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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

February 20, 2009

(Date of earliest event reported)

First Financial Service Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities and Exchange Commission File Number: 0-18832

KENTUCKY 61-1168311
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)

2323 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, 42701

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone, including area code: (270) 765-2131

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:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 8.01: Other Events

On February 20, 2009 First Financial Service Corporation issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2009 cash dividend. A copy of the
press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this report is being furnished, not filed, for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K will not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless
specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.

Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits

Attached is the press release for the first quarter cash dividend.

(d) Exhibits

Exh ibit Nu m be r De scription

99.1 Press release dated February 20, 2009

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.

FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION

Date: February 20, 2009 By: /s/ Steven M. Zagar

Steven M. Zagar
Chief Financial Officer &
Chief Accounting Officer

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2009 For Further Information Contact:
Steven M. Zagar
Chief Financial Officer
(270) 765-2131

FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION

ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, February 20, 2009- First Financial Service Corporation (the Company, Nasdaq: FFKY) today announced that a
quarterly cash dividend of 19 cents ($.19) per share would be paid on April 1, 2009 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on
March 16, 2009.

First Financial Service Corporation is the parent bank holding company of First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, which was chartered in
1923. The Bank serves the needs and caters to the economic strengths of the local communities in which it operates and strives to provide a
high level of personal and professional customer service. The Bank offers a variety of financial services to its retail and commercial banking
customers. These services include personal and corporate banking services, and personal investment financial counseling services. Today,
the Bank serves Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana through its 20 full-service banking centers and a commercial private banking center.

This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical income and those presently anticipated or projected.
The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
release. Such risks and uncertainties include those detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, risks of
adversely changing results of operations, risks related to the Company’s acquisition strategy, risk of loans and investments, including the
effect of the change of the local economic conditions, risks associated with the adverse effects of the changes in interest rates, and
competition for the Company’s customers by other providers of financial services, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are
beyond the control of the Company.

First Financial Service Corporation’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “FFKY.” Market makers for the stock are:
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Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. FTN Midwest Securities

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Company, Inc. Howe Barnes Investments, Inc.

Stifel Nicolaus & Company Knight Securities, LP

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