<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">FORM 8-K</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CURRENT REPORT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">September 19, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Date of earliest event reported)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>First Financial Service Corporation</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Securities and Exchange Commission File
Number: <B>0-18832</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">KENTUCKY</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">61-1168311</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(State or other jurisdiction</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">of incorporation or organization)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">2323 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky,
42701</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone, including
area code: <B> (270) 765-2131</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: left; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: right; width: 50%"></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-indent: -1in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-indent: -1in"><B>Item 5.02&#9;Departure of Directors
or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers&#9;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On September 19, 2012,
Senator Walter Dee Huddleston retired as a director of First Financial Service Corporation (the &lsquo;Company&rdquo;) and its
banking subsidiary First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, Inc. (&ldquo;First Federal&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Bank&rdquo;). Senator
Huddleston has served on the board of directors of the Bank since 1966, and the board of directors of the Company since its inception
in 1987, serving as Chairman from 1997 through February 2012. Senator Huddleston has been appointed as a Director Emeritus of the
Company and the Bank. </P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Also on September 19,
2012, Gregory S. Schreacke was elected to the board of directors of both the Company and the Bank. Mr. Schreacke&rsquo;s term will
expire at the 2013 annual meeting of the Company&rsquo;s shareholders.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Mr. Schreacke, age
42, has served as President of the Company and the Bank since January 2008. He assumed principal management responsibility for
the Company and the Bank effective February 10, 2012. Mr. Schreacke joined our organization as the Company&rsquo;s chief financial
officer in January 2004, serving in that capacity until April 2008, and later from January 2011 to May 2012. He previously served
as senior vice president and controller for Team Financial, Inc. in Paola, Kansas for four years. Mr. Schreacke has also served
as vice president and controller for Hemet Federal Savings and Loan, as a senior accounting officer at Mercantile Trust &amp; Savings
Bank, and as founder and shareholder in Swann, Schreacke &amp; Associates P.C., a certified public accounting practice headquartered
in Quincy, Illinois.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Item 8.01&#9;Other Events</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On May 15, 2012, First
Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, Inc. (&ldquo;First Federal&rdquo;), the Company&rsquo;s banking subsidiary entered into
a Branch Purchase Agreement (the &ldquo;Agreement&rdquo;) with First Security Bank of Owensboro, Inc., the banking subsidiary of
First Security, Inc. (&ldquo;First Security&rdquo;), headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Agreement provides for the sale
of First Federal&rsquo;s four retail banking offices in Louisville, Kentucky to First Security. The Agreement was described in,
and attached as an exhibit to, the Company&rsquo;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 21, 2012. The sale is subject to First
Security raising additional capital, regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The Company no longer
expects that the sale will be completed before the end of the third quarter of 2012, as previously announced. The Agreement provides
that it may be terminated by either party after October 31, 2012, unless a closing occurs before that date or the Agreement is
extended by the parties.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 2; Options: NewSection; Value: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->2<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3.5in"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION </B></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 50%">Date: September 25, 2012&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%">By:&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 46%">/s/ Gregory S. Schreacke</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 1px solid">Gregory S. Schreacke<BR>President</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"></P>



</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>



<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 3; Value: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%"><!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->3<!-- Field: /Sequence --></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 100%">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->
<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v324375_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14871}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP", "cik": "0000854395", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "611168311", "state-of-incorporation": "KY", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-18832", "film-number": "121109339"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2323 RING ROAD", "city": "ELIZABETHTOWN", "state": "KY", "zip": "42701", "phone": "2707652131"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2323 RING ROAD", "city": "ELIZABETHTOWN", "state": "KY", "zip": "42701"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "FIRST FEDERAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
September 19, 2012
(Date of earliest event reported)
First Financial Service Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
Securities and Exchange Commission File
Number:
0-18832
KENTUCKY
61-1168311
(State or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
2323 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky,
42701
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone, including
area code:
(270) 765-2131
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02	Departure of Directors
or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On September 19, 2012,
Senator Walter Dee Huddleston retired as a director of First Financial Service Corporation (the 'Company") and its
banking subsidiary First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, Inc. ("First Federal" or the "Bank"). Senator
Huddleston has served on the board of directors of the Bank since 1966, and the board of directors of the Company since its inception
in 1987, serving as Chairman from 1997 through February 2012. Senator Huddleston has been appointed as a Director Emeritus of the
Company and the Bank.
Also on September 19,
2012, Gregory S. Schreacke was elected to the board of directors of both the Company and the Bank. Mr. Schreacke's term will
expire at the 2013 annual meeting of the Company's shareholders.
Mr. Schreacke, age
42, has served as President of the Company and the Bank since January 2008. He assumed principal management responsibility for
the Company and the Bank effective February 10, 2012. Mr. Schreacke joined our organization as the Company's chief financial
officer in January 2004, serving in that capacity until April 2008, and later from January 2011 to May 2012. He previously served
as senior vice president and controller for Team Financial, Inc. in Paola, Kansas for four years. Mr. Schreacke has also served
as vice president and controller for Hemet Federal Savings and Loan, as a senior accounting officer at Mercantile Trust & Savings
Bank, and as founder and shareholder in Swann, Schreacke & Associates P.C., a certified public accounting practice headquartered
in Quincy, Illinois.
Item 8.01	Other Events
On May 15, 2012, First
Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, Inc. ("First Federal"), the Company's banking subsidiary entered into
a Branch Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with First Security Bank of Owensboro, Inc., the banking subsidiary of
First Security, Inc. ("First Security"), headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Agreement provides for the sale
of First Federal's four retail banking offices in Louisville, Kentucky to First Security. The Agreement was described in,
and attached as an exhibit to, the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 21, 2012. The sale is subject to First
Security raising additional capital, regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.
The Company no longer
expects that the sale will be completed before the end of the third quarter of 2012, as previously announced. The Agreement provides
that it may be terminated by either party after October 31, 2012, unless a closing occurs before that date or the Agreement is
extended by the parties.
2
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.
FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION
Date: September 25, 2012
By:
/s/ Gregory S. Schreacke
Gregory S. Schreacke
President
3