Southern First (NASDAQ: SFST) CFO gets 3,500 RSUs, withholds shares for tax obligations

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern First Bancshares Chief Financial Officer Christian J. Zych reported equity compensation and related tax withholding transactions in company common stock. He received a grant of 3,500 restricted stock units that vest equally over four years, increasing his direct holdings before tax withholding to 5,320 shares.

To satisfy tax obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units, 189 shares of common stock were withheld at a price of $54.94 per share, reducing his direct ownership to 5,131 shares after these transactions.

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^*

Zych Christian J

(Last) (First) (Middle)

P.O. BOX 17465

(Street)

GREENVILLE SC 29606

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC [ SFST ]

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

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/01/2026

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	02/01/2026		A		3,500(1)	A	$0	5,320	D
Common Stock	02/01/2026		F		189(2)	D	$54.94	5,131	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

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents grant of restricted stock units. The restricted stock vests equally over four years.

2. Reflects shares of Issuer's common stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units.

	Christian J. Zych /s/ Julie A. Fairchild, POA	02/20/2026
	** 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 transactions did SFST CFO Christian J. Zych report on this Form 4?

Christian J. Zych reported a grant of 3,500 restricted stock units and a withholding of 189 common shares for taxes. Both transactions involved Southern First Bancshares common stock and were recorded as direct ownership changes tied to his equity compensation.

How many Southern First Bancshares (SFST) shares does the CFO own after these transactions?

After the reported transactions, Christian J. Zych directly owns 5,131 shares of Southern First Bancshares common stock. This reflects the 3,500 restricted stock unit grant and the 189 shares withheld to cover tax obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units.

What type of equity compensation did the SFST CFO receive in this filing?

The CFO received 3,500 restricted stock units as equity compensation. According to the disclosure, these restricted stock units vest equally over four years, representing a long-term incentive that gradually converts into common stock as vesting conditions are met.

How were taxes handled on the SFST CFO’s restricted stock vesting?

Taxes were handled through share withholding. Specifically, 189 shares of Southern First Bancshares common stock were withheld at $54.94 per share to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock units held by the CFO.

Were the SFST CFO’s transactions open-market buys or sells?

The transactions were not open-market buys or sells. One was a grant of 3,500 restricted stock units, and the other was a disposition of 189 shares to cover tax withholding, described as delivering securities to satisfy tax liabilities on vested restricted stock units.

Do the reported SFST insider transactions involve direct or indirect ownership?

Both reported transactions involve direct ownership by the CFO. The Form 4 identifies the ownership type and code as direct, with no indication of trusts, partnerships, or other indirect entities involved in holding or transacting the Southern First Bancshares common shares.