to be uncollectible.

         At December 31, 1997, impaired loans were $8.0 million compared to $4.9
million and $4.6 million in 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  At December 31, 1997,
non-performing loans were $8.1 million compared to $5.0 million and $3.2 million
in 1996 and 1995, respectively. These increases can be attributed to an increase
in credit card loans in bankruptcy and commercial loans that are 90 days or more
past due.


         The following  tables  present  information  concerning  non-performing
assets, including nonaccrual and restructured loans and other real estate owned.



Non-performing Assets

                                                                Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)                                 1997          1996        1995       1994        1993
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               
Nonaccrual loans                            $   5,826    $  2,652    $   1,638   $   2,052    $  2,813
Loans past due 90 days or more
  (principal or interest payments)              2,227       2,311        1,594         965       1,019
Restructured                                       --          --           --         115         344
                                            ---------     -------     --------    --------     -------
Total non-performing loans                      8,053       4,963        3,232       3,132       4,176
                                            ---------    --------     --------    --------     -------

Other non-performing assets
  Foreclosed assets held for sale               1,099         903        1,017       1,726       2,877
  Other non-performing assets                      --           6            7         780         992
                                            ---------    --------     --------    --------     -------
      Total other non-performing assets         1,099         909        1,024       2,506       3,869
                                            ---------    --------     --------    --------     -------

          Total non-performing assets       $   9,152    $  5,872    $   4,256   $   5,638    $  8,045
                                             ========     =======     ========    ========     =======

Net charge-offs to average loans                0.59%       0.49%        0.41%       0.43%       0.36%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans        1.59%       1.64%        1.78%       1.86%       1.88%
Allowance for loan losses to
  non-performing loans                        156.81%     168.58%      260.46%     248.73%     177.92%
Non-performing loans to total loans             1.01%       0.97%        0.68%       0.75%       1.06%
Non-performing assets to total assets           0.69%       0.67%        0.51%       0.79%       1.09%


         Approximately  $320,000 and $184,000 of interest income would have been
recorded for the periods ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively,  if the
nonaccrual  loans had been accruing  interest in accordance  with their original
terms.  There was no interest  income on the  nonaccrual  loans recorded for the
periods ended December 31, 1997 and 1996.


Allowance for Loan Losses

         An analysis of the allowance for loan losses for the last five years is
shown in the table below:



(In thousands)                                 1997          1996        1995       1994        1993
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
Balance, beginning of year                  $   8,366     $ 8,418     $  7,790     $ 7,430     $ 5,748
                                             --------      ------      -------      ------      ------

Loans charged off
   Consumer                                       617         378          423         154         173
   Credit card                                  3,283       2,392        1,851       1,690       1,761
   Real estate                                    103          36            8         213          77
   Commercial                                     356          78           22          53          40
                                             --------      ------      -------      ------      ------
       Total loans charged off                  4,359       2,884        2,304       2,110       2,051
                                             --------     -------      -------      ------      ------

Recoveries of loans previously charged off
   Consumer                                       132         153          284          72          78
   Credit card                                    365         309          143         306         211
   Real estate                                     12           8           10          23           8
   Commercial                                      71          21           42          19         430
                                             --------     -------      -------      ------      ------
       Total recoveries                           580         491          479         420         727
                                             --------     -------      -------      ------      ------
   Net loans charged off                        3,779       2,393        1,825       1,690       1,324
Allowance for loan losses of
   acquired institutions                        4,028          --          361          --          --
Additions to reserve charged to
   operating expense                            4,013       2,341        2,092       2,050       3,006
                                             --------     -------      -------      ------      ------
Balance, end of year                        $  12,628     $ 8,366     $  8,418     $ 7,790     $ 7,430
                                             ========      ======      =======      ======      ======


         The amounts of  additions  to the  allowance  during the year 1997 were
based on management's  judgment,  with consideration given to the composition of
the portfolio,  historical loan loss experience,  assessment of current economic
conditions,  past due loans, loans which could be future problems and net losses
from loans charged off for the last five years. It is  management's  practice to
review  the  allowance  on a  monthly  basis  to  determine  whether  additional
provisions  should be made to the allowance after  considering the factors noted
above.

         The Company  allocates the  allowance for loan losses  according to the
amount  deemed to be  reasonably  necessary  to provide for the  possibility  of
losses  being  incurred  within the  categories  of loans set forth in the table
below:


Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses


                                                              December 31
                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1997             1996               1995            1994              1993
                        ---------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- -----------------
                        Allowance  % of  Allowance  % of   Allowance  % of   Allowance % of   Allowance  % of
(In thousands)           Amount   loans*  Amount   loans*   Amount   loans*   Amount  loans*   Amount   loans*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          
Consumer                $ 1,317    22.2%  $   223    25.4%  $  262    25.7%  $   424    24.8%  $  399    25.9%
Credit cards              3,339    22.7%    2,626    32.5%   2,658    32.8%    2,625    39.3%   2,430    42.8%
Real Estate               4,038    35.7%    2,585    27.1%   2,704    27.0%    1,853    22.4%   1,723    20.4%
Commercial                2,130    18.6%      638    13.8%     839    14.0%      539    12.3%     500    10.0%
Other                        --     0.8%       --     1.2%      --     0.5%       --     1.2%      --     0.9%
Unallocated               1,804       --    2,294       --   1,955       --    2,349       --   2,378       --
                          -----            ------            -----            ------            -----

     Total              $12,628   100.0%  $ 8,366   100.0%  $8,418   100.0%  $ 7,790   100.0%  $7,430   100.0%
                         ======            ======            =====            ======            =====
<FN>
*Percentage of loans in each category to total loans
</FN>


Investments and Securities

         The Company's  securities  portfolio is the second largest component of
earning assets and provides a significant  source of revenue.  Securities within
the portfolio are classified as either  held-to-maturity,  available-for-sale or
trading.

         Held-to-maturity  securities,  which  include  any  security  for which
management  has the  positive  intent and  ability to hold until  maturity,  are
carried at historical cost,  adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion
of discounts.  Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted,  respectively,
to interest income using the constant yield method over the period to maturity.

         Available-for-sale  securities,  which  include any  security for which
management has no immediate  plans to sell, but which may be sold in the future,
are carried at fair value.  Realized  gains and  losses,  based on  specifically
identified  amortized  cost of the  specific  security,  are  included  in other
income.  Unrealized  gains and losses are  recorded,  net of related  income tax
effects,  in  stockholders'  equity.  Premiums and  discounts  are amortized and
accreted, respectively, to interest income, using the constant yield method over
the period to maturity.

         Held-to-maturity  and  available-for-sale  investment  securities  were
$155.9 million and $160.5 million,  respectively, at December 31, 1997, compared
to the held-to-maturity  amount of $128.1 million and available-for-sale  amount
of $109.5 at December 31, 1996. The Company's philosophy  regarding  investments
is  conservative,  based on  investment  type and maturity.  Investments  in the
held-to-maturity  portfolio include U.S. Treasury  securities,  U.S.  government
agencies,  mortgage-backed  securities and municipal securities.  As of December
31, 1997,  $73.3 million,  or 47.0%,  of the  held-to-maturity  securities  were
invested  in  U.S.  Treasury  securities  and  obligations  of  U.S.  government
agencies,  of which  approximately  $8.9  million,  or 12.1%,  was  invested  in
securities with maturities of one year or less, and $44.6 million, or 60.8%, was
invested  in  securities   with   maturities  of  one  to  five  years.  In  the
available-for-sale  securities,  $152.2 million,  or 94.8% were in U.S. Treasury
and U.S.  government agency securities,  86.5% of which will mature in less than
five years.  In order to reduce the Company's  income tax burden,  an additional
$79.0 million,  or 50.7%,  of the  held-to-maturity  securities  portfolio,  was
invested in tax-exempt  obligations of state and political  subdivisions.  There
are no  securities  of any one issuer  exceeding  ten  percent of the  Company's
stockholders'  equity at December 31, 1997. The Company has  approximately  $3.4
million,  or  2.1%,  in  mortgaged-backed  securities  in  the  held-to-maturity
portfolio.  The Company's  general  policy is not to invest in  derivative  type
investments,  except for  collateralized  mortgage-backed  securities  for which
collection of principal and interest is not subordinated to significant superior
rights held by others.

         As of December 31, 1997, the held-to-maturity  investment portfolio had
gross unrealized gains of $2.3 million and gross unrealized  losses of $412,000.
Net realized losses from called or sold  available-for-sale  securities for 1997
were  $1,000,  down from net  realized  gains of $270,000 in 1996 and $34,000 in
1995.

         Trading  securities,  which  include any security  held  primarily  for
near-term  sale,  are  carried  at fair  value.  Gains  and  losses  on  trading
securities are included in other income.

         Interest and dividends on investments in debt and equity securities are
included in income when earned.

         The Company's  trading  account is  established  and maintained for the
benefit of the investment  banking  division.  All activities in the account are
performed  by  investment  banking  personnel  solely  for  operations  in  that
division.  The trading account is typically used to provide inventory for resale
and is not used to take advantage of short-term price movements.

The  table  below  presents  the  carrying  value and fair  value of  investment
securities for each of the years indicated.

Investment Securities



                                                         Years Ended December 31
                        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1997                                       1996
                        --------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
                                      Gross       Gross    Estimated               Gross      Gross   Estimated
                         Amortized Unrealized  Unrealized    Fair     Amortized Unrealized Unrealized   Fair
(In thousands)             Cost       Gains     (Losses)     Value      Cost       Gains    (Losses)    Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Held-to-Maturity

U.S. Treasury           $   17,610   $   158   $  (37) $   17,731  $   24,700    $   179  $  (122)  $   24,757
U.S. Government
  agencies                  55,662       462      (61)     56,063      35,286        527     (167)      35,646
Mortgage-backed
  securities                 3,350        14      (30)      3,334       4,243         13      (69)       4,187
State and political
  subdivisions              79,039     1,638     (284)     80,393      63,586      1,116     (327)      64,375
Other securities               229         2       --         231         332          2       (4)         330
                         ---------    ------    -----   ---------   ---------     ------   -------   ---------
                        $  155,890   $ 2,274   $ (412) $  157,752  $  128,147    $ 1,837  $  (689)  $  129,295
                         =========    ======    =====   =========   =========     ======   ======    =========
Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury           $   70,402   $   763   $  (24) $   71,141  $   63,248    $ 1,006  $   (55)  $   64,199
U.S. Government
  agencies                  80,812       298      (50)     81,060      41,358        186     (135)      41,409
State and political
  subdivisions                 451        --       --         451          --         --       --           --
Other securities             6,601     1,222       --       7,823       3,102        805       --        3,907
                         ---------    ------    -----   ---------   ---------     ------   ------    ---------
                        $  158,266   $ 2,283   $  (74) $  160,475  $  107,708    $ 1,997  $  (190)  $  109,515
                         =========    ======    =====   =========   =========     ======   ======    =========




                                 Years Ended December 31
                        ----------------------------------------------
                                           1995
                        ----------------------------------------------
                                      Gross       Gross    Estimated
                         Amortized Unrealized  Unrealized    Fair
(In thousands)             Cost       Gains     (Losses)     Value
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           
Held-to-Maturity

U.S. Treasury           $   45,920   $   400   $  (46) $   46,274
U.S. Government
  agencies                  23,569       692      (18)     24,243
Mortgage-backed
  securities                 6,344        37      (55)      6,326
State and political
  subdivisions              58,154     1,536     (356)     59,334
Other securities               446        11       --         457
                         ---------    ------    -----   ---------
                        $  134,433   $ 2,676   $ (475) $  136,634
                         =========    ======    =====   =========
Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury           $   72,258   $ 2,102   $   (3) $   74,357
U.S. Government
  agencies                  11,905       264      (35)     12,134
State and political
  subdivisions                  51        --       --          51
Other securities             2,976       851       (2)      3,825
                         ---------    ------    -----   ---------
                        $   87,190   $ 3,217   $  (40) $   90,367
                         =========    ======    =====   =========


         The  following  table  reflects the amortized  cost and estimated  fair
value of debt  securities at December 31, 1997,  by  contractual  maturity,  the
weighted  average yields (for  tax-exempt  obligations on a fully taxable basis,
assuming  a 36.25%  tax  rate) of such  securities  and the  taxable  equivalent
adjustment  used in calculating  yields.  Expected  maturities  will differ from
contractual  maturities,  because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay
obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.


