Mergers & Acquisitions ·
First Financial Bancorp announced its second quarter 2026 financial results and a proposed strategic acquisition of…
FFBCFirst Financial Bancorp
First Financial Bancorp announced its second quarter 2026 financial results and a proposed strategic acquisition of Finward Bancorp. For the quarter, the company reported adjusted net income of $83.9 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, and an adjusted return on average assets of 1.50%. The company also announced a $0.01 increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.26 per share, payable in the third quarter of 2026. Regarding the Finward Bancorp transaction, First Financial intends to issue approximately 5.9 million shares in a 1.35x fixed exchange ratio, a deal valued at $208 million. The acquisition is expected to provide mid-single digit EPS accretion and expand the company's presence in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana markets. First Financial Bancorp is a financial holding company providing banking, wealth management, and specialty lending services.