Exhibit 99 (a)
                      AMERICAN BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS, INC.
                              400 East Main Street
                           Charleston, Arkansas 92933
                                __________, 1998

Dear Stockholder:

         You  are  cordially   invited  to  attend  a  special  meeting  of  the
shareholders of American Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. (the "Company") to be held
at the offices of the Company, 400 East Main Street, Charleston, Arkansas 72933,
on  December  3, 1998,  at 10:00 a.m.,  as set forth in the  attached  Notice of
Special  Meeting of  Shareholders,  for the  purpose  of voting  upon a proposed
merger of American  Bancshares  of  Arkansas,  Inc.  with and into Simons  First
National  Corporation  (the "Merger")  pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated July 24, 1998. Pursuant to the Merger, shareholders of the
Company  will  receive  58.74324  shares of the Class A common  stock of Simmons
First  National  Corporation  for each share of the common  stock of the Company
held, other than shares held by dissenting  shareholders and the payment of cash
in lieu of the issuance of fractional  shares of Simmons stock.  Consummation of
the Merger will terminate the existence of the Company.

         Accompanying  this letter is a Notice of  Shareholders  Meeting,  Proxy
Statement  (which  includes in Annex II Subchapter  13 of the Arkansas  Business
Corporation Act of 1987 concerning  dissenters  rights) and Proxy. You are urged
to read these materials  carefully and promptly.  The Proxy  Statement  contains
descriptions of the Merger and the merger agreement, financial information about
the Simmons and the Company and other related  information.  Only by reading the
entire Proxy  Statement  will you be able to obtain  sufficient  information  to
enable you to make an informed decision about how to vote on the Merger.

         The owners of at least a majority of the shares of common  stock of the
Company  outstanding  on October 19, 1998 must be voted in favor of the Plan and
the Amendment in order for this action to be approved. In view of the importance
of the  meeting,  it is  highly  recommended  that your  shares be  represented,
whether or not you are able to attend in person.

         The  Company's  board of  directors  has  approved  the  Merger and the
Agreement  and  recommends  voting FOR approval of the Merger.  You are urged to
vote FOR the  proposition  and to complete,  date,  sign and return the enclosed
proxy in the envelope provided.

         I look forward to visiting with you at the meeting.

                                Very truly yours,

                                Joe S. Hiatt
                                Chairman of the Board