<Page 1>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC. 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)
July 1, 1998
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-18082 43-1524856
-------------------------------------------------------
(State or other (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer)
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
1451 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65804
----------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(417) 887-4400
N/A
-----------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last
report)
<Page 2>
Item 5. Other Events
On July 1, 1998, the Registrant issued the attached
press release announcing the conversion of its subsidiary
thrift to a Missouri chartered trust company effective June
30, 1998.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
20.1 Press release dated July 1, 1998.
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 thereunto duly
authorized.
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
Date: July 1, 1998
----------------- ----------------------------
Don M. Gibson
Executive Vice President
<Page 3>
Exhibit 20.1
FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT RICHARD WILSON DATE: 7/1/98
AT (417)895-4658
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
ANNOUNCES CHARTER CONVERSION FOR SUBSIDIARY THRIFT
AND DECLARES DIVIDEND
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI (NASDAQ:GSBC) -- Great Southern
Bancorp, Inc. (the "Corporation"), the parent holding
company of Great Southern, FSB ("Great Southern"), has
announced that Great Southern has converted to a Missouri
chartered trust company effective June 30, 1998. As a
result of the conversion, the Corporation will be regulated
as a bank holding company. Deposits will continue to be
insured by the FDIC.
"A Missouri trust company charter will provide Great
Southern with full commercial banking powers and greater
flexibility in positioning Great Southern for the future,"
said William V. Turner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation and Great Southern. "We will now be able
to meet our ever increasing demand for commercial real
estate loans and non-residential lending programs, as well
as continuing to handle home and consumer loans in our
communities," Mr. Turner added.
In other business, the company announced the
declaration of an $.11 per share dividend payable on July
20, 1998, to shareholders of record on July 10, 1998.
At the time of this release, the company had
repurchased 43,451 shares in the buy-back plan which
commenced April 24, 1998, bringing total shares outstanding
to 7,961,727.
Great Southern Bank, principal subsidiary of Great
Southern Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Springfield,
Missouri, and operates extensive branch and ATM networks
throughout southwest and central Missouri.
