---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000708955-26-000002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FFBC"
cik: "0000708955"
company_name: "FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/"
filed_at: "2026-01-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T11:52:03.872417+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 completes all-stock acquisition of BankFinancial, adds 18 Chicago locations and $22B in assets

## Summary
- Each BankFinancial share converted to 0.480 FFBC share; combined pro forma assets of $22 billion.
- Adds 18 retail financial centers in Chicago, significantly expanding First Financial's consumer banking footprint.
- BankFinancial branches will operate under current name until system conversion expected June 2026; no action needed for customers.
- Follows recent Midwest growth: Westfield Bank acquisition (Nov 2025) and Agile Premium Finance (2024).

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000708955-26-000002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FFBC
- cik: 0000708955
- company_name: FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
- filed_at: 2026-01-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895526000002/0000708955-26-000002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895526000002/ffbc-20251231.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-26-000002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-26-000002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000708955-26-000002.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 17fcd9d8b394461b1a807e7bdcc1cb3b95a964ab
  claim: FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ completed an acquisition involving BankFinancial Corporation (closed 2026-01-01).
  evidence_excerpt: On January 1, 2026, the Company completed its previously announced Merger with BankFinancial pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000070895526000002/0000708955-26-000002-index.htm

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