July 22, 2024
VIA EDGAR
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F. Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Ms. Madeleine Joy Mateo, Attorney Advisor
| Re: | Business First Bancshares, Inc. | |
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Registration Statement on Form S-4/A File No. 333-280245 Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Business First Bancshares, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Registrant”), hereby requests acceleration by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the effective date of the above-captioned Registration Statement on Form S-4/A (the “Registration Statement”). The Registrant respectfully requests that the Registration Statement become effective under the Securities Act as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Please contact Beth A. Whitaker of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, the Registrant’s counsel, at (214) 468-3575 with any questions you may have concerning this request. In addition, please notify Mrs. Whitaker when this request for acceleration has been granted.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
| Sincerely, | ||
| BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ David R. Melville, III | |
| Name: | David R. Melville, III | |
| Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chairman | |
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cc: |
Beth A. Whitaker, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP |
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Saundra Strong, Business First Bancshares, Inc. |