Lakeland Financial (LKFN) director gets stock, phantom units awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lakeland Financial Corporation director Brian J. Smith reported new equity awards. On January 13, 2026, he acquired 650 shares of common stock at a price of $0, bringing his directly held common stock to 42,085 shares. This type of no-cost acquisition typically reflects a stock grant or similar award.

On January 12, 2026, he was also granted 309 phantom stock units at a reference value of $56.6943 per unit, increasing his directly held phantom stock to 20,738 units. Each phantom stock unit is tied to one share of common stock and becomes exercisable after his retirement from the board, expiring when his board service ends.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED 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

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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^*

Smith Brian J

(Last) (First) (Middle)

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

P.O. BOX 1387

(Street)

WARSAW IN 46581-1387

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP [ LKFN ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/12/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	01/13/2026		A		650	A	$0	42,085	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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock	(1)	01/12/2026		A		309		(2)	(3)	Common Stock	309	$56.6943	20,738	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each phantom stock unit exercises into 1 share of common Stock.

2. Phantom stock is exercisable after the directors' retirement as a Board member.

3. Phantom shares expire after the directors' retirement as a Board member.

Remarks:

	/s/ Becka J. Turnbow, Attorney-in-Fact	01/12/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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.

FAQ

What insider activity did LKFN director Brian J. Smith report?

Director Brian J. Smith reported acquiring 650 shares of Lakeland Financial common stock at $0 and 309 phantom stock units tied to the company’s shares.

How many Lakeland Financial (LKFN) shares does Brian J. Smith now hold?

After the reported transaction, Brian J. Smith beneficially owns 42,085 shares of common stock directly.

What phantom stock award was granted to the LKFN director?

Brian J. Smith was granted 309 phantom stock units at a reference value of $56.6943 per unit, bringing his directly held phantom stock total to 20,738 units.

How do Lakeland Financial phantom stock units work for this director?

Each phantom stock unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock, becomes exercisable after the director’s retirement from the board, and expires upon that retirement.

Is the reported LKFN insider transaction a purchase or an award?

The Form 4 shows an acquisition code “A” and a per-share price of $0 for the 650 common shares, indicating a grant or award rather than an open-market purchase.

Does Brian J. Smith hold his LKFN shares directly or indirectly?

The filing lists both the 42,085 common shares and 20,738 phantom stock units as held with direct ownership.