SHERIDAN, WYOMING - January 1, 2026 - First Financial Bancorp. (Nasdaq: FFBC) says it is scheduled to close its previously announced acquisition of Chicago-based BankFinancial Corporation today in an all-stock transaction that adds its first retail consumer-focused locations in the Chicago market.
Deal snapshot and strategic intent
The transaction brings BankFinancial's core deposit franchise and branch presence into First Financial's Midwest platform. First Financial said the acquisition adds 18 financial centers in the Chicago area, along with regional and national commercial loan, lease, and deposit lines of business. With the completion of the acquisition, First Financial said it will have $22 billion in assets and will broaden its consumer, commercial, specialty lending, and wealth management offering.
For bank operators, the strategic logic is straightforward: combining a deposit base and physical distribution with expanded product lines can improve cross-sell opportunities and deepen relationships in a targeted metro market. Execution, however, typically depends on how quickly systems, processes, and customer communications are aligned without disrupting day-to-day service.
Chicago entry with retail consumer locations
First Financial positioned the acquisition as a step-change in its Chicago presence, adding consumer-facing locations in the market while also extending commercial capabilities. The company framed Chicago as a growth opportunity where additional solutions can be brought to both new and existing clients.
"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. "First Financial exists to create opportunities to help our clients and communities thrive, and we look forward to the impact we can have with this approach in Chicago."
Integration timeline and customer continuity
BankFinancial locations will continue operating under the "BankFinancial" name until completion of the conversion process, which First Financial anticipates in June 2026. The company said the conversion will consolidate the two banks' products, processes, and operating systems. BankFinancial clients are expected to receive detailed information about account conversions in the coming months; until then, First Financial said BankFinancial clients do not need to take any action and can continue to obtain services through existing BankFinancial channels.
First Financial also stated its own clients will not be impacted by the merger or the conversion. From an operational perspective, that approach signals an intent to limit customer-facing disruption while the back-end integration work progresses.
Operational and commercial implications for business customers
Beyond the retail footprint, First Financial highlighted BankFinancial's commercial loan, lease, and deposit lines of business as part of the combined platform. For middle-market borrowers and business banking clients, integration periods can introduce uncertainty around relationship coverage and underwriting processes, so consistent communication and service continuity tend to be critical during the months between closing and full systems consolidation.
Key facts disclosed by the company include:
- The acquisition is structured as an all-stock transaction.
- BankFinancial contributes 18 financial centers in the Chicago area.
- First Financial said it will have $22 billion in assets upon completion.
- BankFinancial branding remains until the conversion process, anticipated in June 2026.
- The conversion is expected to consolidate products, processes, and operating systems.
Midwest growth pattern and platform build-out
First Financial described the acquisition as part of broader Midwest expansion. The company cited adding a commercial lending presence in Chicago's Fulton Market in 2023 and acquiring Lincolnshire-based Agile Premium Finance in 2024. It also noted that in November 2025 it announced the closing of its Westfield Bank acquisition, expanding commercial banking and wealth management capabilities in Northeast Ohio, and that it recently added a commercial banking presence in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Taken together, the moves point to a regional scaling strategy that combines selective acquisitions with targeted commercial expansion in specific metros, while maintaining a broader Midwestern foundation across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.
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