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                                  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): February 2, 2006

                           SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Texas                      0-12247                  75-1848732
 (State or other jurisdiction      (Commission File           (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                Number)            Identification Number)

          1201 S. Beckham, Tyler, Texas                           75701
     (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (903) 531-7111

                                       NA
          (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:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230-425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240-14a-12)

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

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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ITEM 2.02.  RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On February 2, 2006, Southside Bancshares, Inc. issued a press release
announcing financial results for the three months and year ended December 31,
2005, reporting earnings of $3.5 million and $14.6 million, respectively and
diluted earnings per common share of $0.29 and $1.21, respectively. A copy of
the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is hereby incorporated
herein by reference. The press release includes information regarding interest
income on a taxable equivalent basis or FTE. FTE is a non-GAAP performance
measure used by management in operating the business which management believes
provides investors with a more accurate picture of the interest yield, spread
and margin for comparative purposes.

         The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the
attached exhibit, is being furnished as provided in General Instruction B.2 to
Form 8-K, to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed to
be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
Furthermore the information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall
not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, except as shall be expressly provided by specific
reference in such filing.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

          (d)  Exhibits. The following materials are furnished as exhibits to
               this Current Report on Form 8-K:

EXHIBIT
NUMBER      DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
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99.1        Press release dated February 2, 2006



                                    SIGNATURE

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

                                             SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC.


Date: February 2, 2006                       By: /s/ Lee R. Gibson
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Lee R. Gibson
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer