First Financial Bancorp. · NASDAQ:FFBC
First Financial Bancorp — Investor Presentation (May 2026)
47 slides from First Financial Bancorp's investor presentation, May 22, 2026
Slide 1: Investor Presentation First Quarter 2026
investor presentation • First Quarter 2026 Exhibit 99.1
Slide 2: Forward looking statements disclosure
forward looking statements disclosure 2 Certain statements contained in this report which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘‘believes,’’ ‘‘anticipates,’’ “likely,” “ex
Slide 3: Forward looking statements disclosure
forward looking statements disclosure 3 • financial services reform and other current, pending or future legislation or regulation that could have a negative effect on our revenue and businesses, including the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislation and regulation relating to bank products and services
Slide 4: Presentation contents
About First Financial Bancorp Acquisitions Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 4
Slide 5: Our franchise
our franchise Commercial C&I, O-CRE, Treasury, ABL, ESOP, Equipment Finance, Bannockburn Global Forex Retail Banking Consumer, Small Business Mortgage Banking NASDAQ: FFBC Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio Founded: 1863 Banking Centers: 153 Employees: 2,319 Market Cap (3/31/26): $2.9B Dividend Yield (3
Slide 6: Key investment highlights
key investment highlights ✓ Proven & sustainable business model for more than 160 years o Conservative operating philosophy with 142 consecutive quarters of profitability o Well managed through past credit cycles ✓ Premier Midwest franchise with top quartile profitability o Top quartile ROA, ROATCE,
Slide 7: An experienced & successful acquirer
$6.4B $7.2B $8.1B $8.4B $8.9B $14.0B $14.5B $16.0B $16.3B $17.0B $17.5B $18.6B $21.1B $22.8B 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 1Q26 Total Assets ($B) an experienced & successful acquirer 7 2014 First Financial acquires Insight Bank, First Bexley Bank and The Guernsey B
Slide 8: A top quartile performer
ROAA1 ROATCE1 Net Interest Margin Noninterest Income / Net Revenue1 Loans + HTM / Deposits Cash + AFS Securities / Assets ACL / Gross Loans NPAs / Assets CET1 Ratio Total RBC Ratio Consolidated CRE / RBC 272% 228% 187% 164% 14.0% 14.7% 15.9% 15.7% 11.3% 12.1% 13.4% 12.2% 0.61% 0.47% 0.30% 0.44% 1.04
Slide 9: Consistent best-in-class earnings
1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year KRXKRX 92% Percentile Rank 19.2% 15.7% 96% Percentile Rank FFBC Top Quartile1 17.8% 16.4% 90% Percentile Rank 1.35% 1.30% 86% Percentile Rank 1.36% 1.29% 84% Percentile Rank 2%3% 10% 18.7% 15.7% FFBC Top Quartile1 1.40% 80% Percentile Rank 1.35% 8% 51% Percentile Rank 53
Slide 10: Key company brands
key company brands Full suite of diversified financial products for individuals and businesses $22.8 Billion Assets $17.9 Billion Deposits Diversified financial holding company with comprehensive and innovative solutions for individuals and businesses Wealth & asset management services for individua
Slide 11: Market centric strategies
Note: Financial data as of 3/31/26. Greater Cincinnati/Dayton loan and deposit balances include large public fund relationships, special assets, loan marks, and other out of market and corporately held balances. *Includes leasing business expense complementary market centric strategies Loans $4.6B /
Slide 12: Diversified lines of business
The number of Trust & Investments and RPS relationships are updated as of 9/30/22. All other data as of 12/31/22. Note: Data as of 3/31/26 and excludes the impact of BankFinancial acquisition. diversified lines of business 12
Slide 13: Presentation contents
About First Financial Bancorp Acquisitions Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 13
Slide 14: Acquisition update
acquisition update 14 Westfield Bank BankFinancial • Successful conversion in March • Stable loan and deposit balances • Successful retention of client- facing teams • On track to achieve financial targets, cost savings and EPS contribution • Full impact from cost savings expected at the beginning o
Slide 15: Overview of Westfield – closed 11/1/25
15 overview of Westfield – closed 11/1/25 Westfield Bank Lines of Business • Commercial Banking / Treasury Management • Agency Banking and Premium Finance • Registered Investment Advisor Banking • Consumer - Retail • Consumer - Mortgage • Private Banking $2.1B in assets Consolidated Financial Highli
Slide 16: Transaction highlights
16 transaction highlights Strategically Compelling • Accelerates entry into Northeast Ohio. • Provides attractive deposit base, branch network and commercial client base in a market with limited acquisition targets. • Adds talented staff in Retail, Commercial, Mortgage and Private Banking. • Adds ta
