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<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"><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>

<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: 45%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">KENTUCKY</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">61-1168311</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(State or other jurisdiction</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="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="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">of incorporation or organization)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="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: 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">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">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 Wingdings; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 8.65pt; text-indent: -8.65pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 8.65pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

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

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<TD STYLE="width: 0%"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 1in; text-align: left"><B>Item 1.01</B></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><B>Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><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,
the board of directors of First Financial Service Corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) adopted the 2012 Non-Employee Director
Equity Compensation Program (the &quot;Director Program&quot;). The Director Program enables the Company to compensate nonemployee
directors for their service on the boards of directors of the Company and First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown (the &ldquo;Bank&rdquo;)
with stock awards. The Company currently does not pay cash compensation to non-employee directors of the Company and the Bank pursuant
to agreements with bank regulatory agencies. The board has reserved 200,000 of the shares authorized for issuance under the Company&rsquo;s
shareholder-approved 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Compensation Plan (&ldquo;Plan&rdquo;) for stock awards under the Director
Program.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 4.95pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.85pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The Director Program
provides that each non-employee director elected or continuing in office on the date of each annual meeting of the Company&rsquo;s
shareholders will automatically receive an award of restricted stock on that date having a value of $30,000, based on <FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">the
closing sale price per share of the Company&rsquo;s common stock</FONT> on the award date, rounded up to the next whole number.
The shares awarded will be subject to restrictions on transfer until the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
first anniversary of the award date, or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company, as defined in the Plan. If a
director ceases to serve as a member of the board for any reason, that director will automatically forfeit any unvested shares
subject to an award.</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; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On September 19, 2012,
each of the Company&rsquo;s eight non-employee directors continuing in office received an initial award of 8,241 restricted shares.
The restrictions on transfer of these initial awards will expire at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
date of the Company&rsquo;s 2013 annual meeting of shareholders or a Change of Control, and are subject to forfeiture as described
above.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The foregoing summary
description of the material terms of the Director Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2012 Non-Employee Director
Equity Compensation Program, which his included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Report.</P>

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0%"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 1in; text-align: left"><B>Item 9.01.</B></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><B><U>Financial Statements and Exhibits.</U></B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 4.5pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(d)</TD><TD>Exhibits</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 4.5pt">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 1in">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 12%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Number</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 66%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">10.1</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Program</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">10.2</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Restricted Stock Award Agreement</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 2in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1in">&nbsp;</P>

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<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"></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="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; padding-left: 0.12in">&nbsp;FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%">Date: September 26, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 46%; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Gregory S. Schreacke</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-left: 0.12in">&nbsp;Gregory S. Schreacke</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-left: 0.12in">&nbsp;President</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<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">&nbsp;</P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v324473_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15756}]
{"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": "121111267"}, "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 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On September 19, 2012,
the board of directors of First Financial Service Corporation (the "Company") adopted the 2012 Non-Employee Director
Equity Compensation Program (the "Director Program"). The Director Program enables the Company to compensate nonemployee
directors for their service on the boards of directors of the Company and First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown (the "Bank")
with stock awards. The Company currently does not pay cash compensation to non-employee directors of the Company and the Bank pursuant
to agreements with bank regulatory agencies. The board has reserved 200,000 of the shares authorized for issuance under the Company's
shareholder-approved 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Compensation Plan ("Plan") for stock awards under the Director
Program.
The Director Program
provides that each non-employee director elected or continuing in office on the date of each annual meeting of the Company's
shareholders will automatically receive an award of restricted stock on that date having a value of $30,000, based on
the
closing sale price per share of the Company's common stock
on the award date, rounded up to the next whole number.
The shares awarded will be subject to restrictions on transfer until the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
first anniversary of the award date, or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company, as defined in the Plan. If a
director ceases to serve as a member of the board for any reason, that director will automatically forfeit any unvested shares
subject to an award.
On September 19, 2012,
each of the Company's eight non-employee directors continuing in office received an initial award of 8,241 restricted shares.
The restrictions on transfer of these initial awards will expire at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
date of the Company's 2013 annual meeting of shareholders or a Change of Control, and are subject to forfeiture as described
above.
The foregoing summary
description of the material terms of the Director Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2012 Non-Employee Director
Equity Compensation Program, which his included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Report.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Number
Description
10.1
2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Program
10.2
Restricted Stock Award Agreement
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 26, 2012
By:
/s/ Gregory S. Schreacke
Gregory S. Schreacke
President
3