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<P id=PARA1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>UNITED STATES</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA3 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Washington, D.C.&nbsp; 20549</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA5 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>FORM&nbsp;8-K</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA7 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA8 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA9 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA11 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>January 18, 2017</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA12 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Date of Report</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA15 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Bear State Financial</B><B>,&nbsp;Inc.</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA18 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Arkansas</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA20 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>0-28312</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA22 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>71-0785261</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA23 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(State or other jurisdiction</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA27 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(IRS Employer</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA28 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">of incorporation)</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA32 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Identification No.)</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<P id=PARA35 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>900 South Shackleford Rd., Suite 605</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA36 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Little Rock, Arkansas</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA37 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA38 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>72</B><B>211</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA44 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>(501) 975-6033</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA45 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code)</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA47 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA48 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA49 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA53 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA64 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Item 5.02</B><U><B></B></U><B></B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA65 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B></B><U><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</B></U><B>. </B></FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA66 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA67 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">On January 18, 2017, the Board of Directors of Bear State Financial, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) appointed Jeri Pritchett to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. Sherri Billings, the Company&#8217;s former Chief Accounting Officer, will continue to serve as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA68 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA69 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Ms. Pritchett, age 49, has served as Senior Vice President and Controller of the Company since 2006. Ms. Pritchett joined First Federal Bank (the predecessor of Bear State Bank, the Company&#8217;s wholly-owned subsidiary (the &#8220;Bank&#8221;)) in December 2002 as Vice President of Accounting and Financial Reporting. Prior to joining First Federal Bank, Ms. Pritchett was a senior manager with Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP where she started her career in 1989. Ms. Pritchett is a certified public accountant licensed to practice in the state of Arkansas, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and has attained the designation of Chartered Global Management Accountant. Ms. Pritchett received her B.A. in Economics and Business from Hendrix College. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA70 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA71 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Ms. Pritchett&#8217;s compensation will not immediately change as a result of her promotion, however, the Board and Compensation Committee intend to review Ms. Pritchett&#8217;s compensation package with their next periodic review of executive compensation and make adjustments commensurate with Ms. Pritchett&#8217;s increased responsibilities. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA72 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA73 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">There is no family relationship between Ms. Pritchett and any other director or executive officer of the Company. No arrangement or understanding exists between Ms. Pritchett and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Pritchett was selected as an officer of the Company. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA74 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA75 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Ms. Pritchett has entered into loan and deposit transactions with the Bank. These transactions were made in the ordinary course of the Bank&#8217;s business, were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to the Bank, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. </FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA77 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA78 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA82 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>BEAR STATE FINANCIAL,&nbsp;INC.</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA87 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;January 24, 2017</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA88 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">By:</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 44%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">/s/ Sherri Billings&nbsp; </TD>
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<P id=PARA91 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Name:</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA92 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Sherri Billings</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA96 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer </FONT></P></TD>
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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "bsf20170123_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24330}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BEAR STATE FINANCIAL, INC.", "cik": "0001006424", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "710785261", "state-of-incorporation": "AR", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-28312", "film-number": "17543748"}, "business-address": {"street1": "900 SOUTH SHACKLEFORD ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 401", "city": "LITTLE ROCK", "state": "AR", "zip": "72211", "phone": "501-320-4904"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "900 SOUTH SHACKLEFORD ROAD", "street2": "SUITE 401", "city": "LITTLE ROCK", "state": "AR", "zip": "72211"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES OF ARKANSAS INC", "date-changed": "19960126"}}
bsf20170123_8k.htm
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
January 18, 2017
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
Bear State Financial
, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Arkansas
0-28312
71-0785261
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
Identification No.)
900 South Shackleford Rd., Suite 605
Little Rock, Arkansas
72
211
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(501) 975-6033
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, 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:
☐
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 January 18, 2017, the Board of Directors of Bear State Financial, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Jeri Pritchett to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. Sherri Billings, the Company's former Chief Accounting Officer, will continue to serve as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
Ms. Pritchett, age 49, has served as Senior Vice President and Controller of the Company since 2006. Ms. Pritchett joined First Federal Bank (the predecessor of Bear State Bank, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary (the "Bank")) in December 2002 as Vice President of Accounting and Financial Reporting. Prior to joining First Federal Bank, Ms. Pritchett was a senior manager with Deloitte & Touche LLP where she started her career in 1989. Ms. Pritchett is a certified public accountant licensed to practice in the state of Arkansas, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and has attained the designation of Chartered Global Management Accountant. Ms. Pritchett received her B.A. in Economics and Business from Hendrix College.
Ms. Pritchett's compensation will not immediately change as a result of her promotion, however, the Board and Compensation Committee intend to review Ms. Pritchett's compensation package with their next periodic review of executive compensation and make adjustments commensurate with Ms. Pritchett's increased responsibilities.
There is no family relationship between Ms. Pritchett and any other director or executive officer of the Company. No arrangement or understanding exists between Ms. Pritchett and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Pritchett was selected as an officer of the Company.
Ms. Pritchett has entered into loan and deposit transactions with the Bank. These transactions were made in the ordinary course of the Bank's business, were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to the Bank, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
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.
BEAR STATE FINANCIAL, INC.
Date:  January 24, 2017
By:
/s/ Sherri Billings
Name:
Sherri Billings
Title:
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer