---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000708955-25-000116"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FFBC"
cik: "0000708955"
company_name: "FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/"
filed_at: "2025-12-15T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T13:17:18.501586+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# First Financial Bancorp gets regulatory approval for $142M acquisition of BankFinancial; close expected Jan 1, 2026

## Summary
- Received Federal Reserve Board approval on Dec 12, 2025 and Ohio Department of Financial Institutions approval on Dec 9, 2025 for the acquisition.
- Anticipates closing of all-stock merger valued at ~$142M on or around January 1, 2026.
- Bank merger of BankFinancial, N.A. into First Financial Bank expected to occur immediately after corporate merger.
- Transaction was announced August 11, 2025; subject to BankFinancial shareholder approval and customary closing conditions.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000708955-25-000116
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FFBC
- cik: 0000708955
- company_name: FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
- filed_at: 2025-12-15T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895525000116/0000708955-25-000116-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895525000116/ffbc-20251209.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000116
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000116.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-25-000116.txt

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