** Community lender First Guaranty Bancshares' FGBI.O shares jump 15.6% to $6.22 in morning trading

** FGBI directors Edgar Smith III, Bruce McAnally, and Marshall Reynolds bought stock on December 31, according to regulatory filings on late Friday

** Edgar Smith III bought over $1 million worth of FGBI stock, while Bruce McAnally and Marshall Reynolds bought $500,040 and $250,004 worth of the bank's shares, respectively

** Buybacks and insider buying are the strongest signals companies can send to the market, according to analysts

** In October, FGBI reported a third-quarter loss, largely driven by exposure to an auto parts manufacturer's bankruptcy

** FGBI stock slumped 52.7% in 2025

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))