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 1, 2024 

BAYFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Florida	001-41068	59-3665079
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission file number)	(IRS employer identification no.)
700 Central Avenue		33701
St. Petersburg, Florida		(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
	(727) 440-6848
	(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed 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 communications 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))

Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class registered	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock	BAFN	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)

Emerging growth company ☑

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2023, BayFirst Financial Corp.’s (the “Company”) Chief Executive Officer Anthony N. Leo retired. Upon his retirement, Mr. Leo will continue to serve as a Director of the Company and will also be a part-time consultant to the Company.

Also as previously disclosed, on January 1, 2024, Thomas G. Zernick will begin service as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and he will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

In addition, also on January 1, 2024, Company Chief Operating Officer Robin L. Oliver was will begin service as President of the Company, in addition to her continued service as Chief Operating Officer.

The Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number	Exhibit Name	Filed Herewith
99.1	BayFirst Financial Corp. Press Release dated January 2, 2024	*
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)	*

The information in this report (including the exhibits) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

SIGNATURES

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.

BAYFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
Date:	January 2, 2024
By:	/s/ Scott J. McKim
	Scott J. McKim
	Chief Financial Officer