Maturity Distribution of Investment Securities


                                                          December 31, 1997
                                       Over       Over
                                      1 year     5 years
                           1 year     through    through    Over    No fixed                Par       Fair
(In thousands)             or less    5 years   10 years  10 years  maturity     Total     Value      Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Held-to-Maturity

U.S. Treasury            $   4,197  $ 12,905  $     508  $     --  $      --  $  17,610 $  17,550  $  17,731
U.S. Government
   agencies                  4,689    31,706     18,267     1,000         --     55,662    55,967     56,063
Mortgage-backed
   securities                   --        --         --        --      3,350      3,350     3,328      3,334
State and political
   subdivisions              4,141    29,788     34,940    10,170         --     79,039    79,290     80,393
Other securities                --        --         --        --        229        229       229        231
                          --------   -------   --------   -------   --------   --------  --------   --------
     Total               $  13,027  $ 74,399  $  53,715  $ 11,170  $   3,579  $ 155,890 $ 156,364  $ 157,752
                          ========   =======   ========   =======   ========   ========  ========   ========

Percentage of total          8.35%    47.72%     34.46%     7.17%      2.30%    100.00%
                           =======    ======    =======    ======    =======    =======

Weighted average             6.63%     6.97%      7.36%     8.98%      6.65%      7.21%
                           =======    ======    =======    ======    =======    =======

Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury            $  23,605  $ 45,342  $   1,455  $     --  $      --  $  70,402 $  70,520  $  71,141
U.S. Government
   agencies                 19,886    42,046     17,382     1,498         --     80,812    81,110     81,060
State and political
   subdivisions                 --        --        451        --         --        451       425        451
Other securities                --        --         --        --      6,601      6,601     6,601      7,823
                          --------   -------   --------   -------   --------   --------  --------   --------
     Total               $  43,491  $ 87,388  $  19,288  $  1,498  $   6,601  $ 158,266 $ 158,656  $ 160,475
                          ========   =======   ========   =======   ========   ========  ========   ========

Percentage of total         27.48%    55.22%     12.19%     0.95%      4.16%    100.00%
                           =======    ======    =======    ======    =======    =======

Weighted average             6.11%     6.27%      6.96%     7.26%      5.97%      6.31%
                           =======    ======    =======    ======    =======    =======

Deposits

         Total average deposits for 1997 were $879.1 million, compared to $702.3
million in 1996.  The year-end  balances of time  deposits  over  $100,000  were
$188.5 million in 1997,  compared to $88.7 million in 1996. The increase at year
end 1997 was due to the assumption of deposits through acquisitions.

         The following table reflects the classification of the average deposits
and the average  rate paid on each  deposit  category  which are in excess of 10
percent of average total deposits for the three years ended December 31, 1997.


Average Deposits Balances and Rates


                                                                   December 31
                                              1997                    1996                    1995
                                     ---------------------- ----------------------- -------------------------
                                       Average    Average      Average    Average      Average      Average
(In thousands)                         Amount    rate paid     Amount    rate paid     Amount      rate paid
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  
Non-interest bearing demand
   deposits                         $  120,823       --     $   103,546         --   $   99,839       --
Interest bearing transaction and
   savings deposits                    295,530     2.90%        254,812     2.79%       235,411     2.62%
Time deposits
   $100,000 or more                    138,874     5.36%         97,376     5.50%        79,486     5.53%
   Other time deposits                 323,911     5.51%        246,530     5.40%       221,044     5.29%
                                    ----------              -----------               ---------

      Total                         $  879,138              $   702,264              $  635,780
                                     =========               ==========               =========



Maturities of Large Denomination Time Deposits


                                                          Time Certificates of Deposit
                                                               ($100,000 or more)
                                                                   December 31
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1997                        1996
                                            ---------------------------  --------------------------
(In thousands)                                  Balance      Percent         Balance      Percent
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              
Maturing
   Three months or less                     $    63,213        33.53%   $    38,326        43.19%
   Over 3 months to 12 months                    91,005        48.27%        44,255        49.88%
   Over 12 months                                34,304        18.20%         6,150         6.93%
                                             ----------                  ----------
         Total                              $   188,522       100.00%   $    88,731       100.00%
                                             ==========                  ==========


Short-Term Borrowings

         Federal  funds  purchased  and  securities  sold  under  agreements  to
repurchase were $40.7 million at December 31, 1997, as compared to $29.1 million
at December 31, 1996. Other short-term  borrowings,  consisting of U.S. Treasury
Notes were $4.6  million at December  31,  1997,  as compared to $1.5 million at
December 31, 1996.

         The  Company  has  historically  funded its  growth in  earning  assets
through the use of core  deposits,  large  certificates  of deposits  from local
markets and federal funds purchased.  Management  anticipates that these sources
will provide necessary funding in the foreseeable  future. The Company's general
policy is to avoid the use of brokered deposits.

Long-Term Debt

         The  Company's  long-term  debt was $50.3  million and $1.1  million at
December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The increase at year end 1997 includes
the issuance of $20 million in long-term  debt and the issuance of $17.3 million
of trust preferred securities. These proceeds were used to fund a portion of the
purchase price of the  acquisitions  completed in 1997. The Company also assumed
$12 million of FHLB long-term advances during acquisitions.

Capital

         At December 31, 1997, the total capital reached $112.1 million, another
milestone in the Company's history.  Capital represents shareholder ownership in
the  Company -- the book value of assets in excess of  liabilities.  At year-end
1997, the Company's equity to asset ratio was 8.5% compared to 11.7% at year-end
1996. The decline in the equity to asset ratio from 1997 to 1996 is a reflection
of the purchase acquisitions completed during 1997.

         The  Federal  Reserve  Board's  risk-based  guidelines   established  a
risk-adjusted  ratio,  relating  capital to different  categories  of assets and
off-balance  sheet  exposures,  such as loan  commitments and standby letters of
credit.  These  guidelines  place a strong  emphasis on  tangible  stockholders'
equity as the core element of the capital base, with appropriate  recognition of
other components of capital.  At December 31, 1997, the Tier 1 capital ratio was
11.6%,  while the Company's  total  risk-based  ratio for total  capital,  as of
December  31,  1997,  was  12.8%,  both of which  exceed  the  capital  minimums
established in the risk-based capital requirements.


         The Company's  risk-based  capital ratios at December 31, 1997 and 1996
are presented below.


Risk-Based Capital

                                                                                    December 31
(In thousands)                                                                 1997            1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
Tier 1 capital
   Stockholders' equity                                                   $   112,082       $  102,825
   Trust preferred securities                                                  17,250               --
   Intangible assets                                                          (30,834)          (3,164)
   Unrealized gain on
     available-for-sale securities                                             (1,406)          (1,152)
   Other                                                                       (1,023)              --
                                                                          -----------       ----------

              Total Tier 1 capital                                             96,069           98,509
                                                                          -----------       ----------

Tier 2 capital
   Qualifying allowance for loan losses                                        10,422            6,621
                                                                          -----------       ----------

              Total Tier 2 capital                                             10,422            6,621
                                                                          -----------       ----------

              Total risk-based capital                                    $   106,491       $  105,130
                                                                           ==========        =========

Risk weighted assets                                                      $   831,560       $  527,931
                                                                           ==========        =========

Ratios at end of year
     Leverage ratio                                                             7.52%           11.20%
     Tier 1 capital                                                            11.55%           18.66%
     Total risk-based capital                                                  12.81%           19.91%
   Minimum guidelines
     Leverage ratio                                                             4.00%            4.00%
     Tier 1 capital                                                             4.00%            4.00%
     Total risk-based capital                                                   8.00%            8.00%


Liquidity and Market Risk Management

Parent Company

         The  Company has  leveraged  its  investment  in  subsidiary  banks and
depends upon the dividends paid to it, as the sole shareholder of the subsidiary
banks, as a principal source of funds for debt service requirements. At December
31, 1997, undivided profits of the Company's subsidiaries were approximately $60
million,  of which  approximately  $5 million was  available  for the payment of
dividends to the Company without regulatory approval.  In addition to dividends,
other sources of liquidity for the Company are the sale of equity securities and
the borrowing of funds.


Banking Subsidiaries

         Generally  speaking,  the Company's banking  subsidiaries rely upon net
inflows of cash from financing  activities,  supplemented by net inflows of cash
from operating activities, to provide cash used in investing activities. Typical
of most banking companies,  significant  financing  activities include:  deposit
gathering;  use of  short-term  borrowing  facilities,  such  as  federal  funds
purchased and  repurchase  agreements;  and the issuance of long-term  debt. The
banks' primary investing  activities  include loan originations and purchases of
investment securities, offset by loan payoffs and investment maturities.

         Liquidity  represents  an  institution's  ability to  provide  funds to
satisfy demands from depositors and borrowers,  by either converting assets into
cash  or  accessing  new or  existing  sources  of  incremental  funds.  A major
responsibility  of management is to maximize net interest  income within prudent
liquidity  constraints.  Internal corporate  guidelines have been established to
constantly  measure liquid assets, as well as relevant ratios concerning earning
asset levels and purchased  funds. The management and board of directors of each
bank subsidiary  monitors these same indicators and makes adjustments as needed.
At year end, each  subsidiary bank was within  established  guidelines and total
corporate  liquidity  remains  strong.  At  December  31,  1997,  cash  and cash
equivalents,  trading and available-for-sale  securities and mortgage loans held
for sale were 22.4% of total assets, as compared to 21.5% at December 31, 1996.

