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): October 17, 2003

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

       Tennessee                      000-30497                  62-1175427
------------------------        ---------------------        -------------------
(State of Incorporation)        (Commission File No.)          (IRS Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

                                5319 Highway 153,
                          Chattanooga, Tennessee 37343
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (423) 385-3000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

This information furnished under "Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure" is provided under "Item 12. Results of Operation and Financial Condition" in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216.

On October 17, 2003, the Registrant issued a press release reporting earnings results for the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2003.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated October 17, 2003 reporting earnings results for the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2003.

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.

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.

Date: October 17, 2003                       By: \s\ Nathaniel F. Hughes
                                                 --------------------------
                                                 Nathaniel F. Hughes,
                                                 President and Treasurer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------

   99.1           Press  release  dated  October  17,  2003  reporting  earnings
                  results for the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2003.


Exhibit 99.1

HIXSON, Tenn., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSBQ) today announced the following:

Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. saw its 3rd quarter earnings increase to $492 thousand or $.40 a share for the third quarter and $1.394 million year to date or $1.13 a share. Due to these results the company is adjusting its earning guidance from $1.45 per share to $1.50 per share for 2003; the second increase in as many quarters and is very optimistic about future earnings growth. Loan growth is at 39% over the same quarter in 2002 but saw a leveling of loan growth during the historically slow third quarter on a quarter-to-quarter basis. The Bank continues to see loan growth in the business lending part of the loan portfolio and is looking for ways to further leverage this segment of the Chattanooga market. Three factors have made Cornerstone's earnings growth so explosive first, the Bank, due to loan origination fees, has a very high net interest margin 4.92% when compared to peers, second, earning assets as a percentage of total assets have grown to 94%, third, non interest income has increased 52% compared with 2002 third quarter. All of which bode well for future earnings. On the horizon the Bank is in the final stages of completing the biding process for our new Ooltewah Branch and will commence the construction during the 4th quarter of 2003 and expects the branch to open during the first quarter of 2004.

The asset quality remained at the superior level during the first half of 2003 as non-performing loans as a percentage of average total loans dropped to 0.06% while past due loans as a percentage of total loans dropped to 0.29%. The Bank continued to recover more loans than it charged off for the second quarter in a row and as a result was able to increase the loan loss allowance to 1.44% with a $255 thousand provision for the quarter. The provision was in response to a possible loan loss that may occur during the fourth quarter of 2003. The Bank believes strongly that the most conservative approach should be used with the loan loss allowance and should align with any risk associated with the loan portfolio.

Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. 3rd quarter 2003 earnings of $492 thousand represents an 85.0% increase over the 3rd quarter in 2002 earnings of $266 thousand. Earnings per share for the 3rd quarter 2003 was $0.40 compared to $0.22 per share for the 3rd quarter of 2002. Cornerstone is confident this earnings growth will continue throughout 2003 and anticipates earnings per share to grow to $1.50 a share an increase of 75% over 2002.

Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. is a one-bank holding company serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee MSA with 4 branches and $185 million in assets specializing in business financial services.

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.

Selected Financial Information
as of September 30, 2003

(in thousands)

                        Three Months             Year-to-Date
                      Ending Sept 30    %       Ending Sept 30      %
EARNINGS SUMMARY    2003       2002  Change     2003      2002   Change
Interest income $  2,903   $  2,455  18.23% $  8,347   $ 7,109   17.43%
Interest expense     797        807  -1.30%    2,414     2,481   -2.71%
Net interest
 income            2,107      1,648  27.79%    5,933     4,627   28.22%
Provision for loan
 loss                255        150  70.00%      410       420   -2.38%
Net interest income
 after provision   1,852      1,498  23.57%    5,523     4,207   31.28%
Noninterest income   360        235  52.75%      934       716   30.40%
Noninterest
 expense           1,412      1,290   9.43%    4,191     3,672   14.14%
Pretax income        799        443  80.20%    2,266     1,252   81.06%
Income taxes         308        178  73.03%      873       499   74.98%
Net income      $    492   $    266  85.00% $  1,393   $   753   85.09%

