{"filing":{"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","cik":"0000708955","ticker":"FFBC","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","form":"8-K","filing_date":"2026-07-21","report_date":null,"primary_document":"tm2620858d1_8k.htm","primary_document_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/708955/000110465926085424/tm2620858d1_8k.htm"},"events":[{"id":19187,"run_id":17265,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","anchor_item_number":"1.01","event_type":"ma_activity","event_domain":"operational","is_material":true,"confidence":0.97,"summary":"First Financial Bancorp entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Finward Bancorp on July 21, 2026, whereby Finward will merge into First Financial in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $208 million with a 1.35 share exchange ratio. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026 subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, and will add $2.0 billion in assets and 24 financial centers, expanding First Financial's presence in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana markets.","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","ticker":"FFBC","filing_date":"2026-07-21","form":"8-K","submitted_at":null,"items":[{"id":18208,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"1.01","item_title":"Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement","event_type":"ma_activity","event_domain":"operational","is_material":true,"confidence":0.98,"reasoning":"First Financial Bancorp entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Finward Bancorp on July 21, 2026, whereby Finward will merge into First Financial in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $208 million. The merger agreement provides for a 1.35 share exchange ratio and is expected to close in Q4 2026 subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder approval. This is a material acquisition that expands First Financial's presence in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana markets, adding $2.0 billion in assets and 24 financial centers.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"","ticker":null,"filing_date":""},{"id":18210,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"7.01","item_title":"Regulation","event_type":"ma_activity","event_domain":"operational","is_material":true,"confidence":0.95,"reasoning":"The filing discloses execution of a merger agreement whereby First Financial Bancorp will acquire Finward Bancorp in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $208 million. The press release explicitly states \"First Financial Bancorp. has agreed to acquire Finward Bancorp\" and provides detailed transaction terms, including the exchange ratio (1.35 shares), expected accretion (5% to EPS), and expected closing in Q4 2026. This is a material acquisition meeting the definition of M\u0026A activity under Item 1.01.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"","ticker":null,"filing_date":""}]},{"id":19188,"run_id":17265,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","anchor_item_number":"2.02","event_type":"earnings_release","event_domain":"financial","is_material":true,"confidence":0.92,"summary":"First Financial Bancorp disclosed its earnings for the second quarter and first six months of 2026, reporting net income of $76.5 million ($0.73 per diluted share), return on average assets of 1.37%, net interest margin of 3.98%, and loan growth of $240 million.","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","ticker":"FFBC","filing_date":"2026-07-21","form":"8-K","submitted_at":null,"items":[{"id":18209,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"2.02","item_title":"Results","event_type":"earnings_release","event_domain":"financial","is_material":true,"confidence":0.92,"reasoning":"The filing discloses First Financial Bancorp's earnings press release for the second quarter and first six months of 2026, including net income of $76.5 million ($0.73 per diluted share), return on average assets of 1.37%, net interest margin of 3.98%, and loan growth of $240 million. While the press release also announces the pending acquisition of Finward Bancorp, the Item 2.02 disclosure centers on the quarterly financial results and operational performance metrics, which is the primary substance of an earnings release.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"","ticker":null,"filing_date":""}]}],"classifications":[{"id":18208,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"1.01","item_title":"Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement","event_type":"ma_activity","event_domain":"operational","is_material":true,"confidence":0.98,"reasoning":"First Financial Bancorp entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Finward Bancorp on July 21, 2026, whereby Finward will merge into First Financial in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $208 million. The merger agreement provides for a 1.35 share exchange ratio and is expected to close in Q4 2026 subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder approval. This is a material acquisition that expands First Financial's presence in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana markets, adding $2.0 billion in assets and 24 financial centers.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","ticker":"FFBC","filing_date":"2026-07-21"},{"id":18209,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"2.02","item_title":"Results","event_type":"earnings_release","event_domain":"financial","is_material":true,"confidence":0.92,"reasoning":"The filing discloses First Financial Bancorp's earnings press release for the second quarter and first six months of 2026, including net income of $76.5 million ($0.73 per diluted share), return on average assets of 1.37%, net interest margin of 3.98%, and loan growth of $240 million. While the press release also announces the pending acquisition of Finward Bancorp, the Item 2.02 disclosure centers on the quarterly financial results and operational performance metrics, which is the primary substance of an earnings release.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","ticker":"FFBC","filing_date":"2026-07-21"},{"id":18210,"accession_number":"0001104659-26-085424","item_number":"7.01","item_title":"Regulation","event_type":"ma_activity","event_domain":"operational","is_material":true,"confidence":0.95,"reasoning":"The filing discloses execution of a merger agreement whereby First Financial Bancorp will acquire Finward Bancorp in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $208 million. The press release explicitly states \"First Financial Bancorp. has agreed to acquire Finward Bancorp\" and provides detailed transaction terms, including the exchange ratio (1.35 shares), expected accretion (5% to EPS), and expected closing in Q4 2026. This is a material acquisition meeting the definition of M\u0026A activity under Item 1.01.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-a85dd512","taxonomy_version":"v1.3","classified_at":"2026-07-21T20:33:59.270891+00:00","company_name":"FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/","ticker":"FFBC","filing_date":"2026-07-21"}]}