UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) January 31, 2006


PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Kentucky
  
61-1206757
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation organization)
  
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
2883 Fifth Avenue
Huntington, West Virginia
  
 
25702
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number (304) 525-1600

Not Applicable
Former name or former address, if changes since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

o Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 
 

PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC,

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On January 31, 2006, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. (“Premier”) executed and delivered to First Guaranty Bank of Hammond, Louisiana a Promissory Note and Business Loan Agreement dated January 31, 2006 for the principal amount of $7,000,000, bearing interest floating daily at the “Wall Street Journal” prime rate (initially 7.25%) and requiring monthly principal payments of $50,000 until maturity on September 28, 2017. The note is secured by a pledge of Premier’s 100% interest in Boone County Bank (a wholly owned subsidiary) under Commercial Pledge Agreement dated January 31, 2006. The proceeds of this note were used to redeem $7,000,000 (280,000 shares) of Premier’s 9.75% Trust Preferred Securities as of January 31, 2006.
Premier’s chairman owns approximately 27.6% of the voting stock of First Guaranty Bank. However, Premier’s board of directors determined during its vote to authorize the company to enter into the loan transaction that the terms of the financing, including the interest rate and collateral, were no less favorable than those which could be obtained from other financial institutions.

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation

The discussion of the execution of a promissory note payable to First Guaranty Bank is incorporated herein by reference from “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
 
 
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
 PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
 
         (Registrant)
 
 
 Date: February 1, 2006
 /s/ Brien M. Chase                 
 
 Brien M. Chase, Vice President
     and Chief Financial Officer