Earnings per
 common share   $   0.40   $   0.22         $   1.13   $  0.61
Weighted average
 common shares

outstanding 1,243,167 1,233,167 1,238,167 1,233,167

                       Three Months             Year-to-Date
AVERAGE BALANCE      Ending Sept 30     %       Ending Sept 30      %
SHEET SUMMARY       2003       2002  Change     2003      2002   Change
Loans, net of
 unearned
 income          $148,873  $107,130  38.96%  $137,585  $104,371  31.82%
Investment
 securities &
 Other             23,391    24,713  -5.35%    25,765    24,286   6.09%
Earning assets    172,264   131,843  30.66%   163,350   128,657  26.97%
Total assets      183,144   143,967  27.21%   174,343   140,428  24.15%
Noninterest bearing
 deposits          18,742    15,569  20.39%    17,448    13,985  24.76%
Interest bearing
 transaction
 deposits          47,251    39,649  19.17%    46,797    38,488  21.59%
Certificates of
 deposit           75,693    62,603  20.91%    72,217    63,607  13.54%
Total deposits    141,687   117,820  20.26%   136,462   116,080  17.56%
Other interest
 bearing
 liabilities       23,849    10,520 126.71%    20,817     9,027 130.61%
Shareholder's
 equity            16,352    14,802  10.47%    15,898    14,509   9.57%


                             Three Months               Year-to-Date
                            Ending Sept 30             Ending Sept 30
SELECTED RATIOS           2003          2002         2003          2002


Average equity to
 average assets          8.93%        10.28%        9.12%        10.33%

Average net loans to
 average total assets   81.29%        74.41%       78.92%        74.32%

Return on average assets 1.07% 0.74% 1.07% 0.71%

Return on average total

 equity                 12.02%         7.18%       11.69%         6.92%

Book value per common
 share                 $13.15        $12.00

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.

Selected Financial Information
as of September 30, 2003

(in thousands)

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

                                   2003                        2002
Quarter Ending          30-Sep    30-Jun     31-Mar     31-Dec     30-Sep
Avg loans, less
 investor loans     $ 148,873  $ 136,473  $ 125,363  $ 117,486  $ 107,130
Nonaccrual loans           83          0         49         49        125
Repossessed assets          0          4          0          0         40
Other real estate,
 net                      344        240        240        240        436
  Total nonperforming
   assets           $     428  $     244  $     289  $     289  $     601

Loans 90 days past
 due                $       0  $       0  $       0  $       0  $       0

Total nonperforming
 assets as a percentage
 of average loans and
 OREO                    0.29%      0.18%      0.23%      0.25%      0.56%

Loans ninety days past
 due as a percentage of
 average loans           0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%

Total nonperforming loans
 as a percentage of
 average loans           0.06%      0.00%      0.04%      0.04%      0.12%


ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSS
                                  2003                      2002
Quarter Ending          30-Sep    30-Jun    31-Mar    31-Dec       30-Sep
Balance at beginning
 of period            $  1,828  $  1,692   $  1,591   $  1,351   $  1,323
Loans charged-off            8        39         68         40        109
Loan recoveries             16       125         63         17        (13)
  Net Charge-offs
   (recoveries)             (8)      (86)         5         23        122
Add provision for
 loan losses               255        50        105        263        150
Balance at end of
 period               $  2,091  $  1,828   $  1,692   $  1,591   $  1,351

Loan loss reserve as
 a percentage of
 average loans            1.40%     1.34%      1.35%      1.35%      1.26%

Loan loss reserve as
 a percentage of
 nonperforming assets   488.83%   748.80%    585.99%    551.05%    224.62%

Annualized net charge-offs
as a percentage of
average loans- QTD -0.02% -0.25% 0.01% 0.08% 0.46%

Annualized net charge-offs
as a percentage of
average loans- YTD -0.09% -0.12% 0.01% 0.33% 0.50%

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE
INTEREST INCOME/EXPENSE AND
YIELD/RATES

 Taxable Equivalent
 Basis                                   Three months ended
 (in thousands)                            September 30

Assets                               2003                     2002
                         Average  Income/ Yield/  Average  Income/ Yield/
Earning assets:          Balance  Expense  Rate   Balance  Expense  Rate
Loans, net of unearned
 income                  $148,873  $2,672  7.20%  $107,130  $2,167  8.03%
Investment securities      23,079     229  4.09%    22,461     274  4.83%
Other earning assets          312       2  2.00%     2,252      14  2.54%
  Total earning assets    172,264  $2,903  6.77%   131,843  $2,455  7.39%
Allowance for loan
 losses                    (1,916)                  (1,312)
Cash and other assets      12,796                   13,437
      TOTAL ASSETS       $183,144                 $143,967

