Sec Form 4 Filing - BIAS JONATHAN MARK @ PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC - 2018-12-07

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person BIAS JONATHAN MARK 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC [ PFBI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC., 2883 5TH AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/07/2018 (Street) HUNTINGTON, WV25702 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price PFBI Common Stock 12/07/2018 M 1,375 A $ 10.8364 ( 6 ) 2,887 ( 5 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 15.57 03/20/2019 A 6,300 ( 1 ) 03/20/2029 PFBI Common 6,300 $ 0 6,300 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 15.12 ( 6 ) ( 2 ) 03/21/2028 PFBI Common 6,250 ( 6 ) 6,250 ( 6 ) D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 15.208 ( 6 ) ( 3 ) 03/15/2027 PFBI Common 6,250 ( 6 ) 6,250 ( 6 ) D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) (PFBI Common) $ 10.8364 ( 6 ) 12/07/2018 M 1,375 ( 4 ) 03/16/2026 PFBI Common 1,375 $ 0 1,375 ( 6 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other BIAS JONATHAN MARK C/O PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 2883 5TH AVENUE HUNTINGTON, WV25702 Senior Vice President Signatures /s/ J Mark Bias 03/21/2019 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/20/2020. ( 2 )Options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/21/2019. ( 3 )Options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on 03/15/2018. ( 4 )Options vested over three-year period from 03/16/2016 grant date and were fully vested on 03/16/2019. ( 5 )On June 8, 2018, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. issued a 5 for 4 stock split (1 share for every 4 shares owned on record date) to shareholders of record on June 4, 2018. Reporting person's last reported ownership of PFBI Common Stock has been increased by 302 shares to reflect the 5 for 4 stock split. ( 6 )On June 8, 2018, Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. issued a 5 for 4 stock split (1 share for every 4 shares owned on record date) to shareholders of record on June 4, 2018. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the stock option plans, the number of options awarded has been increased by 25% and the exercise price of the options awarded has been decreased by 25% to reflect the 5 for 4 stock split.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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