FOR RELEASE: Thursday, March 7, 2002


                      SIMMONS FIRST EXPANDS INTO MONTICELLO


Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas  - - - J.  Thomas  May,  Chairman,  President  and  Chief
Executive  Officer of Simmons First National  Corporation  (SFNC) and Cameron D.
McKeel,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of HEARTLAND  Community  Bank,
headquartered  in Camden,  Arkansas,  announce  the  execution  of a  definitive
agreement  under  the  terms of which  HEARTLAND  Community  Bank  will sell its
Monticello,  Arkansas  location  to  Simmons  First  Bank of South  Arkansas,  a
subsidiary of SFNC. The  acquisition  will involve  approximately  $9 million in
loans and $13 million in total deposits.

Commenting on the proposed sale, Freddie Black,  President of Simmons First Bank
of South  Arkansas  stated,  "We are excited  about having this  opportunity  to
further  expand the Simmons  First  philosophy of community  banking  throughout
Arkansas. Monticello is a dynamic community and complements our existing service
areas in Lake Village, Dumas and Dermott.  HEARTLAND's management and associates
have done an outstanding job in developing this market.  The same management and
staff will remain as part of the Simmons First team."

McKeel said, "The sale of this location will allow us to concentrate our efforts
on growing the Bank's other operating divisions as well as continuing to provide
the very best products and services to our customers in Camden, Bryant, Fordyce,
Sheridan  and  the  surrounding   areas.  This  transaction  only  involves  the
Monticello  branch  location,  in all other respects  HEARTLAND will continue to
operate as usual.  We are  pleased  that this  transaction  will have a positive
impact  toward   achieving  the  strategic  goals  of  both  Simmons  First  and
HEARTLAND."

The  transaction  is subject to  regulatory  approval  from the Office of Thrift
Supervision,  Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation and the Arkansas State Bank
Department.  The  transaction  is expected to close during the third  quarter of
2002.

Simmons First National  Corporation is a $2.0 billion  financial holding company
that has  community  banks  in Pine  Bluff,  Jonesboro,  Lake  Village,  Rogers,
Russellville,  Searcy and El Dorado,  Arkansas.  The  Corporation's  seven banks
conduct  financial  operations  from 64  offices  in 33  communities  throughout
Arkansas.

HEARTLAND  Community  Bank,  which  is owned by HCB  Bancshares,  Inc.  conducts
business  through  its main  office in  Camden,  Arkansas,  and its five  branch
offices located in Camden, Bryant, Fordyce, Monticello, and Sheridan, Arkansas.

# # # FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

J. Thomas May                              Cameron D. McKeel
Chairman, President and Chief              President and Chief Executive Officer
  Executive Officer                        HEARTLAND Community Bank
Simmons First National Corporation         1.870.836.6841
1.800.272.2213                             1.870.836.2122 (Facsimile)
1.870.850.2605 (Facsimile)