Liabilities and
 Shareholder's Equity

Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing demand
 deposits                 $22,038     $12  0.22%   $20,155     $59  1.17%
Savings deposits            6,885       9  0.52%     5,961      19  1.24%
MMDA's                     18,328      68  1.49%    13,533      72  2.11%
Time deposits of
 $100,000 or less          57,227     394  2.76%    44,119     388  3.49%
Time deposits of
 $100,000 or more          18,467     143  3.10%    18,484     172  3.69%
Federal funds purchased
 and securities sold
 under agreements to
 repurchase                 6,449      22  1.39%     2,128       8  1.47%
Other borrowings           17,400     148  3.41%     8,391      89  4.21%
  Total interest bearing
   liabilities            146,794     797  2.18%   112,771     807  2.84%
Net interest spread                $2,107  4.60%            $1,648  4.55%
Noninterest bearing
 demand deposits           18,742                   15,569
Accrued expenses and
 other liabilities          1,256                      825
Shareholder's equity       16,352                   14,802
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
  SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY   $183,144                 $143,967
Net yield on earning
 assets                                    4.92%                    4.96%

Taxable equivalent adjustment:
  Loans                                 0                        0
  Investment securities                 6                        6
          Total adjustment              6                        6

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE
INTEREST INCOME/EXPENSE AND
YIELD/RATES

 Taxable Equivalent
 Basis                                      Year-to-Date
(in thousands)                              September 30

Assets                               2003                     2002
                         Average  Income/ Yield/  Average  Income/ Yield/
Earning assets:          Balance  Expense  Rate   Balance  Expense  Rate
Loans, net of unearned
 income                  $137,585  $7,587  7.37%  $104,371  $6,216  7.96%
Investment securities      24,051     743  4.23%    22,077     871  5.37%
Other earning assets        1,714      17  1.31%     2,209      37  2.23%
  Total earning assets    163,350  $8,347  6.85%   128,657  $7,124  7.40%
Allowance for loan
 losses                    (1,766)                  (1,313)
Cash and other assets      12,759                   13,085
      TOTAL ASSETS       $174,343                 $140,429

Liabilities and
 Shareholder's Equity

Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing demand
 deposits                 $21,776     $51  0.31%   $20,602    $190  1.23%
Savings deposits            6,837      38  0.74%     5,622      52  1.24%
MMDA's                     18,184     218  1.61%    12,264     193  2.11%
Time deposits of
 $100,000 or less          53,336   1,186  2.97%    44,400   1,242  3.74%
Time deposits of
 $100,000 or more          18,881     460  3.26%    19,207     560  3.90%
Federal funds purchased
 and securities sold
 under agreements to
 repurchase                 5,125      49  1.29%     2,119      23  1.46%
Other borrowings           15,692     411  3.51%     6,908     220  4.26%
  Total interest bearing
   liabilities            139,831   2,414  2.31%   111,122   2,481  2.99%
Net interest spread                $5,933  4.54%            $4,643  4.42%
Noninterest bearing
 demand deposits           17,448                   13,985
Accrued expenses and
 other liabilities          1,166                      813
Shareholder's equity       15,898                   14,509
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
  SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY   $174,343                 $140,429
Net yield on earning
 assets                                    4.87%                    4.82%

Taxable equivalent adjustment:
  Loans                                 0                        0
  Investment securities                18                       15
          Total adjustment             18                       15

CORNERSTONE BANCSHARES, INC.

Selected Financial Information
as of September 30, 2003

(in thousands)

NONINTEREST INCOME        Three Months             Year-to-Date
                         Ending Sept 30     %     Ending Sept 30     %
                          2003    2002   Change    2003    2002   Change
Service charges on
 deposits                  $176    $152   15.44%    $486    $408   18.91%
Other fee income            175      72  142.66%     420     269   55.92%
Other income                  9      11  -19.10%      29      39  -25.81%
   TOTAL                   $360    $235   52.75%    $934    $716   30.40%


NONINTEREST EXPENSE       Three Months             Year-to-Date
                         Ending Sept 30     %     Ending Sept 30     %
                           2003    2002  Change     2003    2002  Change
Salaries and benefits      $824    $661   24.67%  $2,380  $1,905   24.94%
Net occupancy expense        91      92   -0.07%     288     264    9.27%
Furniture & Equipment       114      97   17.27%     318     271   17.22%
Other Operating Expense     382     440  -13.21%   1,205   1,232   -2.21%
   TOTAL                 $1,412  $1,290    9.43%  $4,191  $3,672   14.14%

SOURCE Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc.
-0- 10/17/2003 /CONTACT: Frank Hughes, Executive Vice President & Treasurer of Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc., +1-423-385-3009, or fax, +1-423-385-3100/


(CSBQ)

CO: Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc.
ST: Tennessee
IN: FIN OTC
SU: ERN ERP