Business First Bancshares has approved a new share-repurchase program authorizing up to $30 million of common-stock buybacks over two years. The Louisiana-based bank holding company, whose subsidiary is b1BANK, is replacing an earlier program rather than carrying its unused authorization forward.
- The new program took effect Oct. 29, 2026, and runs through Oct. 28, 2028. It permits repurchases totaling up to $30 million.
- About $12.4 million was still available under the prior program, which began in October 2025. That program is being replaced, and Business First will make no further purchases under it; the new authorization is therefore a fresh $30 million limit.
- Shares may be bought on the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, or under eligible trading plans. Management will decide whether and when to buy, and at what price.
- The timing and amount of any purchases will depend on factors including market and economic conditions, the financial and regulatory condition of Business First and b1BANK, and the company’s liquidity needs.
- The authorization does not require Business First to buy any shares. The board can change, suspend or end the program at any time.
What changes: Business First now has a new, two-year authorization for discretionary buybacks, while the remaining capacity under its previous program is no longer available. The program sets a ceiling, not a commitment to spend $30 million or a schedule for purchases.