Slide 17: Overview of BankFinancial – at close 1/1/26
17 overview of BankFinancial – at close 1/1/26 Key franchise highlights Financial summary Balance Sheet & Capital (As of 4Q25 Unless Otherwise Stated, %) Cash & Securities / Assets 46 Loan / Deposit Ratio 58 Non-Time Deposit Composition 78 TCE / TA 11.2 CET1 Ratio1 21.1 NCOs / Avg. Loans (MRQ, annua
Slide 18: Transaction highlights
18 transaction highlights ✓ Expected enhanced pro forma earnings per share ✓ Expected robust pro forma profitability ✓ Acquisition of a low cost, granular core deposit franchise with $1.5Bn of assets and +100 year presence in Chicago market ✓ Complementary to existing Northwest Indiana presence, Chi
Slide 19: Key transaction assumptions
key transaction assumptions BankFinancial 19 Key Merger Assumptions Fair Value Adjustments Other • Cost Savings – Approximately 45% of BankFinancial’s annual operating expense ‒ 75% phase-in during 2026 and 100% in 2027 and thereafter • One-Time Merger Expenses – $25 million pre-tax; fully reflected
Slide 20: Presentation contents
About First Financial Bancorp Acquisitions Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 20
Slide 21: 1Q 2026 results
1Q 2026 results 142nd Consecutive Quarter of Profitability 21 • EOP assets increased $1.7 billion compared to the linked quarter to $22.8 billion; $1.4 billion from BankFinancial • EOP loans increased $70.8 million compared to the linked quarter to $13.5 billion; $227.7 million from BankFinancial •
Slide 22: 1Q 2026 highlights
1Q 2026 highlights • Strong adjusted1 quarterly earnings driven by robust net interest margin • Adjusted1 earnings per share – $0.77 • Adjusted1 return on assets – 1.45% • Adjusted1 pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets – 1.99% • Adjusted1 return on average tangible common equity – 19.22% • Modest
Slide 23: Noninterest income and expense highlights
• Noninterest income of $81.9 million; $75.6 million as adjusted1; significantly outpacing expectations • Adjustments include $1.3 million loss on securities, $8.9 million gain on bargain purchase related to the BankFinancial acquisition, and $1.4 million loss on the surrender of a bank owned life i
Slide 24: Adjusted net income
adjusted net income1 24 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliations. All dollars shown in thousands, except per share amounts The table below lists certain adjustments that t
Slide 25: Profitability
profitability 25 Return on Average Assets Return on Avg Tangible Common Equity Diluted EPS 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliation. Adjusted1 Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Earnin
Slide 26: Net interest income & margin
net interest income & margin 26 1Q26 NIM (FTE) Progression Net Interest Income All dollars shown in millions 1 1 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliation. 1 3.82%3.81%3.89%
Slide 27: Noninterest income
noninterest income 27 Noninterest Income 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliations. 1Q26 Highlights • Adjustments include a $1.3 million loss on securities, $8.9 million ga
Slide 28: Noninterest expense
noninterest expense 28 Noninterest Expense 1Q26 Highlights 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company' Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliations. All dollars shown in millions • Adjusted1 noninterest expense
Slide 29: Average balance sheet
average balance sheet 29 Average Securities All dollars shown in millions 1 Includes loans fees and loan accretion 1 $4,769 $3,989$3,552$3,479$3,412 4.42% 4.31%4.31% 4.44% 4.35% 1Q264Q253Q252Q251Q25 Investment Securities Investment Securities Yield $14,028$12,812$11,806$11,793$11,725 6.50% 6.68% 6.8
Slide 30: Deposits
deposits 30 Deposit Product Mix (Avg) 1Q26 Average Deposit Progression1 1 Includes full quarter impact from Westfield All dollars shown in millions Total growth/(decline)1: $1.7 billion Noninterest- bearing $3,612 21% Interest-bearing demand $2,319 13% Savings $1,182 7% Money Market $4,539 26% Retai
Slide 31: Average deposit trends
average deposit trends 31 All dollars shown in millions Business Public Funds Personal Uninsured Deposits $8,644 $7,407 $6,684$6,696$6,665 1Q264Q253Q252Q251Q25 $5,337 $4,841 $4,307$4,163$4,190 1Q264Q253Q252Q251Q25 Uninsured deposits (per call report instructions) 7,394$ Less: Public funds 1,937 Less
Slide 32: Borrowing capacity & cash/investment liquidity