Market Risk Management

         Market risk arises from changes in interest rates. The Company has risk
management  policies to monitor and limit  exposure to market risk. In asset and
liability  management  activities,  policies  are in place that are  designed to
minimize   structural  interest  rate  risk.  The  measurement  of  market  risk
associated  with financial  instruments is meaningful  only when all related and
offsetting  on-  and  off-balance-sheet  transactions  are  aggregated,  and the
resulting  net  positions  are  identified.  Disclosures  about  fair  value  of
financial instruments,  which reflect changes in market prices and rates, can be
found in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

         Management  continually  reviews the  Company's  exposure to changes in
interest rates.  Among the factors considered during its evaluations are changes
in the mix of earning assets,  growth of earning  assets,  interest rate spreads
and  repricing  periods.  Management  forecasts and models the impact of various
interest rate  fluctuations  would have on net interest  income.  One such model
measures the interest rate  sensitivity  GAP,  which  presents,  at a particular
point in time, the matching of interest rate sensitive assets with interest rate
sensitive liabilities.  The following schedule presents the ratios of cumulative
rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities.



Interest Rate Sensitivity

                                                        Interest Rate Sensitivity Period
                                   0-30        31-90      91-180    181-365     1 to 2      2-5       Over 5
(In thousands, except ratios)       Days        Days       Days       Days       Years     Years       Years     Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
Earning assets
   Short-term investments        $  68,671  $      --  $      --  $      --  $      --  $      --  $      --  $    68,671
   Assets held in trading
    accounts                           449         --         --         --         --         --         --          449
   Investment securities            13,572     60,385     47,796     41,407     49,053     78,093     26,059      316,365
   Mortgage loans held for sale      8,758         --         --         --         --         --         --        8,758
   Loans                           119,570    248,303     74,639    143,937     98,452     77,782     31,500      794,183
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
     Total earning assets          211,020    308,688    122,435    185,344    147,505    155,875     57,559    1,188,426
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------

Interest bearing liabilities
   Interest bearing transaction
     and savings accounts          245,628         --         --         --     15,849     47,547     28,109      337,133
   Time deposits                    92,133    104,237    152,786    124,404    107,153     13,285     18,826      612,824
   Short-term borrowings            45,322         --         --         --         --         --         --       45,322
   Long-term debt                      360        721      1,081      2,163      3,259      9,515     33,182       50,281
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
     Total interest bearing
     liabilities                   383,443    104,958    153,867    126,567    126,261     70,347     80,117    1,045,560
                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------

Interest rate sensitivity GAP    $(172,423) $ 203,730  $ (31,432) $  58,777  $  21,244  $  85,528  $ (22,558) $   142,866
                                 =========  =========  =========  =========  =========  =========  ========== ===========
Cumulative interest rate
   sensitivity GAP               $(172,423) $  31,307  $    (125) $  58,652  $  79,896  $ 165,424  $ 142,866
Cumulative rate sensitive assets
   to rate sensitive liabilities     55.0%     106.4%     100.0%     107.6%     108.9%     117.1%     113.7%
Cumulative GAP as a % of
   earning assets                   -14.5%      2.63%      -0.0%       4.9%       6.7%      13.9%      12.0%



Impact of the Year 2000 Issue

        The Year 2000 Issue is the result of  computer  programs  being  written
using two digits  rather  than four to define the  applicable  year.  Any of the
Company's  computer programs that have  date-sensitive  software may recognize a
date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in
a  system  failure  or  miscalculations   causing   disruptions  of  operations,
including,  among other things, a temporary  inability to process  transactions,
send invoices, or engage in similar normal business activities.

        Based on a recent  assessment,  the Company  determined  that it will be
required  to modify or replace  portions of its  software  so that its  computer
systems  will  properly  utilize  dates beyond  December  31, 1999.  The Company
presently  believes that with modifications to existing software and conversions
to new  software,  the Year  2000  Issue  will be  mitigated.  However,  if such
modifications  and  conversions are not made, or are not completed  timely,  the
Year 2000 Issue could have a material impact on the operations of the Company.

        The Company has initiated  formal  communications  with its  significant
customers and vendors to determine the extent of which the Company is vulnerable
to those third  parties'  failure to  remediate  their own Year 2000 Issue.  The
Company's  total Year 2000  project  includes  estimates  of the impact of these
third party's Year 2000 Issue, and are based on presently available information.
However,  there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies on which
the  Company  relies will be timely  converted,  or that a failure to convert by
another company, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

        The  Company is  utilizing  both  internal  and  external  resources  to
reprogram,  or replace,  and test the software for Year 2000  modifications.  In
1996,  as part  of its  strategic  plan to  provide  quality  customer  service,
introduce  new products and improve  operating  efficiencies,  the Company began
converting  all  of  its  software  and  hardware  systems  to  state-of-the-art
technology.  As a  byproduct  of this  effort,  the  Year  2000  Issue  has been
addressed.  Much of this project is now underway and  implementation is expected
to be  completed  by  December  31,  1998.  Testing  for the year  2000  will be
completed in 1999. Management believes completion of the Year 2000 modifications
will not have a material effect on the Company's future consolidated  results of
operations or financial position.

        The project and the date on which the Company plans to complete the Year
2000 modifications are based on management's best estimates,  which were derived
utilizing  numerous   assumptions  of  future  events  including  the  continued
availability  of certain  resources,  third party  modification  plans and other
factors.  However,  there  can be no  guarantee  that  these  estimates  will be
achieved and actual results could differ  materially from those plans.  Specific
factors that might cause such material  differences include, but are not limited
to, the availability  and cost of personnel  trained in the area, the ability to
locate and correct all relevant computer codes, and similar uncertainties.

Quarterly Results

         Selected unaudited quarterly  financial  information for the last eight
quarters is shown in the table below.


                                                                Quarter
(In thousands, except per share data)          First        Second       Third     Fourth       Total
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               
1997
Net interest income                         $   8,886    $  9,212    $  10,836   $  11,481    $ 40,415
Provision for loan losses                         764         881        1,111       1,257       4,013
Non-interest income                             6,226       6,304        7,213       7,802      27,545
Non-interest expense                           10,732      10,664       12,132      13,406      46,934
Losses on sale of securities, net                  --          --          (1)          --         (1)
Net income                                      2,588       2,814        3,386       3,201      11,989
Basic earnings per common share                  0.45        0.49         0.59        0.57        2.10

1996
Net interest income                         $   7,979    $  8,279    $   8,676   $   8,871    $ 33,805
Provision for loan losses                         502         502          503         834       2,341
Non-interest income                             6,079       5,953        6,375       6,709      25,116
Non-interest expense                           10,450       9,962       10,846      10,698      41,956
Gains on sale of securities, net                  152         118           --          --         270
Net income                                      2,242       2,661        2,548       2,850      10,301
Basic earnings per common share (1)              0.39        0.47         0.45        0.50        1.81
<FN>
- ---------
(1)  Adjusted to give retroactive consideration to stock dividend in December, 1996.
</FN>


ITEM 8.       CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

                                      INDEX

Independent Accountants' Report.............................................
Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31, 1997 and 1996......................
Consolidated Statements of Income Years Ended
  December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow Years Ended
  December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity Years Ended
  December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
  December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................

     Note:  Supplementary  Data may be found in Item 7 "Management's  Discussion
and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations  - Quarterly
Results" on page 29 hereof.

                         INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT



Board of Directors
Simmons First National Corporation
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

         We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SIMMONS
FIRST  NATIONAL  CORPORATION  as of December 31, 1997 and 1996,  and the related
consolidated  statements of income,  changes in stockholders'  equity,  and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended  December 31, 1997.  These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

         We conducted our audits in accordance with generally  accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

         In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present  fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of SIMMONS
FIRST NATIONAL  CORPORATION as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of
its  operations  and its cash  flows for each of the three  years in the  period
ended  December 31, 1997,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.



                                                     /s/ Baird, Kurtz & Dobson

                                                      BAIRD, KURTZ & DOBSON


Pine Bluff, Arkansas
January 30, 1998




                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1997 and 1996

(In thousands)                                                                 1997             1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
ASSETS

Cash and non-interest bearing balances due from banks                    $     58,327       $   41,989
Interest bearing balances due from banks                                        4,106            8,312
Federal funds sold and securities purchased
   under agreements to resell                                                  64,565           18,980
                                                                          -----------        ---------
     Cash and cash equivalents                                                126,998           69,281
Investment securities                                                         316,365          237,662
Mortgage loans held for sale                                                    8,758           10,101
Assets held in trading accounts                                                   449              182
Loans                                                                         794,183          510,813
   Allowance for loan losses                                                  (12,628)          (8,366)
                                                                           ----------       ----------
     Net loans                                                                781,555          502,447
Premises and equipment                                                         28,621           20,764
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net                                            1,099              903
Interest receivable                                                            12,047            9,675
Mortgage servicing rights, net                                                  6,703            8,906
Intangible assets, net                                                         30,834            3,164
Other assets                                                                   12,716           18,247
                                                                          -----------       ----------
         TOTAL ASSETS                                                    $  1,326,145       $  881,332
                                                                          ===========        =========

LIABILITIES

Non-interest bearing transaction accounts                                $    154,544       $  126,568
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits                    337,133          264,554
Time deposits                                                                 612,824          345,245
                                                                          -----------       ----------
     Total deposits                                                         1,104,501          736,367
Federal funds purchased and securities sold
   under agreements to repurchase                                              40,733           29,079
Short-term debt                                                                 4,589            1,484
Long-term debt                                                                 50,281            1,067
Accrued interest and other liabilities                                         13,959           10,510
                                                                          -----------       ----------
     Total liabilities                                                      1,214,063          778,507
                                                                          -----------       ----------

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Capital stock
   Class A,  common,  par  value $1 a share 
     (par  value  $5 a share  in  1996),
    authorized 10,000,000 shares, 5,726,212
    issued and outstanding at 1997 and 5,705,415 at 1996                        5,726           28,527
Surplus                                                                        45,059           22,040
Undivided profits                                                              59,891           51,106
Unrealized appreciation on available-for-sale securities,
   net of income taxes of $799 at 1997 and $655 at 1996                         1,406            1,152
                                                                         ------------       ----------
     Total stockholders' equity                                               112,082          102,825
                                                                         ------------       ----------
         TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                      $  1,326,145       $  881,332
                                                                          ===========        =========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995



(In thousands, except per share data)                                 1997             1996             1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           
INTEREST INCOME
   Loans                                                          $   58,544        $   44,333      $    39,917
   Federal funds sold and securities purchased
     under agreements to resell                                        2,593             1,680            1,858
   Investment securities                                              16,490            13,664           12,996
   Mortgage loans held for sale, net of unrealized gains (losses)        407             1,333            1,250
   Assets held in trading accounts                                       139                66               88
   Interest bearing balances due from banks                              233               291              120
                                                                  ----------         ---------       ----------
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME                                                 78,406            61,367           56,229
                                                                  ----------        ----------       ----------

INTEREST EXPENSE
   Deposits                                                           33,869            25,769           22,264
   Federal funds purchased and securities sold
     under agreements to repurchase                                    2,036             1,406            1,308
   Short-term debt                                                       114               129               92
   Long-term debt                                                      1,972               258              801
                                                                  ----------        ----------      -----------
     TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE                                           37,991            27,562           24,465
                                                                   ---------        ----------       ----------

NET INTEREST INCOME                                                   40,415            33,805           31,764
   Provision for loan losses                                           4,013             2,341            2,092
                                                                   ---------        ----------       ----------
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION
 FOR LOAN LOSSES                                                      36,402           31,464            29,672
                                                                   ---------        ---------       -----------
NON-INTEREST INCOME
   Trust income                                                        2,536             2,166            1,790
   Service charges on deposit accounts                                 4,146             3,222            2,768
   Other service charges and fees                                      1,296             1,069              825
   Income on sale of mortgage loans, net of commissions                  415               287              325
   Income on investment banking, net of commissions                    1,061               758            1,017
   Credit card fees                                                    9,433             9,601           10,114
   Mortgage servicing and mortgage-related fees                        7,766             7,095            6,092
   Other income                                                          893               648            1,400
   Gains (losses) on sale of securities, net                             (1)               270               34
                                                                   --------         ----------       ----------
     TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME                                        27,545            25,116           24,365
                                                                   ---------        ----------       ----------

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
   Salaries and employee benefits                                     23,793            21,774           21,192
   Occupancy expense, net                                              2,857             2,310            2,512
   Furniture and equipment expense                                     3,219             2,416            2,167
   Loss on foreclosed assets                                           1,064             1,135            1,401
   Other operating expenses                                           16,001            14,321           12,548
                                                                   ---------        ----------       ----------
     TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE                                       46,934            41,956           39,820
                                                                   ---------        ----------       ----------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                            17,013            14,624           14,217
   Provision for income taxes                                          5,024             4,323            4,198
                                                                  ----------         ---------       ----------
NET INCOME                                                        $   11,989        $   10,301      $    10,019
                                                                   =========         =========       ==========
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE                                          $     2.10        $     1.81      $      1.77
                                                                   =========         =========       ==========
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                                        $     2.07        $     1.79      $      1.75
                                                                   =========         =========       ==========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.




