<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001227500</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EQUITY BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQBK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001690206</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bowers Dan R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7701 E KELLOGG DR., STE. 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WICHITA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>67207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>726</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137029</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Dan R. Bowers Revocable Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Class A common stock of Equity Bancshares, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) received in exchange for shares of common stock of Community First Bancshares, Inc. (&quot;CFBI&quot;) pursuant that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated July 14, 2016 (the &quot;Agreement&quot;), between the Issuer and CFBI.  Under the Agreement, the exchange ratio was 7.261 shares of Issuer Class A common stock for each share of CFBI common stock, with fractional shares paid in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is the Trustee of the Dan R. Bowers Revocable Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List

Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory H. Kossover, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
