UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

          Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 19, 2002



                       SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



            Arkansas                  0-6253                   71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission             (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)      file number)            identification No.)




 501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas                             71601
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)



                                 (870)541-1000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



ITEM: 5  OTHER EVENTS

The  following is the text of a press release  issued by the  registrant at 5:00
P.M. Central Standard Time on July 19, 2002.


               SIMMONS FIRST OPENS FINANCIAL CENTER IN MONTICELLO

     Pine Bluff,  AR - - Simmons  First  National  Corporation  has expanded its
coverage of South  Arkansas  with the purchase of the  Monticello  location from
HEARTLAND  Community Bank,  according to J. Thomas May, chairman,  president and
chief executive officer.

     Located at 473 Highway 425 North, the financial  center opens Monday,  July
22 as part of Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas, which has other locations in
Lake Village, Dumas and Dermott.

     May  stated,   "Monticello  is  a  dynamic   community  and  this  location
complements our existing service in surrounding areas of South Arkansas."

     Freddie Black, president of Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas noted, "We
are excited  about this  opening as it provides  us the  opportunity  to further
expand our philosophy of community banking throughout Arkansas. Bill Wisener has
been named senior vice  president and the same  management and staff are part of
the Simmons First team."

     Simmons  First  National  Corporation  is a $2  billion  financial  holding
company that conducts  financial  operations  from 65 offices in 34  communities
throughout Arkansas.


                                      # # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence Fikes
1.800.272.2213
lawrence.fikes@simmonsfirst.com



                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------

     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, thereunto duly authorized.


                                      SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION




Date:    July 19, 2002               /s/Barry L. Crow
--------------------------           ----------------------------------------
                                     Barry L. Crow, Executive Vice President
                                       and Chief Financial Officer