8-K

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

First Bancorp

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(910) 246-2500

(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:

| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | | --- | --- || ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | | --- | --- || ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | | --- | --- || ☐ | 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:

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 1934 (§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. ☐

First Bancorp

INDEX

Item 8.01 – Other Events

On December 15, 2021, the Registrant issued a news release to announce a cash dividend. The Registrant reported that its Board of Directors had declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share on its common stock payable on January 25, 2022 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2021. The $0.20 dividend rate represents an 11.1% increase over the dividend rate of $0.18 paid in the comparable period of 2020.

Item 9.01 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99(a) – News Release dated December 15, 2021

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.

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Document

News Release

First Bancorp Announces Cash Dividend

Southern Pines, N.C. - The Board of Directors of First Bancorp (NASDAQ - FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.20 per share payable on January 25, 2022 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2021. The $0.20 dividend rate represents an 11.1% increase over the dividend rate of $0.18 paid in the comparable period of 2020.

First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $10.3 billion. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank that operates 122 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. First Bank also provides SBA loans to customers through its nationwide network of lenders - for more information on First Bank’s SBA lending capabilities, please visit www.firstbanksba.com. First Bancorp’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FBNC.”

Please visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com.