Business First Bancshares, Inc.: management transactions · United States · SEC (Form 4)

About Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) is a U.S.-listed financial holding company traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the United States, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Through its subsidiary b1BANK, the group operates as a community-oriented commercial bank with a full range of banking products and services. Its core franchise is built around serving small and middle-market businesses, their owners, and employees, while also offering the broader capabilities typically expected from a regional bank, including treasury management, lending, deposits, and wealth-related solutions. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774925028934/bfbi20250905_s4a.htm?utm_source=openai)) Founded in 2006, Business First has pursued a strategy that combines organic expansion with selective acquisitions and capital formation. Management describes the company’s mission as unchanged since inception: to be the financial institution of choice for the small-to-midsized businesses in its markets. Over time, BFST has expanded beyond its Louisiana base into Texas and Mississippi, reflecting a deliberate effort to build a larger regional footprint across economically attractive Southern U.S. markets. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774921005177/bfbi20201231_10k.htm?utm_source=openai)) In operational terms, the company is best understood as a diversified commercial-focused banking platform. Its offering includes commercial and consumer deposit products, commercial real estate and business lending, treasury services, private banking-style relationship support for business owners, and wealth management and investment-related capabilities through affiliated businesses. SEC materials show a network of banking centers concentrated in Louisiana and metro Texas markets, with an additional presence in Mississippi, which gives BFST a localized distribution model and strong market knowledge. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774925028934/bfbi20250905_s4a.htm?utm_source=openai)) Competitively, BFST occupies a niche between community banking and larger regional-bank capabilities. That hybrid positioning matters: it allows the company to compete on relationship banking, local credit underwriting, and service quality, while still offering a broader product set than many smaller community lenders. The company has emphasized its granular deposit base and its leadership position in Louisiana among banks headquartered in the state, suggesting a franchise with meaningful brand recognition in its home market. At the same time, the Texas expansion increases its exposure to faster-growing metro markets but also to a more competitive banking landscape. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162432225000005/a2024-12x31bfstinvestorp.htm?utm_source=openai)) A key recent milestone was the completion of the Oakwood Bancshares acquisition on October 1, 2024, which strengthened the company’s Texas presence and broadened its footprint. More recent SEC investor materials in 2025 and 2026 indicate that BFST has continued to scale, with total assets around the $7.9 billion to $8.0 billion range and operations spanning Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. For investors focused on U.S. regional banks, BFST stands out as a growth-oriented franchise with a conservative community-bank heritage, a commercial banking bias, and increasing relevance in Texas markets. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162432225000005/a2024-12x31bfstinvestorp.htm?utm_source=openai))