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




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



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


          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 9, 1999




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


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




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





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








ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

  The following is the text of a press release issued by the registrant at 3:15
P.M. Central Standard Time on July 9, 1999:


For Release:  Friday, July 9, 1999


              SIMMONS FIRST COMPLETES BANK ACQUISITION IN EL DORADO


         Pine  Bluff,  AR  -- J.  Thomas  May,  Chairman,  President  and  Chief
Executive  Officer of Simmons First  National  Corporation  announced  today the
completion  of the merger of National  Bank of Commerce,  El Dorado into Simmons
First  National  Corporation.  The bank's name will be Simmons  First Bank of El
Dorado, N.A.

         Commenting  on the merger,  Mr. May stated,  "We are excited  about our
affiliation  with this  outstanding  institution  and look  forward to  offering
financial  services of the Simmons First family of banks to our new customers in
South Arkansas."

                                       ###


FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
J. Thomas May
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Simmons First National Corporation
(870) 541-1103







                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                      SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION


Date:    July 9, 1999                 /s/ J. Thomas May
        --------------                -----------------------------------
                                      J. Thomas May, Chairman, President &
                                        Chief Executive Officer