                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995



(In thousands)                                                     1997         1996        1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   Net income                                                   $  11,989    $  10,301    $  10,019
   Items not requiring (providing) cash
     Depreciation and amortization                                  5,867        4,095        3,254
     Provision for loan losses                                      4,013        2,341        2,092
     Net (accretion) amortization of investment securities            291         (148)       1,076
     Deferred income taxes                                           (260)         152         (134)
     Provision for foreclosed assets                                  214          121          176
     (Gains) losses on sale of securities, net                          1         (270)         (34)
     (Gains) losses on sale of premises and equipment                   5         (141)           6
   Changes in
     Interest receivable                                              531       (1,722)      (1,664)
     Mortgage loans held for sale                                   1,343       16,058      (17,438)
     Assets held in trading accounts                                 (267)         366        2,186
     Other assets                                                   6,236         (631)      (1,160)
     Accrued interest and other liabilities                           571       (2,339)       2,507
     Income taxes payable                                            (155)          64         (685)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
         Net cash provided by operating activities                 30,379       28,247          201
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Net originations of loans                                      (74,138)     (41,389)     (25,371)
   Purchase of institutions, net of funds (paid) acquired         (16,040)        --          2,848
   Purchase of premises and equipment                              (2,940)      (7,596)      (8,301)
   Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment                       888        1,646        4,505
   Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets                            530           92          848
   Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale  securities               849          265         --
   Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale  securities     233,509      112,632       18,851
   Purchases of available-for-sale  securities                   (257,091)    (130,694)     (73,879)
   Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity  securities        43,371       50,419       84,364
   Purchases of held-to-maturity  securities                      (25,030)     (44,410)     (59,846)
   Purchase of mortgage servicing rights                             (376)      (6,159)        --
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
         Net cash used in investing activities                    (96,468)     (65,194)     (55,981)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Net increase in deposits                                        77,055       31,599       68,087
   Net advances (repayments) of short-term debt                     3,105       (3,611)      (7,603)
   Dividends paid                                                  (3,204)      (2,724)      (2,234)
   Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                        37,250         --           --
   Repayment of long-term debt                                       (615)        --           --
   Net increase (decrease) in federal funds purchased
    and securities sold under agreements to repurchase              9,997        8,218       (3,070)
   Issuance (repurchase) of common stock, net                         218         (676)          20
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
         Net cash provided by financing activities                123,806       32,806       55,200
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
   CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                57,717       (4,141)        (580)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
   BEGINNING OF YEAR                                               69,281       73,422       74,002
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR                          $ 126,998    $  69,281    $  73,422
                                                                =========    =========    =========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.




           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995


                                                                       Unrealized
                                                                      Appreciation
                                                                      On Available-
                                              Common                    For-Sale      Undivided
(In thousands)                                 Stock      Surplus    Securities, Net   Profits       Total
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                   
Balance, December 31, 1994                  $  18,387   $  19,827      $       233    $  45,253   $   83,700

Exercise of stock options--3,000 shares            10          10                                         20

Common stock issued in acquisition of
 Dumas Bancshares, Inc.--205,851 shares           686       2,814                                      3,500

Net income                                                                               10,019       10,019

Cash dividends declared ($0.40 per share)                                                (2,234)      (2,234)

Change in unrealized appreciation on
available-for-sale  securities, net of
income taxes of $1,032                                                       1,792                     1,792
                                             --------    --------       ----------     --------    ---------
Balance, December 31, 1995                     19,083      22,651            2,025       53,038       96,797

Exercise of stock options--16,500 shares           55          70                                        125

Repurchase of common stock                       (120)       (681)                                      (801)

Common stock dividend --1,901,776  shares       9,509                                    (9,509)

Net income                                                                               10,301       10,301

Cash dividends declared ($0.48 per share)                                                (2,724)      (2,724)

Change in unrealized appreciation on
available-for-sale  securities, net of
income tax credit of $497                                                     (873)                     (873)
                                             --------    --------       ----------     --------    ---------
Balance, December 31, 1996                     28,527      22,040            1,152       51,106      102,825

Common stock par value change                 (22,822)     22,822

Exercise of stock options--23,100 shares           23         258                                        281

Securities exchanged under
employee option plan                               (2)        (61)                                       (63)

Net income                                                                               11,989       11,989

Cash dividends declared ($0.56 per share)                                                (3,204)      (3,204)

Change in unrealized appreciation on
available-for-sale  securities, net of
income taxes of $144                                                           254                       254
                                             --------    --------       ----------     --------    ---------

Balance, December 31, 1997                  $   5,726   $  45,059      $     1,406    $  59,891   $  112,082
                                             ========    ========       ==========     ========    =========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1:  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

         Simmons First National  Corporation is primarily engaged in providing a
full  range of  banking  and  mortgage  services  to  individual  and  corporate
customers through its subsidiaries and branch banks in Arkansas.  The Company is
subject to competition  from other financial  institutions.  The Company also is
subject to the  regulation of certain  federal and state  agencies and undergoes
periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.

Use of Estimates

         The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

         Material  estimates  that are  particularly  susceptible to significant
change  relate  to the  determination  of the  allowance  for loan  losses,  the
valuation of foreclosed  assets and the allowance for foreclosure  expenses.  In
connection  with the  determination  of the  allowance  for loan  losses and the
valuation of foreclosed assets,  management obtains  independent  appraisals for
significant properties.

         Management  believes that the allowance for loan losses,  the valuation
of foreclosed  assets and the allowance for  foreclosure  expenses are adequate.
While  management  uses  available  information  to  recognize  losses on loans,
foreclosed  assets held for sale and foreclosure  expenses,  changes in economic
conditions,   particularly  in  Arkansas,  may  necessitate  revision  of  these
estimates in future  years.  In addition,  various  regulatory  agencies,  as an
integral part of their examination  process,  periodically  review the Company's
allowance  for loan losses,  valuation of  foreclosed  assets and  allowance for
foreclosure  expenses.  Such  agencies  may  require  the  Company to  recognize
additional losses,  based on their judgment of information  available to them at
the time of their examination.

Principles of Consolidation

         The consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of Simmons
First  National  Corporation  and  its  subsidiaries.  Significant  intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications

         Various items within the accompanying financial statements for previous
years have been  reclassified  to provide more  comparative  information.  These
reclassifications had no effect on net earnings.

Cash Equivalents

         For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company  considers due
from banks,  federal funds sold and  securities  purchased  under  agreements to
resell as cash equivalents.



Investments in Debt and Equity Securities

         Held-to-maturity  securities,  which include any security for which the
banking  subsidiaries  have  the  positive  intent  and  ability  to hold  until
maturity,  are carried at historical cost adjusted for  amortization of premiums
and accretion of  discounts.  Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted,
respectively, to interest income using the constant yield method over the period
to maturity.

         Available-for-sale securities, which include any security for which the
banking subsidiaries have no immediate plan to sell but which may be sold in the
future,  are  carried  at fair  value.  Realized  gains  and  losses,  based  on
specifically  identified amortized cost of the individual security, are included
in other income. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded, net of related income
tax effects, in stockholders'  equity.  Premiums and discounts are amortized and
accreted,  respectively, to interest income using the constant yield method over
the period to maturity.

         Trading  securities,  which  include any security  held  primarily  for
near-term  sale,  are  carried  at fair  value.  Gains  and  losses  on  trading
securities are included in other income.

         Interest and dividends on investments in debt and equity securities are
included in income when earned.

Mortgage Loans Held For Sale

         Mortgage  loans held for sale are  carried at the lower of cost or fair
value,  determined  using an  aggregate  basis.  Write-downs  to fair  value are
recognized  as a charge to  earnings  at the time the  decline in value  occurs.
Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans are acquired to reduce market risk on
mortgage loans in the process of  origination  and mortgage loans held for sale.
Amounts paid to investors to obtain forward  commitments are deferred until such
time as the related loans are sold.  The fair values of the forward  commitments
are not recognized  into the financial  statements.  Gains and losses  resulting
from sales of mortgage loans are recognized  when the respective  loans are sold
to  investors.  Gains and losses are  determined by the  difference  between the
selling  price  and the  carrying  amount of the loans  sold,  net of  discounts
collected or paid, commitment fees paid and considering a normal servicing rate.
Fees received from borrowers to guarantee the funding of mortgage loans held for
sale are  recognized  as  income or  expense  when the loans are sold or when it
becomes evident that the commitment will not be used.

Loans

         Loans  that  management  has the  intent  and  ability  to hold for the
foreseeable  future  or  until  maturity  or  pay-offs  are  reported  at  their
outstanding  principal  adjusted for any loans charged off and any deferred fees
or costs on originated loans and unamortized  premiums or discounts on purchased
loans.

         Discounts and premiums on purchased  residential  real estate loans are
amortized  to income  using the  interest  method over the  remaining  period to
contractual  maturity,  adjusted  for  anticipated  prepayments.  Discounts  and
premiums on purchased  consumer loans are recognized  over the expected lives of
the loans using methods that approximate the interest method.

Allowance for Loan Losses

         The  allowance  for loan losses is increased by  provisions  charged to
expense and reduced by loans  charged off, net of  recoveries.  The allowance is
maintained at a level considered  adequate to provide for potential loan losses,
based on management's evaluation of the loan portfolio, as well as on prevailing
and  anticipated  economic  conditions and  historical  losses by loan category.
General reserves have been established,  based upon the  aforementioned  factors
and  allocated to the  individual  loan  categories.  Allowances  are accrued on
specific  loans  evaluated  for  impairment  for which  the basis of each  loan,
including  accrued  interest,  exceeds the discounted  amount of expected future
collections of interest and principal or, alternatively,  the fair value of loan
collateral.

