Southern First (NASDAQ: SFST) CEO gets 6,500 RSUs, 1,657 shares withheld

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern First Bancshares Chief Executive Officer and director R. Arthur Seaver Jr reported equity compensation changes in the company’s common stock. On February 1, 2026, he received a grant of 6,500 restricted stock units, awarded at $0 per share, which vest in equal installments over four years.

On the same date, 1,657 shares of common stock valued at $54.94 per share were withheld to cover tax obligations arising from vesting of restricted stock units and awards. After these transactions, Seaver directly beneficially owned 112,497 shares of Southern First Bancshares common stock.

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^*

SEAVER R ARTHUR JR

(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)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Executive 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		6,500(1)	A	$0	114,154	D
Common Stock	02/01/2026		F		1,657(2)	D	$54.94	112,497	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 and awards.

	R. Arthur Seaver, Jr. /s/Julie A. Fairchild, POA	02/03/2026
	** 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).
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FAQ

What insider transactions did SFST CEO R. Arthur Seaver Jr report on February 1, 2026?

On February 1, 2026, SFST CEO R. Arthur Seaver Jr received 6,500 restricted stock units and had 1,657 shares of common stock withheld for taxes. These actions reflect routine equity compensation and related tax withholding rather than open-market buying or selling.

How many Southern First (SFST) shares does the CEO own after this Form 4?

After the reported transactions, SFST CEO R. Arthur Seaver Jr directly beneficially owned 112,497 shares of Southern First Bancshares common stock. This figure reflects the new restricted stock unit grant and the 1,657 shares withheld to satisfy tax obligations on vesting awards.

What are the terms of the 6,500 restricted stock units granted to SFST’s CEO?

The 6,500 restricted stock units granted to SFST’s CEO vest in equal installments over four years. The grant was reported at a price of $0 per unit, indicating a typical equity award structure designed to align executive incentives with longer-term company performance.

Why were 1,657 SFST shares withheld in the CEO’s Form 4 filing?

The 1,657 Southern First shares were withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations triggered by the vesting of restricted stock units and awards. This withholding, at a reported value of $54.94 per share, is a standard mechanism to cover the executive’s tax liability without separate cash payment.

Does the SFST CEO’s Form 4 show an open-market sale of shares?

The Form 4 does not show an open-market sale; instead, it reports 1,657 shares withheld to cover tax obligations on vested awards. The other reported transaction is a grant of 6,500 restricted stock units, which is a non-cash equity compensation award to the CEO.