BFST Form 144: 277,969 shares tied to merger

BFST Form 144 notifies proposed sales of Common stock tied to a Merger with Progressive Bank, listing 277,969 shares to be sold on 01/01/2026.

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 03/05/2026 - 10:02 AM EST Learn about SEC filing dates

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

BFST Form 144 notifies proposed sales of Common stock tied to a Merger with Progressive Bank, listing 277,969 shares to be sold on 01/01/2026. The filing also reports recent sales by George Cummings III: 20,000 (02/25/2026), 200 (03/02/2026), 9,800 (03/03/2026), and 11,000 (03/04/2026).

Insights

Securities Compliance Analyst

Form 144 lists a planned resale of 277,969 shares tied to a merger and several recent insider dispositions.

The filing shows a listed sale amount of 277,969 Common shares with the stated reason "Merger with Progressive Bank" dated 01/01/2026. It also documents four prior sales by George Cummings III totaling 41,000 shares across 02/25/2026–03/04/2026.

These are Rule 144 notifications and appear procedural; cash‑flow treatment and exact plan of distribution are not detailed in the excerpt. Subsequent filings or broker confirmations would clarify timing and execution method.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does BFST's Form 144 disclose about the merger-related sale?

The Form 144 lists 277,969 shares of Common stock tied to a "Merger with Progressive Bank" with an effective date of 01/01/2026. The filing identifies the transaction purpose but does not detail proceeds or distribution method.

How many shares did George Cummings III sell recently according to the filing?

The filing reports four dispositions by George Cummings III: 20,000 (02/25/2026), 200 (03/02/2026), 9,800 (03/03/2026), and 11,000 (03/04/2026). These transactions are listed with sale proceeds in the excerpt.

Does the Form 144 state who will receive proceeds from the planned 277,969 shares?

The excerpt states the 277,969 shares are linked to a "Merger with Progressive Bank" but does not specify who will receive cash proceeds. The filing text in the excerpt does not disclose cash‑flow recipients.

Are the recent sales by George Cummings III part of the 277,969 shares listed?

The filing separates the listed 277,969 shares (01/01/2026) from the four prior sales by George Cummings III on 02/25/2026–03/04/2026. The excerpt does not state those prior sales are part of the merger‑linked amount.

What dates are associated with the sales and the merger-related listing in BFST's filing?

The merger‑linked listing is dated 01/01/2026. Reported historical sales by George Cummings III occurred on 02/25/2026, 03/02/2026, 03/03/2026, and 03/04/2026.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Form 144 Filer Information	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 144 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FORM 144

144: Filer Information

Filer CIK	0002106698
Filer CCC	XXXXXXXX
Is this a LIVE or TEST Filing?	LIVE TEST
Submission Contact Information
Name
Phone
E-Mail Address

144: Issuer Information

Name of Issuer	Business First Bancshares, Inc.
SEC File Number	001-38447
Address of Issuer	500 LAUREL STREET SUITE 101 BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA 70801
Phone	225-248-7600
Name of Person for Whose Account the Securities are To Be Sold	Cummings George W. III
See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be sold but also as to all other persons included in that definition. In addition, information shall be given as to sales by all persons whose sales are required by paragraph (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the person filing this notice.
Relationship to Issuer	Director

144: Securities Information

Title of the Class of Securities To Be Sold	Name and Address of the Broker	Number of Shares or Other Units To Be Sold	Aggregate Market Value	Number of Shares or Other Units Outstanding	Approximate Date of Sale	Name the Securities Exchange
Common	Raymond James & Associates 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg FL 33716	11000	303270.00	32810000	03/05/2026	NASDAQ

Furnish the following information with respect to the acquisition of the securities to be sold and with respect to the payment of all or any part of the purchase price or other consideration therefor:

144: Securities To Be Sold

Title of the Class	Date you Acquired	Nature of Acquisition Transaction	Name of Person from Whom Acquired	Is this a Gift?	Date Donor Acquired	Amount of Securities Acquired	Date of Payment	Nature of Payment *
Common	01/01/2026	Merger with Progressive Bank	Issuer			277969	01/01/2026	Merger

* If the securities were purchased and full payment therefor was not made in cash at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the nature of the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any note or other obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe the arrangement and state when the note or other obligation was discharged in full or the last installment paid.

Furnish the following information as to all securities of the issuer sold during the past 3 months by the person for whose account the securities are to be sold.

144: Securities Sold During The Past 3 Months

Name and Address of Seller	Title of Securities Sold	Date of Sale	Amount of Securities Sold	Gross Proceeds
George Cummings III 3269 Deborah Dr Monroe LA 71201	Common	02/25/2026	20000	560056.00
George Cummings III 3269 Deborah Dr Monroe LA 71201	Common	03/02/2026	200	5560.00
George Cummings III 3269 Deborah Dr Monroe LA 71201	Common	03/03/2026	9800	268760.00
George Cummings III 3269 Deborah Dr Monroe LA 71201	Common	03/04/2026	11000	303587.00

144: Remarks and Signature

Remarks
Date of Notice	03/05/2026
ATTENTION:
The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to be sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any material adverse information in regard to the current and prospective operations of the Issuer of the securities to be sold which has not been publicly disclosed. If such person has adopted a written trading plan or given trading instructions to satisfy Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, by signing the form and indicating the date that the plan was adopted or the instruction given, that person makes such representation as of the plan adoption or instruction date.
Signature	Maressia Rooks-Bailey, as duly authorized representative of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for George W Cummings III
ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omission of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)