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        <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">UNITED STATES</div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Washington, DC 20549</font></div>
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        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div>
        <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
            </font>SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
            </font>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight:
              bold;"> March 20, 2019</font></font></div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Lakeland Financial Corporation</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
        <div><br>
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                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Indiana</font></div>
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                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">000-11487</font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="width: 33.32%; vertical-align: top;">
                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">35-1559596</font></div>
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                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top;">
                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Commission File Number)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="width: 33.32%; vertical-align: top;">
                <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
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        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">202 East Center Street</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Warsaw, Indiana&#160; 46581-1387</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</font></div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">(574) 267-6144</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</font></div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">N/A</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 4.5pt; margin-left: 4.5pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></div>
        <div style="text-align: left; margin-right: 4.5pt; margin-left: 4.5pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
            <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
            </font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 31.5pt">&#160;</font>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 (<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic;">see</font> General Instruction A.2 below):</font></div>
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                    <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div>
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                    <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div>
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                    <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
                        </font>Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
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        <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 18pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',
            Times, serif;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
            </font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 54pt">&#160;</font>Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Item 5.03.</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size:
          1px; width: 72pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">On March 20, 2019, the
            Board of Directors (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><u>Board</u></font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#8221;) of Lakeland Financial Corporation
            (the&#160;&#8220;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><u>Company</u></font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#8221;) voted to adopt an amendment to the Company&#8217;s current,
            restated bylaws (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><u>Amendment</u></font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#8221;) </font>to provide that any
          provisions to the bylaws may be added, altered, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by the Company&#8217;s shareholders on the matter at any meeting of the shareholders, provided that
          the proposed addition, alteration, amendment, or repeal is contained in the notice of such shareholder meeting. Shareholders have the right to propose amendments to the bylaws for approval at a duly called annual meeting or special meeting of
          shareholders, provided that any such proposal must be submitted in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">.&#160;</font></font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The Company will, at the first to occur of the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders
          following the 2019 annual meeting of the shareholders, propose an amendment to the Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation, as amended, to expressly provide that the shareholders shall have the right to amend the Company&#8217;s bylaws in conformity with the
          provisions set forth in the Amendment.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">A redline copy of the Company&#8217;s bylaws, marked to show the Amendment, is attached herewith as Exhibit
          3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference
          to the full text of the Amendment, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Item 9.01.</font>&#160;<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></font></div>
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                <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(d)</font></td>
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                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Exhibits.</font></div>
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                <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">3.1</font></td>
                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Amendment to the Restated Bylaws of Lakeland Financial Corporation, effective March 20, 2019.</font></div>
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                <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">3.2</font></td>
                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Redline of Restated Bylaws of Lakeland Financial Corporation, as amended, effective March 20, 2019.</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div>
      <div><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">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.</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 216pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION</font></div>
      <div><br>
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              <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Dated:&#160; March 20, 2019</font></div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: 46.15%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
              <div style="text-align: justify;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">By:&#160; <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">/s/Lisa M. O&#8217;Neill</font></font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 238.5pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 49.5pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Lisa M. O&#8217;Neill</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 288pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Executive Vice President and Chief
          Financial Officer</font></div>
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text: UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, DC 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)
  March 20, 2019
  Lakeland Financial Corporation
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Indiana
  000-11487
  35-1559596
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  202 East Center Street
  Warsaw, Indiana  46581-1387
  (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
  (574) 267-6144
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  N/A
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  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 (
  see
  General Instruction A.2 below):
  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 5.03.
  Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
  On March 20, 2019, the
            Board of Directors (the "
  Board
  ") of Lakeland Financial Corporation
            (the "
  Company
  ") voted to adopt an amendment to the Company's current,
            restated bylaws (the "
  Amendment
  ")
  to provide that any
          provisions to the bylaws may be added, altered, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by the Company's shareholders on the matter at any meeting of the shareholders, provided that
          the proposed addition, alteration, amendment, or repeal is contained in the notice of such shareholder meeting. Shareholders have the right to propose amendments to the bylaws for approval at a duly called annual meeting or special meeting of
          shareholders, provided that any such proposal must be submitted in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
  .
  The Company will, at the first to occur of the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders
          following the 2019 annual meeting of the shareholders, propose an amendment to the Company's articles of incorporation, as amended, to expressly provide that the shareholders shall have the right to amend the Company's bylaws in conformity with the
          provisions set forth in the Amendment.
  A redline copy of the Company's bylaws, marked to show the Amendment, is attached herewith as Exhibit
          3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
  The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference
          to the full text of the Amendment, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
  Item 9.01.
  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)
  Exhibits.
  3.1
  Amendment to the Restated Bylaws of Lakeland Financial Corporation, effective March 20, 2019.
  3.2
  Redline of Restated Bylaws of Lakeland Financial Corporation, as amended, effective March 20, 2019.
  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.
  LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
  Dated:  March 20, 2019
  By:
  /s/Lisa M. O'Neill
  Lisa M. O'Neill
  Executive Vice President and Chief
          Financial Officer