         A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will
not receive all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. This
includes  loans  that are  delinquent  90 days or more  (nonaccrual  loans)  and
certain  other  loans   identified  by   management.   Accrual  of  interest  is
discontinued and interest accrued and unpaid is removed at the time such amounts
are delinquent 90 days.  Interest is recognized  for nonaccrual  loans only upon
receipt and only after all principal  amounts are current according to the terms
of the contract.

Premises and Equipment

         Depreciable  assets are stated at cost, less accumulated  depreciation.
Depreciation  is charged to  expense,  using the  straight-line  method over the
estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and
amortized by the straight-line method over the terms of the respective leases or
the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter.

Foreclosed Assets Held For Sale

         Assets  acquired by  foreclosure  or in settlement of debt and held for
sale are valued at estimated  fair value,  as of the date of  foreclosure  and a
related valuation  allowance is provided for estimated costs to sell the assets.
Management  evaluates the value of foreclosed  assets held for sale periodically
and increases the valuation allowance for any subsequent declines in fair value.
Changes in the valuation allowance are charged or credited to other expense.

Intangible Assets

         Intangible  assets consist of "Goodwill"  and "Core deposit  premiums."
"Goodwill"  represents  the  excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of
acquired  subsidiaries  and branches.  "Core deposit  premiums"  represents  the
amount  allocated to the future  earnings  potential of acquired  deposits.  The
unamortized intangible assets are being amortized using the straight-line method
over periods ranging from 10 to 20 years.

Fee Income

         Periodic  bank  card  fees,  net  of  direct   origination  costs,  are
recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis, over the period the fee entitles
the  cardholder  to use the card.  Other  loan fees,  net of direct  origination
costs, are recognized as revenue on a yield basis over the term of the loans.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

         The  cost  of  mortgage  servicing  rights  acquired  is  amortized  in
proportion  to and  over  the  period  of,  estimated  net  servicing  revenues.
Impairment of mortgage  servicing  rights is assessed based on the fair value of
those rights.  Fair values are estimated using  discounted cash flows based on a
current market interest rate. For purposes of measuring  impairment,  the rights
are stratified based on the predominant risk  characteristics  of the underlying
loans. The predominant  characteristics  currently used for  stratification  are
type of loan and  interest  rate.  The amount of  impairment  recognized  is the
amount by which the capitalized  mortgage  servicing rights for a stratum exceed
their fair value.

         During 1995,  the Company  adopted  Statement  of Financial  Accounting
Standards Board No. 122 (SFAS 122),  "Accounting for Mortgage Servicing Rights".
SFAS 122  requires  that  mortgage  servicing  rights  retained  for  originated
mortgage  loans  that  are sold or  securitized  be  capitalized  based on their
relative fair values. The adoption of SFAS 122 did not have a material affect on
the  Company's  financial  position or the results of its  operations.  Mortgage
servicing  rights of $375,000 and $6,159,000 were  capitalized in 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

Allowance for Foreclosure Expenses

         The Company  charges  income for expected  costs that are incurred as a
result of the Company's responsibility as servicer of loans for other investors.
The charge to income is determined based on a number of variables, including the
amount of delinquent loans serviced for other  investors,  length of delinquency
and amounts previously  advanced on behalf of the borrower that the Company does
not expect to recover.

Income Taxes

         Deferred tax  liabilities and assets are recognized for the tax effects
of  differences  between  the  financial  statement  and tax bases of assets and
liabilities. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets,
if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Earnings Per Share

         Effective December 15, 1997, the Corporation  adopted the provisions of
SFAS No. 128,  Earnings Per Share (EPS),  which  requires dual  presentation  of
basic and diluted EPS for all entities with complex  capital  structures.  Basic
earnings per share is computed  based on the weighted  average  number of shares
outstanding  during each year.  Diluted earnings per share is computed using the
weighted  average  common  shares  and  all  potential  dilutive  common  shares
outstanding during the period.

The computation of per share earnings is as follows:




(In thousands, except per share data)             1997       1996      1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            
Net Income                                       $11,989   $10,301   $10,019
                                                 -------   -------   -------

Average common shares outstanding                  5,719     5,711     5,669
Average common share stock options outstanding        85        70        50
                                                 -------   -------   -------
Average diluted common shares                      5,804     5,781     5,719
                                                 -------   -------   -------

Basic earnings per share                         $  2.10   $  1.81   $  1.77
                                                 =======   =======   =======
Diluted earnings per share                       $  2.07   $  1.79   $  1.75
                                                 =======   =======   =======



NOTE 2:  ACQUISITIONS

         On  April 1,  1995  and  August  1,  1995,  the  Company  acquired  all
outstanding  stock of Dumas  Bancshares,  Inc.  (DBI)  and  Dermott  State  Bank
Bancshares, Inc. (DSBB), respectively,  in exchange for 205,851 shares of common
stock valued at $17.00 per share and cash of $3.9 million. The transactions were
accounted  for as a  purchase.  DBI and DSBB were  liquidated  into the  Company
leaving  Dumas  State  Bank,   First  State  Bank  and  Dermott  State  Bank  as
subsidiaries  of the  Company.  First State Bank was merged into  Simmons  First
National Bank and the names of the two  remaining  banks were changed to Simmons
First Bank of Dumas and Simmons First Bank of Dermott.

         In August, 1996, the Simmons First Bank of Dermott charter was moved to
Rogers,  Arkansas.  The three branches of Simmons First National Bank located in
Rogers,  Springdale  and Bella Vista,  Arkansas  were then sold to the relocated
bank and the bank name was changed to Simmons First Bank of Northwest  Arkansas.
The  banking  facility   remaining  at  Dermott,   along  with  its  assets  and
liabilities,  was  then  transferred  to  Simmons  First  Bank of Lake  Village,
Arkansas  and is now a branch of that bank.  The name of  Simmons  First Bank of
Lake Village was subsequently changed to Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas.

         On August 1, 1997, Simmons First National  Corporation acquired all the
outstanding capital stock of First Bank of Arkansas (FBAS), Searcy, Arkansas and
First Bank of Arkansas (FBAR), Russellville,  Arkansas, in a cash transaction of
$53 million and changed the respective  names of the banks to Simmons First Bank
of Searcy and Simmons First Bank of Russellville.  The transaction was accounted
for as a  purchase  and as such,  the  consolidated  operations  of the  Company
include the  operations of FBAS and FBAR from the  acquisition  date.  The banks
acquired had consolidated  assets, as adjusted of $362 million,  as of August 1,
1997. The total  acquisition  cost exceeded the market value of tangible  assets
and  liabilities  acquired  by $29  million.  The  intangible  assets  are being
amortized using the straight-line method over 15 years.

         The following table presents condensed pro forma  consolidated  results
of  operations  as if the  acquisitions  of FBAS and FBAR  had  occurred  at the
beginning of each year.  This  information  combines the  historical  results of
operations of the Company, FBAS and FBAR after the effect of purchase accounting
adjustments.  The 1997 and 1996 results of operations for FBAS and FBAR includes
a provision for loan losses of $732,000 and  $2,369,000,  respectively.  The pro
forma  information  does not purport to be  indicative of the results that would
have been  obtained if the  operations  had actually  been  combined  during the
period  presented and is not necessarily  indicative of operating  results to be
expected in future periods.




(In thousands, 
except per share data)      1997       1996
- ------------------------------------------------
                                
Total revenue              $121,239   $110,580

Net income                   11,872      8,740

Basic earnings per share       2.08       1.53


NOTE 3:  INVESTMENT SECURITIES

           The amortized cost and fair value of investment  securities  that are
classified as held-to-maturity and available-for-sale are as follows:


                                                         Years Ended December 31
                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1997                                       1996
                        --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
                                      Gross       Gross    Estimated               Gross      Gross   Estimated
                         Amortized Unrealized  Unrealized    Fair     Amortized Unrealized Unrealized   Fair
(In thousands)             Cost       Gains     (Losses)     Value      Cost       Gains    (Losses)    Value
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Held-to-Maturity

U.S. Treasury           $   17,610   $   158   $  (37) $   17,731  $   24,700    $   179  $  (122)  $   24,757
U.S. Government
  agencies                  55,662       462      (61)     56,063      35,286        527     (167)      35,646
Mortgage-backed
  securities                 3,350        14      (30)      3,334       4,243         13      (69)       4,187
State and political
  subdivisions              79,039     1,638     (284)     80,393      63,586      1,116     (327)      64,375
Other securities               229         2       --         231         332          2       (4)         330
                        ----------   -------   ------  ----------   ---------     ------   ------    ---------
                        $  155,890   $ 2,274   $ (412) $  157,752  $  128,147    $ 1,837  $  (689)  $  129,295
                         =========    ======    =====   =========   =========     ======   ======    =========

Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury           $   70,402   $   763   $  (24) $   71,141  $   63,248    $ 1,006  $   (55)  $   64,199
U.S. Government
  agencies                  80,812       298      (50)     81,060      41,358        186     (135)      41,409
State and political
  subdivisions                 451        --       --         451          --         --       --           --
Other securities             6,601     1,222       --       7,823       3,102        805                 3,907
                        ----------   -------   ------  ----------  ----------     ------   ------    ---------
                        $  158,266   $ 2,283   $  (74) $  160,475  $  107,708    $ 1,997  $  (190)  $  109,515
                         =========    ======    =====   =========   =========     ======   ======    =========



         Income earned on the above  securities for the years ended December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 is as follows:



(In thousands)           1997      1996      1995
- ------------------------------------------------------
                                  
Taxable
  Held-to-maturity     $ 4,635   $ 4,303   $ 6,949
  Available-for-sale     8,309     6,196     3,131

Non-taxable
  Held-to-maturity       3,538     3,164     2,914
  Available-for-sale         8         1         2
                       -------   -------   -------

         Total         $16,490   $13,664   $12,996
                       =======   =======   =======


         Maturities  of  investment  securities  at December  31,  1997,  are as
follows:



                                                Held-to-Maturity           Available-for-Sale
                                               Amortized      Fair          Amortized      Fair
(In thousands)                                   Cost         Value           Cost         Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
One year or less                            $    13,027   $    13,801   $    43,491    $   43,554
After one through five years                     74,399        75,837        87,388        88,022
After five through ten years                     53,715        53,724        19,288        19,576
After ten years                                  11,170        10,825         1,498         1,500
Mortgage-backed  securities not due
  on a single date                                3,350         3,334            --            --
Other securities                                    229           231         6,601         7,823
                                            -----------   -----------   -----------    ----------
         Total                              $   155,890   $   157,752   $   158,266    $  160,475
                                             ==========    ==========    ==========     =========




         The book value of securities  pledged as  collateral,  to secure public
deposits and for other  purposes,  amounted to $170,047,000 at December 31, 1997
and  $86,360,000  at December 31, 1996.  The  approximate  fair value of pledged
securities  amounted to  $171,068,000  at December 31, 1997 and  $87,399,000  at
December 31, 1996.

         The  book  value of  securities  sold  under  agreement  to  repurchase
amounted  to   $8,413,000   and   $169,000  for  December  31,  1997  and  1996,
respectively.

