BLOOMINGTON – First Financial Bank (Nasdaq: FFBC) and its associates gave $4.4 million and 14,829 volunteer hours to people and organizations throughout its four-state footprint in 2023 in a continuing reflection of its intent to be a positive influence to help clients and communities thrive. In Bloomington, the bank and its associates gave over $70,000 and 88 volunteer hours in 2023.
“We are neighbors to our clients – we volunteer alongside them and share our resources with the organizations that will help our communities succeed,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial. “We are proud to reflect on our positive impact, even as we look ahead toward fostering more growth in 2024.”
The number of hours volunteered by First Financial associates in 2023 represents a 17 percent increase over 2022. This dedication to service is all made possible because First Financial allows full-time associates to use up to 8 hours of paid time off to pursue volunteer activities during work hours.
As part of its strategic intent on being woven into the communities it serves, First Financial initiated a new Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for 2024-2028 in which it has committed to $2.4 billion in lending and investments to low- and moderate-income (LMI) clients and census tracts. First Financial’s new CBA includes a goal of $18 million in philanthropy, with a particular emphasis on supporting organizations that create and preserve affordable housing and workforce development, plus those that provide housing counseling and promote financial and economic inclusion.
About First Financial Bancorp.
First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based bank holding company. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $17.5 billion in assets, $10.9 billion in loans, $13.4 billion in deposits, and $2.3 billion in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance, and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage, and retirement plan services and had approximately $3.5 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023. The Company operated 130 full-service banking centers as of December 31, 2023, located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals nationwide. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services, and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.
