First Financial Bancorp completes BankFinancial acquisition

First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ: FFBC) completed its acquisition of Chicago-based BankFinancial Corporation on January 1, 2026, through an all-stock transaction, according to a company statement.

The acquisition adds BankFinancial's 18 financial centers in the Chicago area to First Financial's network, marking the company's entry into retail consumer banking in that market. With the completion of this transaction, First Financial will have $22 billion in assets.

"Expanding our presence in Chicago presents us with significant opportunities for growth and profitability because of the many solutions we can bring to new and existing clients in this market," said Archie Brown, president and chief executive officer of First Financial Bank.

BankFinancial locations will continue operating under the BankFinancial name until a conversion process completes in June 2026. The conversion will consolidate the two banks' products, processes and operating systems. BankFinancial clients will receive information about account conversions in the coming months and do not need to take any action currently.

This acquisition follows First Financial's recent expansion activities in the Midwest. In November 2025, the company closed its acquisition of Westfield Bank, expanding commercial banking and wealth management capabilities in Northeast Ohio. The company also acquired Lincolnshire-based Agile Premium Finance in 2024 and added a commercial lending presence in Chicago's Fulton Market in 2023.

As of September 30, 2025, First Financial had $18.6 billion in assets, $11.7 billion in loans, $14.4 billion in deposits and operated 127 full service banking centers across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.

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