 PINE BLUFF, Ark., Jan. 26, 2021 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- Simmons First National Corporation NASDAQ: SFNC the Company or Simmons, parent company of Simmons Bank, today announced net income of 254.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 237.8 million for 2019, an increase of 17.0 million, or 7.2. Diluted earnings per share were 2.31 for 2020, a decrease of 0.10 or 4.2, compared to the prior year. Included in the 2020 results were 9.4 million in net after-tax merger-related, early retirement program and net branch right-sizing costs and the gains on the sales of branches in Texas and Colorado. Excluding the impact of these items, core earnings were 264.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 269.6 million for 2019, a decrease of 5.3 million, or 2.0. Core diluted earnings per share were 2.40, a decrease of 0.33 or 12.1, from 2019. 