         The gross  realized  gains of $2,000 and  $270,000  and gross  realized
losses   of   $3,000   and  $0,   respectively,   were   the   result   of  sold
available-for-sale  securities  in 1997 and called bonds in 1996.  Proceeds from
sales in 1997 were $849,000.

         Approximately  9 percent of the state and  political  subdivision  debt
obligations are rated A or above. Of the remaining securities, most are nonrated
bonds and represent small,  Arkansas  issues,  which are evaluated on an ongoing
basis.

NOTE 4:  LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

       The various categories of loans are summarized as follows:



(In thousands)                                                                 1997             1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
Consumer
   Credit cards                                                            $  179,828        $ 166,346
   Student loans                                                               63,291           64,193
   Other consumer                                                             112,754           65,384
Real estate
   Construction                                                                43,212           20,325
   Single family residential                                                  122,581           57,251
   Other commercial                                                           118,112           60,439
Commercial
   Commercial                                                                 110,480           41,375
   Agricultural                                                                31,161           21,003
   Financial institutions                                                       6,073            8,469
Other                                                                           6,691            6,028
                                                                           ----------        ---------
Total loans before allowance for loan losses                               $  794,183        $ 510,813
                                                                           ==========         ========


         At December 31, 1997 and 1996,  impaired  loans totaled  $7,972,000 and
$4,912,000,  respectively.  All  impaired  loans  had  designated  reserves  for
possible loan losses.  Reserves  relative to impaired loans at December 31, 1997
were  $2,033,000  and $831,000 at December  31,  1996.  Interest of $297,000 was
recognized  on  average  impaired  loans of  $5,917,000  for 1997.  Interest  of
$260,000  was  recognized  on average  impaired  loans of  $4,212,000  for 1996.
Interest  recognized  on impaired  loans on a cash basis during 1997 or 1996 was
immaterial.

         As of December 31, 1997, credit card loans,  which are unsecured,  were
$179,828,000,  or 22.6%, of total loans versus  $166,346,000,  or 32.6% of total
loans at December 31, 1996. The credit card loans are  diversified by geographic
region to reduce credit risk and minimize any adverse  impact on the  portfolio.
Credit card loans are regularly  reviewed to facilitate the  identification  and
monitoring of creditworthiness.

         Transactions in the allowance for loan losses are as follows:




(In thousands)                                                        1997             1996              1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
Balance, beginning of year                                         $   8,366         $   8,418         $  7,790
Additions
   Provision charged to expense                                        4,013             2,341            2,092
   Allowance for loan losses of acquired institutions                  4,028                --              361
                                                                    --------         ---------          -------
                                                                      16,407            10,759           10,243
Deductions
   Losses charged to allowance, net of recoveries
     of $580 for 1997, $491 for 1996 and $479 for 1995                 3,779             2,393            1,825
                                                                    --------         ---------          -------

Balance, end of year                                               $  12,628         $   8,366         $  8,418
                                                                    ========          ========          =======


NOTE 5:  TIME DEPOSITS

         Time deposits  included  approximately  $188,522,000 and $88,731,000 of
certificates  of deposit of  $100,000 or more,  at  December  31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

         Deposits  are the  Company's  primary  funding  source  for  loans  and
investment  securities.  The mix and repricing  alternatives  can  significantly
affect the cost of this source of funds and, therefore, impact the margin.

NOTE 6:  INCOME TAXES

         The   provision   for  income  taxes  is  comprised  of  the  following
components:



(In thousands)                                                         1997            1996              1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
Income taxes currently payable                                     $   5,284         $   4,171         $  4,332
Deferred income taxes                                                  (260)               152            (134)
                                                                    -------          ---------          ------
Provision for income taxes                                         $   5,024         $   4,323         $  4,198
                                                                    ========          ========          =======



         Deferred income taxes related to the change in unrealized  appreciation
on available-for-sale  securities, shown in stockholders' equity, were $144,000,
($497,000) and $1,032,000, for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

         The tax effects of  temporary  differences  related to  deferred  taxes
shown on the balance sheet were:



(In thousands)                                                                 1997             1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        
Deferred tax assets
   Allowance for loan losses                                                $   3,432         $  2,952
   Valuation of foreclosed assets                                                 286              299
   Deferred compensation payable                                                  436              445
   Deferred loan fee income                                                       622              642
   Vacation compensation                                                          344              312
   Loan servicing reserve                                                         240              208
   Loan interest                                                                  205              164
   Other                                                                           23               22
                                                                             --------         --------
                                                                                5,588            5,044
                                                                             --------         --------
Deferred tax liabilities
   Accumulated depreciation                                                      (868)            (776)
   Available-for-sale securities                                                 (799)            (655)
Stock dividends                                                                  (216)            (133)
   Other                                                                         (265)            (155)
                                                                            ---------         --------
                                                                               (2,148)          (1,719)
                                                                            ---------         --------
Net deferred tax assets included in other assets
   on balance sheets                                                        $   3,440         $  3,325
                                                                             ========          =======


         A  reconciliation  of income tax expense at the  statutory  rate to the
Company's actual income tax expense is shown below.



(In thousands)                                                        1997             1996              1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
Computed at the statutory rate (34%)                                 $ 5,785          $  4,972          $ 4,834

Increase (decrease) resulting from
   Tax exempt income                                                 (1,126)           (1,018)            (935)
   Amortization of intangible assets                                      34                77               71
   State income taxes                                                    132               150              111
   Non-deductible expenses                                               108                62               61
   Other differences,  net                                                91                80               56
                                                                      ------          --------           ------

   Actual tax provision                                              $ 5,024          $  4,323          $ 4,198
                                                                      ======           =======           ======


NOTE 7:  LONG-TERM DEBT

         Long-term  debt  at  December  31,  1997  and  1996,  consisted  of the
following components.



(In thousands)                                                                  1997             1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
7.32% note due 2007, unsecured                                             $   20,000        $      --
9.75% note due 2008, secured by land and building                               1,021            1,067
5.62% to 8.41% FHLB advances due 1998 to 2015,                                 12,010               --
  secured by residential real estate loans
Trust preferred securities                                                     17,250               --
                                                                           ----------        ---------
   Total long-term debt                                                    $   50,281        $   1,067
                                                                            =========         ========


         During the  second  quarter of 1997,  the  Corporation  formed a wholly
owned  grantor  trust  subsidiary  (the  Trust)  to issue  preferred  securities
representing  undivided  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust and to
invest  the  gross  proceeds  of such  Preferred  Securities  into  notes of the
Corporation.  The sole assets of the Trust are $17.8 million aggregate principal
amount of the Corporation's  9.12%  Subordinated  Debenture Notes due 2027 which
are redeemable  beginning in 2002. Such securities qualify as Tier 1 Capital for
regulatory purposes.

         Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 1997 are:




                                                                                           Annual
(In thousands)                                                              Year          Maturities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
                                                                            1998             $    4,325
                                                                            1999                  3,259
                                                                            2000                  3,257
                                                                            2001                  3,170
                                                                            2002                  3,088
                                                                      Thereafter                 33,182

                                                                           Total             $   50,281
                                                                                              =========



NOTE 8:  CAPITAL STOCK

         In addition to the common  stock from which stock has been  issued,  as
shown on the balance sheet, the following classes of stock have been authorized.

     Class B common stock of $1.00 par value per share,  authorized  300 shares:
none issued.

     Class A preferred stock of $100.00 par value per share,  authorized  50,000
shares: none issued.

     Class B preferred stock of $100.00 par value per share,  authorized  50,000
shares: none issued.

NOTE 9:  TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

         At  December  31,  1997  and  1996,  the  subsidiary  banks  had  loans
outstanding  to  executive  officers,  directors  and to  companies in which the
banks' executive  officers or directors were principal  owners, in the amount of
$17,809,000 in 1997 and $9,474,000 in 1996.



(In thousands)                                                                  1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         
Balance, beginning of year                                                  $   9,474
New loans                                                                       5,938
Repayments                                                                       (881)
Loans of  acquired institutions                                                 3,278
                                                                             --------

Balance, end of year                                                        $  17,809
                                                                             ========



         In management's  opinion, such loans and other extensions of credit and
deposits  were  made  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  were  made on
substantially the same terms (including  interest rates and collateral) as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons.  Further,
in management's  opinion,  these loans did not involve more than the normal risk
of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

NOTE 10: EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

         The Company's  401(k)  retirement  plan, which has been in effect since
January 1, 1991, covers substantially all employees. Employees may contribute up
to 12% of their compensation, with the Company and its subsidiaries matching 25%
of the employee's  contribution on the first 5% of the employee's  compensation.
The  charges  to  income  for  this  contribution  in 1997,  1996 and 1995  were
$130,000, $134,000 and $129,000, respectively.

         The Company and its  subsidiaries  have a discretionary  profit sharing
and employee stock ownership plan covering all employees.  The charges to income
for the plan were $896,000 for 1997, $730,000 for 1996 and $640,000 for 1995.

         The Board of Directors  has adopted  incentive and  nonqualified  stock
option  plans.  Pursuant to the plan shares are reserved for future  issuance by
the Company,  upon exercise of stock options to be granted to officers and other
key employees.

         In 1996, The Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board adopted  Financial
Accounting   Standards  No.  123  (SFAS  123),   "Accounting   for   Stock-Based
Compensation". This statement establishes an alternative fair value-based method
of  accounting  for  stock-based  compensation  plans.  The Company  applies APB
Opinion  25 and  related  Interpretations  in  accounting  for the  plan  and no
compensation  cost has been recognized.  If the Company had elected to recognize
compensation  cost for options granted in 1995, 1996 and 1997, based on the fair
value of the options  granted at the grant date as  prescribed  by SFAS No. 123,
net  income and  earnings  per share  would  have been  reduced to the pro forma
amounts indicated below:



(In thousands except per share data)                                  1997             1996              1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
Net income - as reported                                           $  11,989         $  10,301         $ 10,019
Net income - pro forma                                                11,732            10,089            9,836
Basic earnings per share - as reported                                  2.10              1.81             1.77
Basic earnings per share - pro forma                                    2.06              1.77             1.74


         The above pro forma amounts  include only the effect of 1995,  1996 and
1997 option  grants and  therefore  may not be  representative  of the pro forma
impact in future years.

