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


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                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 2, 2003

                           JEFFERSON BANCSHARES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


             Tennessee                                   (45-0508261)
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(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)



120 Evans Avenue, Morristown, Tennessee                    37814
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(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




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ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12             NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On October 2, 2003,  Jefferson  Bancshares,  Inc.  issued a press  release,
which  announced  that  the  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  will  be held on
Thursday, January 8, 2004.

     A press release announcing the annual meeting is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (a) Not applicable.
     (b) Not applicable.
     (c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.                Description
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99.1                       Press release dated October 2, 2003









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                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                       JEFFERSON BANCSHARES, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Anderson L. Smith
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Anderson L. Smith
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:    October 3, 2003