Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Vance Tyler A
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/19/2010
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BANK OF THE OZARKS INC [OZRK]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
17901 CHENAL PARKWAY, P.O. BOX 8811
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP/Retail Banking
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

LITTLE ROCK, AR 72231-8811
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 900
D
 
Common Stock 800 (1)
D
 
Common Stock 4,317
I
Shares held in 401(k) at 1/15/2010

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 09/16/2011 09/16/2015 Common Stock 1,200 $ 27.07 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 10/16/2010 10/16/2014 Common Stock 1,000 $ 31.04 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 10/17/2009 10/17/2013 Common Stock 800 $ 32.055 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Vance Tyler A
17901 CHENAL PARKWAY
P.O. BOX 8811
LITTLE ROCK, AR 72231-8811
      EVP/Retail Banking  

Signatures

/s/ Tyler A. Vance 01/20/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares were issued under the Company's Restricted Stock Plan in accordance with Rule 16b-3(d) and are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture until vested. 100% of the shares vest on 10/20/2012, three years after the date of grant, if the individual remains employed with the Company through such date.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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