         The weighted  average fair values of options  granted during 1997, 1996
and 1995 were $7.54, $7.00 and $5.06 per share, respectively.  The fair value of
each option  grant is  estimated  on the date of grant  using the  Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the following assumptions:



                                                                      1997             1996            1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             
Expected dividend yield                                                1.99%           1.88%            2.12%
Expected stock price volatility                                       16.00%          16.00%           16.00%
Risk-free interest rate                                                6.33%           6.32%            6.51%
Expected life of options                                             7 years         7 years          7 years


         The table below summarizes the  transactions  under the Company's stock
option plan at December  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995 and changes  during the years
then ended:



                                                     1997                     1996                   1995
                                            -----------------------  ----------------------- -----------------------
                                                          Weighted               Weighted                Weighted
                                                           Average                Average                 Average
                                              Shares     Exercisable    Shares   Exercisable   Shares   Exercisable
                                               (000)        Price        (000)      Price       (000)      Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        
Outstanding, beginning of year                    189      $16.80          157     $ 12.96         104   $ 9.64
Granted                                            56       26.65           49       25.56          56    18.82
Forfeited                                          (1)      25.67           --          --          --       --
Exercised                                         (23)       8.77          (17)       7.11         (3)     6.67
                                             --------                 --------                  ------

Outstanding, end of year                          221       20.03          189       16.80         157    12.96
                                             ========                 ========                  ======

Exercisable, end of year                          123      $16.51          113     $ 12.09          87    $8.59
                                             ========                 ========                  ======



       The following table summarizes  information about stock options under the
plan outstanding at December 31, 1997:




                                            Options Outstanding                        Options Exercisable
                                                 Weighted-
                                                  Average          Weighted-                          Weighted-
                                 Number          Remaining          Average           Number           Average
         Range of              Outstanding      Contractual        Exercise         Exercisable       Exercise
     Exercise Prices              (000)            Life              Price             (000)            Price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        
$ 6.67    to   $12.33             56                2 Years         $ 9.51              53             $ 9.58
$15.58    to   $20.50             65                5 Years         $18.37              41             $18.25
$22.17    to   $34.50            100                9 Years         $26.92              29             $26.52


         Also,  the Company has deferred  compensation  agreements  with certain
active and retired  officers.  The agreements  provide  monthly  payments which,
together  with  payments  from the  deferred  annuities  issued  pursuant to the
terminated  pension  plan,  equal 50 percent of  average  compensation  prior to
retirement or death. The charges to income for the plans were $174,000 for 1997,
$196,000 for 1996 and $184,000 for 1995. Such charges reflect the  straight-line
accrual  over the  employment  period of the present  value of benefits due each
participant,  as of their full  eligibility  date,  using an 8% discount factor.

NOTE 11: ADDITIONAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

         In  connection  with  acquisitions,  the  Company  acquired  assets and
assumed liabilities as follows:




(In thousands)                          1997          1996        1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      
Fair value of assets acquired         $ 361,862    $    --     $  61,278
Liabilities assumed                    (308,862)        --       (53,878)
Common stock issued                        --           --        (3,500)
                                      ---------    ---------   ---------
Cash paid                                53,000         --         3,900
Funds acquired                          (36,960)        --        (6,748)
                                      ---------    ---------   ---------
Net funds paid (acquired)             $  16,040    $    --     $  (2,848)
                                      =========    =========   =========

Additional cash payment information

   Interest paid                      $  37,159    $  27,414   $  23,093
   Income taxes paid                      4,869        4,237       3,851



NOTE 12:  OTHER EXPENSE

    Other operating expenses consists of the following:



(In thousands)                                1997      1996      1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
Professional services                       $ 1,584   $ 1,553   $ 1,400
Postage                                       1,281     1,277     1,319
Telephone                                       965       861       841
Credit card expense                           1,413     1,426     1,445
Operating supplies                            1,147       958       846
FDIC insurance                                  175       942       830
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights     2,578     2,120     1,371
Amortization of intangible assets             1,264       447       438
Miscellaneous expense                         5,594     4,737     4,058
                                            -------   -------   -------
         Total                              $16,001   $14,321   $12,548
                                            =======   =======   =======


       The  Company  had   aggregate   annual   rental   equipment   expense  of
approximately  $888,000  in 1997,  $376,000 in 1996 and  $148,000  in 1995.  The
Company had aggregate annual rental occupancy expense of approximately  $556,000
in 1997, $530,000 in 1996 and $516,000 in 1995.

NOTE 13: DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

         The following  methods and  assumptions  were used to estimate the fair
value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash and Cash Equivalents

         The carrying  amount for cash and cash  equivalents  approximates  fair
value.

Held-To-Maturity Securities

         Fair values for investment  securities  equal quoted market prices,  if
available. If quoted market prices are not available,  fair values are estimated
based on quoted market prices of similar securities.

Available-For-Sale Securities and Trading Securities

         Fair value for trading and  available-for-sale  securities,  which also
are the amounts  recognized in the balance sheet, equal quoted market prices, if
available. If quoted market prices are not available,  fair values are estimates
based on quoted market prices of similar securities.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

         For  homogeneous  categories of loans,  such as mortgage loans held for
sale,  fair value is estimated,  using the quoted  market prices for  securities
backed by similar loans, adjusted for differences in loan characteristics.

Loans

         The fair value of loans is  estimated  by  discounting  the future cash
flows, using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers
with similar credit ratings and for the same  remaining  maturities.  Loans with
similar  characteristics  were aggregated for purposes of the calculations.  The
carrying amount of accrued interest approximates its fair value.

Deposits

         The fair value of demand  deposits,  savings  accounts and money market
deposits is the amount  payable on demand at the  reporting  date  (i.e.,  their
carrying amount).  The fair value of fixed-maturity  time deposits is estimated,
using a  discounted  cash flow  calculation  that  applies  the rates  currently
offered for deposits of similar  remaining  maturities.  The carrying  amount of
accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.

Federal Funds  Purchased,  Securities  Sold Under  Agreement to  Repurchase  and
Short-Term Debt

         The carrying amount for federal funds purchased,  securities sold under
agreement to repurchase  and short-term  debt are a reasonable  estimate of fair
value.

Long-Term Debt

         Rates  currently  available to the Company for debt with similar  terms
and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing debt.


Commitments to Extend Credit, Letters of Credit and Lines of Credit

         The fair value of  commitments  is estimated  using the fees  currently
charged to enter into  similar  agreements,  taking into  account the  remaining
terms of the agreements and the present  creditworthiness of the counterparties.
For fixed  rate loan  commitments,  fair  value also  considers  the  difference
between  current  levels of interest  rates and the  committed  rates.  The fair
values of  letters  of credit  and lines of credit  are based on fees  currently
charged  for  similar  agreements  or on the  estimated  cost  to  terminate  or
otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.

         The following table  represents  estimated fair values of the Company's
financial  instruments.  The fair  values of certain of these  instruments  were
calculated by discounting  expected cash flows. This method involves significant
judgments by management considering the uncertainties of economic conditions and
other factors  inherent in the risk  management of financial  instruments.  Fair
value is the estimated amount at which financial assets or liabilities  could be
exchanged in a current  transaction  between  willing  parties,  other than in a
forced or  liquidation  sale.  Because  no market  exists  for  certain of these
financial  instruments  and  because  management  does not  intend to sell these
financial  instruments,  the Company does not know whether the fair values shown
below represent values at which the respective  financial  instruments  could be
sold individually or in the aggregate.




                                                December 31, 1997           December 31, 1996
                                            --------------------------  ---------------------
                                               Carrying       Fair          Carrying       Fair
(In thousands)                                  Amount        Value          Amount        Value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Financial assets
   Cash and cash equivalents                $   126,998   $   126,998   $    69,281    $   69,281
   Held-to-maturity securities                  155,890       157,752       128,147       129,295
   Available-for-sale securities                160,475       160,475       109,515       109,515
   Assets held in trading accounts                  449           449           182           182
   Mortgage loans held for sale                   8,758         8,758        10,101        10,101
   Interest receivable                           12,047        12,047         9,675         9,675
   Loans, net                                   781,555       788,440       502,447       514,977

Financial liabilities
   Non-interest bearing transaction accounts    154,544       154,544       126,568       126,568
   Interest bearing transaction accounts and
     savings deposits                           337,133       337,133       264,554       264,554
   Time deposits                                612,824       613,094       345,245       348,589
   Federal funds purchased and securities
     sold under agreements to repurchase         40,733        40,733        29,079        29,079
   Short-term debt                                4,589         4,589         1,484         1,484
   Long-term debt                                50,281        50,275         1,067         1,162
   Interest payable                               6,213         6,213         3,238         3,238

Unrecognized financial instruments (net
   of contract amount)
     Letters of credit                               --            --            --            --
     Commitments to extend credit                    --            --            --            --



         The  fair  value of  commitments  to  extend  credit  does  not  differ
materially from the notional or principal amounts.



NOTE 14:  SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES AND CONCENTRATIONS

         Generally accepted accounting  principles require disclosure of certain
significant estimates and current vulnerabilities due to certain concentrations.
Estimates related to the allowance for loan losses and certain concentrations of
credit risk are reflected in Note 4.

       The Company has identified the computer systems that could be affected by
the "Year 2000" issue. The Year 2000 problem is the result of computer  programs
being written using two digits rather than four to define the  applicable  year.
The  Company is  addressing  the issue by  modifying  existing  software  and/or
converting to new software.

       It is the Company's policy to expense  maintenance or modification  costs
as incurred,  while the costs of new software (and hardware) are capitalized and
amortized  over the  their  useful  life.  It is  reasonably  possible  that the
Company's  estimate that it will recover the carrying amount of certain existing
software  (and  hardware)  will  change  in the  near  term as a  result  of the
Company's Year 2000 resolution decisions.

NOTE 15:  COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT RISK

         The  Company  grants   agri-business,   credit  card,   commercial  and
residential  loans to  customers  throughout  the state.  Commitments  to extend
credit are agreements to lend to a customer, as long as there is no violation of
any condition  established  in the contract.  Commitments  generally  have fixed
expiration dates or other termination  clauses and may require payment of a fee.
Since a portion of the  commitments  may expire  without  being drawn upon,  the
total commitment amounts do not necessarily  represent future cash requirements.
Each  customer's  creditworthiness  is evaluated on a  case-by-case  basis.  The
amount of collateral  obtained,  if deemed  necessary,  is based on management's
credit evaluation of the counterparty.  Collateral held varies,  but may include
accounts receivable,  inventory, property, plant and equipment,  commercial real
estate and residential real estate.

         At December 31, 1997, the Company had outstanding commitments to extend
credit  aggregating  approximately  $154,759,000 and $90,164,000 for credit card
commitments and other loan commitments,  respectively.  At December 31, 1996 the
Company had outstanding  commitments to extend credit aggregating  approximately
$160,938,000  and  $102,574,000  for  credit  card  commitments  and other  loan
commitments, respectively.

     Letters  of credit are  conditional  commitments  issued by the  Company to
guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  Those  guarantees are
primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including
commercial  paper,  bond  financing  and similar  transactions.  The credit risk
involved in issuing  letters of credit is essentially  the same as that involved
in extending loans to customers.  The Company had total  outstanding  letters of
credit  amounting to  $6,775,000  and  $2,113,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively, with terms ranging from 90 days to one year.

         Mortgage  loans  serviced  for others  totaled  $1.3  billion  and $1.5
billion at December 31, 1997 and 1996,  respectively and are not included in the
accompanying  balance  sheets.  A reserve of $710,000 has been  established  for
potential  loss  obligations,  based on  management's  evaluation of a number of
variables,   including  the  amount  of  delinquent  loans  serviced  for  other
investors,  length of delinquency and amounts  previously  advanced on behalf of
the borrower that the Company does not expect to recover. Such reserve is netted
against  foreclosure  receivables  included in other  assets.  The  transactions
included in that reserve are as follows:



(In thousands)                      1997       1996       1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                               
Balance, beginning of year        $   566    $   573    $   210

Additions
   Provision charged to reserve       759        864      1,349

Deductions
   Losses charged to reserve         (615)      (871)      (986)
                                  -------    -------    -------

Balance, end of year              $   710    $   566    $   573
                                  =======    =======    =======



       Custodial  escrow  balances  maintained in connection  with the foregoing
loan  servicing and included in deposits,  were  approximately  $11,313,000  and
$11,700,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

         At December 31, 1997, the Company did not have  concentrations of 5% or
more of the investment portfolio in any bonds issued by a single municipality.

NOTE 16:  FUTURE CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

       In June 1997,  the FASB  issued SFAS No.  130,  "Reporting  Comprehensive
Income."  This  Statement  establishes  standards  for  reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components.  Comprehensive income is defined as the
change in equity of a business  enterprise during a period from transactions and
other events and circumstances from nonowner sources. It includes all changes in
equity except those resulting from  investments by owners and  distributions  to
owners.  This  Statement  requires  that  all  items  that  are  required  to be
recognized under accounting  standards as components of comprehensive  income be
reported in a financial  statement that is displayed with the same prominence as
other  financial  statements.  This  Statement  is  effective  for fiscal  years
beginning after December 15, 1997.  Management has not yet determined the impact
that  this  Statement  will  have  on  the  Company's  consolidated  results  of
operations or financial  position.  However,  any impact will be in presentation
only.

       In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131,  "Disclosures  about Segments
of an Enterprise and Related  Information." This Statement establishes standards
for  reporting   information  about  operating   segments  in  annual  financial
statements of public business  enterprises  and requires  disclosure of selected
information about operating segments in interim financial reports. The Statement
is effective for financial  statements for periods  beginning after December 15,
1997.  Management  believes that the adoption of this  Statement will not have a
material effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial
position.

NOTE 17:  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

         The Company and/or its subsidiary  banks have various  unrelated  legal
proceedings,  most of which involve loan foreclosure activity pending, which, in
the  aggregate,  are not  expected  to have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries.

NOTE 18:  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

         The  Company's  subsidiaries  are  subject  to a  legal  limitation  on
dividends that can be paid to the parent  company  without prior approval of the
applicable regulatory agencies. The approval of the Office of the Comptroller of
the  Currency  is  required,  if the total of all the  dividends  declared  by a
national  bank in any calendar  year  exceeds the total of its net  profits,  as
defined,  for that year, combined with its retained net profits of the preceding
two years.  Arkansas bank  regulators  have specified that the maximum  dividend
limit state banks may pay to the parent company without prior approval is 75% of
the current year earnings plus 75% of the retained net earnings of the preceding
year.  At  December  31,  1997,  the  Company   subsidiaries  had  approximately
$5,000,000  in  undivided  profits  available  for payment of  dividends  to the
Company, without prior approval of the regulatory agencies.

       The  Company's  subsidiaries  are subject to various  regulatory  capital
requirements  administered  by the  federal  banking  agencies.  Failure to meet
minimum  capital  requirements  can  initiate  certain  mandatory  and  possibly
additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a
direct  material  effect on the Company's  financial  statements.  Under capital
adequacy  guidelines and the regulatory  framework for prompt corrective action,
the Company must meet  specific  capital  guidelines  that involve  quantitative
measures of the  Company's  assets,  liabilities  and certain  off-balance-sheet
items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company's capital
amounts and  classifications  are also subject to  qualitative  judgments by the
regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

       Quantitative   measures  established  by  regulation  to  ensure  capital
adequacy  requires the Company to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth
in the table below) of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the  regulations)
to  risk-weighted  assets (as  defined)  and of Tier 1 capital  (as  defined) to
average assets (as defined).  Management believes that, as of December 31, 1997,
the Company meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.

       As of the most recent notification from regulatory agencies,  the Company
and subsidiaries were well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt
corrective  action.  To be  categorized  as well  capitalized,  the  Company and
subsidiaries must maintain minimum total risk-based,  Tier 1 risk-based and Tier
1 leverage  ratios as set forth in the table.  There are no conditions or events
since that notification that management  believes have changed the institutions'
categories.

       The Company's  actual capital amounts and ratios along with the Company's
most significant subsidiaries are also presented in the table.





                                                                                                   To Be Well
                                                                                                Capitalized Under
                                                                             For Capital        Prompt Corrective
                                                        Actual            Adequacy Purposes     Action Provision
(In thousands)                                     Amount    Ratio-%      Amount    Ratio-%     Amount    Ratio-%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          
As of December 31, 1997
   Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation          $   106,491     12.8  $       N/A           $       N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      62,084     14.0       35,476     8.0        44,345    10.0
     Simmons First Bank of Russellville               22,330     14.2       12,571     8.0        15,714    10.0
   Tier 1 Capital Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation               96,069     11.6          N/A                   N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      56,526     12.8       17,737     4.0        26,607     6.0
     Simmons First Bank of Russellville               20,314     12.9        6,289     4.0         9,434     6.0
   Leverage Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation               96,069      7.5          N/A                   N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      56,526      8.2       27,444     4.0        34,305     5.0
     Simmons First Bank of Russellville               20,314      8.5        9,593     4.0        11,992     5.0

As of December 31, 1996
   Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation          $   105,130     19.9  $       N/A           $       N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      69,120     17.8       31,074     8.0        38,843    10.0
   Tier 1 Capital Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation               98,509     18.7          N/A                   N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      64,244     16.5       15,537     4.0        23,306     6.0
   Leverage Ratio
     Simmons First National Corporation               98,509     11.7          N/A                   N/A
     Simmons First National Bank                      64,244     10.3       24,954     4.0        31,192     5.0



NOTE 19:  CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)


                                               CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                              DECEMBER 31, 1997 and 1996


(In thousands)                                                                 1997             1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $    1,624        $   4,368
Investments in wholly-owned subsidiaries                                      137,507           89,849
Intangible assets, net                                                            537              647
Investment securities                                                           4,204            3,428
Premises and equipment                                                          4,740            4,776
Other assets                                                                    2,657            1,183
                                                                           ----------        ---------
         TOTAL ASSETS                                                      $  151,269        $ 104,251
                                                                            =========         ========

LIABILITIES
Long-term debt                                                             $   38,804        $   1,067
Other liabilities                                                                 383              359
                                                                           ----------        ---------
         Total liabilities                                                     39,187            1,426
                                                                           ----------        ---------

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock                                                                    5,726           28,527
Surplus                                                                        45,059           22,040
Undivided profits                                                              59,891           51,106
Unrealized appreciation on available-for-sale
   securities, net of income taxes of $799 and
   $655 at 1997 and 1996, respectively                                          1,406            1,152
                                                                           ----------         --------
         Total stockholders' equity                                           112,082          102,825
                                                                           ----------        ---------
         TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                        $  151,269        $ 104,251
                                                                            =========         ========




                         CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995


(In thousands)                                         1997         1996       1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   
Income
   Dividends from subsidiaries                       $ 19,230    $  3,170   $  3,205
   Other income                                         3,561       3,653      4,256
                                                     --------    --------   --------
                                                       22,791       6,823      7,461
Expenses                                                4,567       3,273      3,982
                                                     --------    --------   --------
   Income before income taxes and equity in
     undistributed net income of subsidiaries          18,224       3,550      3,479
   Provision for income taxes                            (299)        171        137
                                                     --------    --------   --------

Income before equity in undistributed  net
   income of subsidiaries                              18,523       3,379      3,342
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries     (6,534)      6,922      6,677
                                                     --------    --------   --------

Net income                                           $ 11,989    $ 10,301   $ 10,019
                                                     ========    ========   ========




                       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995


(In thousands)                                                     1997        1996        1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   Net income                                                   $  11,989    $  10,301    $  10,019
   Items not requiring (providing) cash
     Depreciation and amortization                                    388          319          331
     Accretion                                                       --           --            (87)
     Deferred income taxes                                             (5)         (15)        (280)
     Equity in undistributed income of bank subsidiaries            6,534       (6,922)      (6,677)
     Gain on sale of premises and equipment                          --              8         --
   Changes in
     Other Assets                                                  (1,490)        (111)          26
     Other liabilities                                                 24          710         (716)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
         Net cash provided by operating activities                 17,440        4,290        2,616
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

   Purchase of premises and equipment                                (225)      (2,274)        (398)
   Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment                      --           --            275
   Acquisition of subsidiaries                                    (53,937)        --         (3,664)
   Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity  securities         3,435       19,867       24,000
   Purchase of held-to-maturity  securities                          --        (11,302)     (30,082)
   Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale  securities     133,263       79,158        1,896
   Purchase of available-for-sale  securities                    (137,473)     (79,179)     (12,197)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
         Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities      (54,937)       6,270      (20,170)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

   Principal reduction on long-term debt                              (46)      (3,690)      (7,387)
   Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                        37,785         --           --
   Dividends paid                                                  (3,204)      (2,724)      (2,234)
   Issuance (repurchase) of common stock                              218         (676)          20
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                34,753       (7,090)      (9,601)
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
   CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                (2,744)       3,470      (27,155)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
   BEGINNING OF YEAR                                                4,368          898       28,053
                                                                ---------    ---------    ---------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR                          $   1,624    $   4,368    $     898
                                                                =========    =========    =========



ITEM  9.  CHANGES  IN AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

No items are reportable.

                                    PART III

ITEM 10.          DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive proxy statement
for the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held April 28,  1998,  was filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A on March 19, 1998.

ITEM 11.          EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive proxy statement
for the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held April 28,  1998,  was filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A on March 19, 1998.

ITEM 12.          SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive proxy statement
for the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held April 28,  1998,  was filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A on March 19, 1998.

ITEM 13.          CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive proxy statement
for the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held April 28,  1998,  was filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A on March 19, 1998.

                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.        EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) 1 and 2.  Financial Statements and any Financial Statement Schedules

The  financial  statements  and  financial  statement  schedules  listed  in the
accompanying index to consolidated  financial statements and financial statement
schedules are filed as part of this annual report.

3.  Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the  accompanying  index to exhibits are filed as part of
this annual report.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

There have been none filed subsequent to September 30, 1997.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.

                                          /s/ John L. Rush   March 23, 1998
                                          ---------------------------------
                                               John L. Rush, Secretary

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,  this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 23, 1998.

         Signature                                Title


/s/ J. Thomas May                  President, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
- -----------------------              and Director
J. Thomas May     

/s/ Barry L. Crow                  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
- -----------------------              Officer (Principal Financial and 
Barry L. Crow                        Accounting Officer)

/s/ W. E. Ayres                    Director
- -----------------------
W. E. Ayres

/s/ Ben V. Floriani                Director
- -----------------------
Ben V. Floriani

/s/ Lara F. Hutt, III              Director
- -----------------------
Lara F. Hutt, III

/s/ George Makris, Jr.             Director
- ------------------------
George Makris, Jr.

/s/ David R. Perdue                Director
- ------------------------
David R. Perdue

/s/ Harry L. Ryburn                Director
- ------------------------
Harry L. Ryburn

/s/ Donald W. Stone                Director
- -------------------------
Donald W. Stone

/s/ Henry F. Trotter               Director
- -------------------------
Henry F. Trotter, Jr.