SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



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


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 7, 2003



                            SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




        Delaware                     0-25239                   51-0379417
(State of Incorporation)      (Commission File No.)     (IRS Employer I.D. No.)



                  16101 LaGrande Drive, Suite 103
                  Little Rock, Arkansas                            72223
                  (Address of Principal Executive Office)       (Zip code)



        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 501-324-7282






Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

The Registrant hereby furnishes on the attached Exhibit 99.1, as Regulation F-D
Disclosure, its announcement to investors that at a special meeting of
shareholders held today, the shareholders overwhelmingly approved the merger of
Superior Financial and Arvest Holdings, Inc.

     Exhibit No.   Document Description


        99.1       Press Release Announcing Approval of Merger




                                   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.



                                              SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP.
                                              ------------------------
                                                   (Registrant)





Date:    August 7, 2003                       /s/ Robert A. Kuehl
                                              --------------------------
                                              Robert A. Kuehl
                                              Chief Financial Officer