UNITED STATES
                       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): September 17, 2003



                         GREENE COUNTY BANCSHARES, INC.
                         ------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


          Tennessee                   0-14289               62-1222567
          ---------                   -------               ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)       Identification No.)


            100 North Main Street, Greeneville, Tennessee 37743-4992
            --------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (423) 639-5111
                                 --------------
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former Name or former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5.     Other Events

         On September 17, 2003, Greene County Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company")
announced that it has extended for an additional 12-month period the
authorization for the repurchase of up to $2,000,000 of the Company's
outstanding common stock. Further information is set forth in the attached press
release contained in Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


Item 7.       Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

              (c) Exhibits.

                  99.1 Press Release dated September 17, 2003.


                                   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.


                                           GREENE COUNTY BANCSHARES, INC.


Date:  September 17, 2003          By:  /s/     R. Stan Puckett
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                R. Stan Puckett
                                                Chairman of the Board and
                                                Chief Executive Officer
                                                (Duly Authorized Representative)



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number       Description of Exhibit(s)
- -------      -------------------------

 99.1        Copy of press release issued by the Company on September 17, 2003.