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

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)      April 24, 2012

Bar Harbor Bankshares

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maine

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

001-13349

01-0393663

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

               P.O. Box 400

Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME

04609-0400

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

(207) 288-3314

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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))

ITEM 8.01

OTHER EVENTS

Bar Harbor Bankshares issued a press release today announcing, that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 29 cents per share of common stock, representing an increase of 0.5 cents, or 1.8% compared with the prior quarter, and an increase of 2 cents or 7.4% compared with the second quarter of 2011. The dividend will be payable to all shareholders of record as of the close of business May 15, 2012 and will be paid on June 15, 2012. A copy of the Company’s press release is filed with this current report as an exhibit.

ITEM 9.01

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)

      Exhibits No. Description

99.1

Copy of Company’s press release dated April 24, 2012 filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:   April 24, 2012

BAR HARBOR BANKSHARES

/s/ Joseph M. Murphy

Joseph M. Murphy

President and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1   Press Release dated April 24, 2012

EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

For further information contact:                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joseph M. Murphy

President and CEO

(207) 288-3314

Bar Harbor Bankshares Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend

Bar Harbor, Maine (April 24, 2012) – Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE Amex: BHB), today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 29 cents per share of common stock, representing an increase of 0.5 cents, or 1.8% compared with the prior quarter, and an increase of 2.0 cents or 7.4% compared with the second quarter of 2011. The quarterly cash dividend is payable to all shareholders of record as of the close of business May15, 2012 and will be paid on June 15, 2012.

Bar Harbor Bankshares is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.  Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, founded in 1887, provides full service community banking with twelve branch office locations serving down east and mid coast Maine.

#  #  #