32 Borrowing Capacity • Interest-bearing deposits with other banks of $1.0 billion • Investment securities portfolio: • 99.0% of investment portfolio classified as available-for-sale • $840.3 million of expected cash flow from securities portfolio in next 12 months • $520.5 million of floating rate
Slide 33: Loan portfolio
loan portfolio 33 Loan LOB Mix (EOP) Net Loan Change-LOB (Linked Quarter) All dollars shown in millions Total growth/(decline): $70.8 million ICRE $3,752 28% Commercial & Small Business Banking $4,009 30% Oak Street $1,185 9% Summit $1,084 8% Agile $298 2% Consumer $1,239 9% Mortgage $1,928 14% Tota
Slide 34: Loan portfolio by NAICS sector and property type
NAICS Sector 3/31/26 % of Total Loans Finance and Insurance $1,517.1 11.2% Manufacturing 619.6 4.6% Construction 360.3 2.7% Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 356.9 2.6% Health Care and Social Assistance 323.9 2.4% Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 293.8 2.2% Accommodation and Food Se
Slide 35: Area of focus – NDFI exposure
area of focus – NDFI exposure 35 All dollars shown in millions NDFI Private Credit Exposure • Direct Exposure • $123.9 million outstanding • Primarily subscription lines to well- established funds that are either an institutional investor or publicly traded • $185.0 million committed • Loans to NDFI
Slide 36: Allowance for credit losses
allowance for credit losses 36 1Q26 Highlights All dollars shown in millions • $206.7 million combined ACL; $8.5 million combined provision expense • $183.7 million ACL – loans and leases; $2.8 million related to BankFinancial • ACL 1.36% of total loans • Utilized Moody’s March baseline forecast in
Slide 37: Asset quality
asset quality 37 Classified Assets / Total Assets 1 Provision includes both loans & leases and unfunded commitments All dollars shown in millions Nonperforming Assets / Total Assets Net Charge Offs & Provision Expense1 $10.5 $6.0 $5.2 $8.8 $11.6 $8.7 $9.8 $9.1 $10.1 $8.5 0.35% 0.27% 0.18% 0.21% 0.36
Slide 38: Capital
capital 38 Tangible Common Equity Ratio 3/31 Risk Weighted Assets = $16,127,377 All capital numbers are considered preliminary. 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliation. Ad
Slide 39: Capital strategy
capital strategy 39 Strategy & DeploymentTangible Book Value Per Share • 3.6% annualized dividend yield as of March 31st • 35% of 1Q26 earnings returned to shareholders through common dividend • Most recent internal stress testing indicates capital ratios above regulatory minimums in all modeled sce
Slide 40: Outlook commentary
outlook commentary1 • Loan balances expected to increase mid single digits on an annualized basis • Core deposit balances expected to be relatively flat 40 • Total noninterest expense expected to be $151 - 154 million • Incentive expense will fluctuate with fee income Noninterest Expense Net Interes
Slide 41: Presentation contents
About First Financial Bancorp Acquisitions Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 41
Slide 42: Appendix: our markets
appendix: our markets • Greater Cincinnati/Dayton • Loans $4.8 billion • Deposits $8.2 billion • Deposit Market Share #4 (3.4%) • Banking Centers 46 • Fortune 500 Companies 8 • Indianapolis • Loans $1.0 billion • Deposits $0.5 billion • Deposit Market Share #14 (1.2%) • Banking Centers 7 • Fortune 5
Slide 43: Non-GAAP financial information
The Company’s Investor Presentation contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Such non-GAAP financial information should be considered supplemental to, and not as a substitute for,
Slide 44: Appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 44 All dollars shown in thousands Net interest income and net interest margin - fully tax equivalent Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sep. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, 2026 2025 2025 2025 2025 Net interest income 189,610$ 173,995$ 160,486$ 158,269$ 149,296$ Tax equivalent adjustm
Slide 45: Appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 45 All dollars shown in thousands Additional non-GAAP ratios Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sep. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2026 2025 2025 2025 2025 Net income (a) 74,445$ 62,393$ 71,923$ 69,996$ 51,293$ Average total shareholders
Slide 46: Appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 46 All dollars shown in thousands Additional non-GAAP measures 3Q25 2Q25 As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted Net interest income (f) 189,610$ 189,610$ 173,995$ 173,995$ 160,486$ 160,486$ 158,269$ 158,269$ Provi
Slide 47: First Financial Bancorp
47 First Financial Bancorp First Financial Center 255 East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
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