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): December 3, 2018

First Choice Bancorp

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(562) 345-9092

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(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):

Indicate by Check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company [X]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [X]

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On November 29, 2018, the Board of Directors of First Choice Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Company”) authorized a stock repurchase plan providing for the repurchase of up to 1.2 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The timing, price and volume of repurchases will be based on market, price and business conditions, relevant securities laws and other factors. The stock repurchases may be made from time to time, through solicited or unsolicited transactions in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or a plan administered in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at the discretion of management. The amount of common stock subject to the repurchase program represents approximately 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The program may be discontinued or amended at any time.

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing these matters is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX