STOCK TITAN

Business First Bancshares (BFST) EVP reports tax-withholding share disposition and RSU holdings

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Business First Bancshares, Inc. executive Donald Chad Carter reported a routine tax-withholding share disposition. On March 31, 2026, 317 shares of common stock were withheld at $27.04 per share to cover tax obligations, a non-market transaction.

Following this, he directly held 14,517 shares of common stock, plus units in the employer stock fund through the company 401(k) plan equivalent to 6,799 shares of common stock. He also held 9,319 time-based restricted stock units tied to common stock that will vest over future years under prior awards.

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Insider Carter Donald Chad
Role EVP, Correspondent Banking
Type Security Shares Price Value
Tax Withholding COMMON STOCK 317 $27.04 $9K
holding Restricted Stock Units -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: COMMON STOCK — 14,517 shares (Direct); Restricted Stock Units — 9,319 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Includes units of the employer stock fund through the issuer's 401(k) plan equivalent to 6,799 shares of common stock of the issuer. Includes: (a) 2,584 time-based restricted stock units granted on December 12, 2024, which will vest in two substantially equal installments on the second and third anniversary of the issuance date; (b) 2,715 time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 1, 2025, which will vest in two substantially equal installments on the second and third anniversary of the issuance date; and (c) 4,020 time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 2, 2026, which will vest in three substantially equal installments on the first, second, and third anniversary of the issue date.
Tax-withholding shares 317 shares Common stock withheld on March 31, 2026 to cover taxes
Withholding price $27.04 per share Value used for the 317-share tax-withholding disposition
Common shares held 14,517 shares Direct common stock holdings after the March 31, 2026 transaction
RSU underlying shares 9,319 shares Common stock underlying restricted stock units held directly
401(k) stock fund equivalent 6,799 shares Employer stock fund units equivalent to common shares in 401(k) plan
2024 RSU grant 2,584 units Time-based RSUs granted December 12, 2024, vesting over second and third anniversaries
2025 RSU grant 2,715 units Time-based RSUs granted March 1, 2025, vesting over second and third anniversaries
2026 RSU grant 4,020 units Time-based RSUs granted March 2, 2026, vesting over three annual installments
tax-withholding disposition financial
"transaction_action: tax-withholding disposition"
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
Restricted Stock Units financial
"security_title: Restricted Stock Units"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
employer stock fund financial
"Includes units of the employer stock fund through the issuer's 401(k) plan"
401(k) plan financial
"through the issuer's 401(k) plan equivalent to 6,799 shares"
A 401(k) plan is a workplace retirement account that lets employees set aside part of their pay into a tax-advantaged savings pot, often with employers adding matching contributions — like a workplace piggy bank for future income. It matters to investors because the amount people save and how employers fund these plans influence consumer spending, corporate payroll costs and the flow of money into financial markets, which can affect stock prices and company valuations.
time-based restricted stock units financial
"Includes: (a) 2,584 time-based restricted stock units granted on December 12, 2024"
Time-based restricted stock units are a form of employee compensation where individuals are granted company shares that are earned over a set period, often as a reward for staying with the company. These shares typically become fully owned and transferable only after passing specific time milestones, encouraging long-term commitment. For investors, they highlight a company's focus on employee retention and can influence future stock supply and company stability.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Carter Donald Chad

(Last)(First)(Middle)
500 LAUREL STREET, SUITE 101

(Street)
BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA 70801

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Business First Bancshares, Inc. [ BFST ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
EVP, Correspondent Banking
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/31/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
COMMON STOCK03/31/2026F317D$27.0414,517(1)D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units$0.0000 (2) (2)Common Stock9,3199,319(2)D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Includes units of the employer stock fund through the issuer's 401(k) plan equivalent to 6,799 shares of common stock of the issuer.
2. Includes: (a) 2,584 time-based restricted stock units granted on December 12, 2024, which will vest in two substantially equal installments on the second and third anniversary of the issuance date; (b) 2,715 time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 1, 2025, which will vest in two substantially equal installments on the second and third anniversary of the issuance date; and (c) 4,020 time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 2, 2026, which will vest in three substantially equal installments on the first, second, and third anniversary of the issue date.
/s/ Heather Roemer, as attorney-in-fact for Donald Chad Carter04/02/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transaction did BFST executive Donald Chad Carter report?

Donald Chad Carter reported a tax-withholding disposition of 317 shares of Business First Bancshares common stock. The shares were withheld at $27.04 each to satisfy tax liabilities linked to equity compensation, not sold in the open market.

How many BFST common shares does Donald Chad Carter hold after this filing?

After the March 31, 2026 transaction, Donald Chad Carter held 14,517 shares of Business First Bancshares common stock directly. He also had employer stock fund units in the 401(k) plan equivalent to 6,799 additional common shares, according to the disclosure.

What restricted stock units does Donald Chad Carter hold in BFST?

Carter held 9,319 restricted stock units tied to BFST common stock after the transaction. These include multiple time-based awards granted in 2024, 2025, and 2026 that vest in equal installments on specified future anniversaries of their respective grant dates.

Was the BFST insider transaction a market sale of shares?

The filing describes a tax-withholding disposition, not an open-market sale. Shares were delivered at $27.04 each to cover tax liabilities associated with equity awards, a common administrative step that does not reflect an active trading decision.

What is the role of Donald Chad Carter at Business First Bancshares (BFST)?

Donald Chad Carter is an officer of Business First Bancshares, serving as Executive Vice President of Correspondent Banking. His Form 4 filing reports equity-related holdings and a routine tax-withholding share disposition tied to his compensation.