---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000708955-25-000057"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FFBC"
cik: "0000708955"
company_name: "FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/"
filed_at: "2025-06-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-19T00:28:09.792608+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# First Financial Bancorp to acquire Westfield Bancorp for $325M in cash and stock

## Summary
- Total consideration $325M: $260M cash + $65M in ~2.75M FFBC shares based on 10-day VWAP.
- Expected 12% accretive to earnings with tangible book value earn-back of ~2.9 years.
- Westfield Bank holds $2.2B assets; combined entity will be $20.6B Midwest institution.
- Closing targeted in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approvals; no shareholder vote required.
- First Financial pledged $500K to its Foundation for Northeast Ohio communities served by Westfield Bank.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000708955-25-000057
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FFBC
- cik: 0000708955
- company_name: FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
- filed_at: 2025-06-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 3.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895525000057/0000708955-25-000057-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895525000057/ffbc-20250623.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000057
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000057.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000057.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.