FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ [FFBC] - and Finward Bancorp merger
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP will acquire Finward Bancorp in a merger where each share of Finward's common stock will be converted into 1.35 shares of FIRST FINANCIAL's common stock, with the transaction expected to close in Q4 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Why this matters
First Financial Bancorp, a national commercial bank based in Ohio, has announced its acquisition of Finward Bancorp, the holding company for Peoples Bank, in an all-stock transaction. This merger will see each share of Finward's common stock converted into 1.35 shares of First Financial's common stock. The transaction is part of First Financial's strategic expansion efforts and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals.