FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Kelley Scot A.   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC [PFBI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP Credit Adminstration (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC., 2883 5TH AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 06/13/2018 (Street) HUNTINGTON, WV 25702 4. If Amendment, Date 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 (City) (State) (Zip) 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 PFBI Common Stock 06/13/2018   M   1,306 A $ 10.7055 16,204 (5) D   PFBI Common Stock 06/13/2018   M   1,306 A $ 10.8364 17,510 D   PFBI Common Stock 06/13/2018   M   1,250 A $ 15.208 18,760 D   PFBI Common Stock 06/13/2018   F   2,572 D $ 18.33 16,188 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	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 control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

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 Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: 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

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) (PFBI Common)

$ 15.12 (6)

(1)

03/21/2028

PFBI Common

3,750 (6)

3,750 (6)

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) (PFBI Common)

$ 15.208 (6)

06/13/2018

M

1,250 (6)

(2)

03/15/2027

PFBI Common

1,250 (6)

$ 0

2,500 (6)

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 10.8364 (6)

06/13/2018

M

1,306 (6)

(3)

03/16/2026

PFBI Common

1,306 (6)

$ 0

1,306 (6)

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 10.7055 (6)

06/13/2018

M

1,306 (6)

(4)

03/18/2025

PFBI Common

1,306 (6)

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Kelley Scot A. C/O PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 2883 5TH AVENUE HUNTINGTON, WV 25702			VP Credit Adminstration

Signatures

/s/ Scot A. Kelley		06/13/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	3,750 options granted on 3/21/2018 vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/21/2019.
(2)	3,750 options granted on 3/15/2017 vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/15/2018.
(3)	3,918 options granted on 3/16/2016 vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/16/2017.
(4)	Options vested over three-year period from 03/18/2015 grant date and were fully vested on 03/18/2018
(5)	On June 8, 2018, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. issued a 5 for 4 stock split (1 share for every 4 shares owned on record date) to shareholders of record on June 4, 2018. Reporting person's last reported ownership of PFBI Common Stock has been increased by 2,979 shares to reflect the 5 for 4 stock split.
(6)	On June 8, 2018, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. issued a 5 for 4 stock split (1 share for every 4 shares owned on record date) to shareholders of record on June 4, 2018. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the stock option plans, the number of options awarded has been increased by 25% and the exercise price of the options awarded has been decreased by 25% to reflect the 5 for 4 stock split.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.