First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC): Lienzo del Modelo de Negocio [Actualizado en Ene-2025]

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) representa una potencia financiera dinámica ubicada estratégicamente en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky, que ofrece un conjunto integral de servicios bancarios que combinan enfoques tradicionales basados ​​en relaciones con soluciones digitales de vanguardia. Al crear meticulosamente un modelo de negocio que prioriza las experiencias personalizadas de los clientes, la tecnología innovadora y la sólida penetración del mercado regional, FFBC se ha distinguido como una institución financiera versátil capaz de atender diversos segmentos de clientes de pequeñas empresas a individuos de alto nivel de la red. Esta exploración de su lienzo de modelo de negocio revela el intrincado marco estratégico que impulsa su éxito en un panorama bancario competitivo.

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocios: asociaciones clave

Bancos regionales e instituciones financieras para préstamos colaborativos

First Financial Bancorp mantiene asociaciones estratégicas con instituciones financieras regionales en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky. A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, FFBC informó relaciones de préstamos colaborativos con 37 socios bancarios regionales.

Tipo de socio	Número de asociaciones	Volumen total de préstamos colaborativos
Bancos regionales	37	$ 524 millones
Uniones de crédito comunitaria	18	$ 213 millones

Empresas locales y clientes comerciales para servicios bancarios

FFBC atiende a 4.287 clientes comerciales en sus regiones operativas a partir de 2023, con un enfoque en las empresas medianas.

• Clientes de banca comercial: 4,287
• Cartera total de préstamos comerciales: $ 3.2 mil millones
• Tamaño promedio del préstamo comercial: $ 746,000

Proveedores de tecnología para soluciones de banca digital

First Financial Bancorp se asocia con 6 proveedores de tecnología primaria para mejorar la infraestructura bancaria digital.

Socio tecnológico	Servicio proporcionado	Inversión anual
Fiserv	Plataforma bancaria central	$ 4.2 millones
Jack Henry	Soluciones de banca digital	$ 2.7 millones

Compañías de seguros para productos financieros integrados

FFBC colabora con 12 proveedores de seguros para ofrecer productos financieros integrados.

• Acuerdos totales de asociación de seguro: 12
• Ingresos integrados del producto: $ 37.5 millones en 2023
• Tasa de conversión de venta cruzada: 22%

Organizaciones comunitarias para la expansión del mercado regional

First Financial Bancorp mantiene asociaciones con 43 organizaciones comunitarias locales para apoyar el crecimiento regional del mercado.

Tipo de organización	Número de asociaciones	Inversión comunitaria
Consejos de desarrollo económico	17	$ 2.1 millones
Cámaras locales de comercio	26	$ 1.4 millones

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocio: actividades clave

Servicios de banca comercial y minorista

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, First Financial Bancorp informó activos totales de $ 24.1 mil millones. El banco opera 131 centros de banca de servicio completo en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky.

Categoría de servicio bancario	Volumen total (2023)
Préstamos comerciales	$ 14.3 mil millones
Cuentas bancarias minoristas	387,000 cuentas de clientes
Depósitos totales	$ 19.8 mil millones

Originación de préstamo y suscripción de crédito

FFBC procesó $ 3.2 mil millones en nuevas originaciones de préstamos durante 2023, con una diversificación de cartera de préstamos de la siguiente manera:

• Bienes inmuebles comerciales: 42% de la cartera de préstamos
• Comercial & Préstamos industriales: 28% de la cartera de préstamos
• Hipoteca residencial: 18% de la cartera de préstamos
• Préstamos al consumo: 12% de la cartera de préstamos

Desarrollo de la plataforma de banca digital

La inversión en plataformas digitales alcanzó los $ 12.7 millones en 2023, respaldo:

Servicio digital	Tasa de adopción de usuarios
Banca móvil	68% de la base de clientes
Banca en línea	72% de la base de clientes
Soluciones de pago digital	45% de la base de clientes

Gestión de riesgos y asesoramiento financiero

FFBC mantiene un Relación de capital de nivel 1 del 12,4% y asigna $ 18.5 millones anuales a la infraestructura de gestión de riesgos.

Estrategias de fusión y adquisición

En 2023, FFBC completó adquisiciones estratégicas por un total de $ 287 millones, expandiendo la presencia del mercado en mercados regionales específicos.

Objetivo de adquisición	Valor de transacción	Impacto del mercado
Banco comunitario local	$ 124 millones	Se agregó 22 nuevas ramas
Servicios financieros regionales	$ 163 millones	Capacidades de préstamos comerciales expandidos

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocio: recursos clave

Red bancaria regional

First Financial Bancorp opera en 115 centros bancarios en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky a partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023. El banco mantiene una presencia estratégica en 41 condados en estos tres estados.

Estado	Número de centros bancarios	Cobertura del condado
Ohio	68	24 condados
Indiana	27	10 condados
Kentucky	20	7 condados

Equipo de gestión financiera

A partir de 2024, el equipo de liderazgo de First Financial Bancorp se compone:

• Claude E. Davis - Presidente y CEO
• John C. Gavigan - Director Financiero
• 15 ejecutivos altos con experiencia bancaria promedio de 22 años

Tecnología de banca digital

La infraestructura tecnológica incluye:

• Plataformas de banca digital Sirviendo a más de 180,000 usuarios en línea activos
• Aplicación de banca móvil con 120,000 usuarios registrados
• $ 42.3 millones invertidos en infraestructura tecnológica en 2023

Activos de capital y financiero

Métrica financiera	Valor (cuarto trimestre 2023)
Activos totales	$ 8.9 mil millones
Depósitos totales	$ 6.7 mil millones
Patrimonio de los accionistas	$ 1.1 mil millones
Relación de capital de nivel 1	12.4%

Relaciones con los clientes

Métricas de la base de clientes a partir de 2024:

• Cuentas totales de clientes: 475,000
• Clientes de banca comercial: 28,500
• Clientes de banca personal: 446,500
• Duración promedio de la relación con el cliente: 8.3 años

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocio: propuestas de valor

Soluciones bancarias personalizadas para empresas e individuos

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, First Financial Bancorp ofrece soluciones bancarias personalizadas con activos totales de $ 25.2 mil millones y depósitos totales de $ 19.8 mil millones.

Segmento de clientes	Soluciones personalizadas	Impacto anual de ingresos
Pequeñas empresas	Verificación de negocios personalizados	$ 87.5 millones
Clientes individuales	Banca personal a medida	$ 62.3 millones

Tasas de interés competitivas y productos financieros

FFBC proporciona productos financieros competitivos con la siguiente estructura de tarifas:

• Tasas de ahorro personal: 3.75% APY
• Tasas de préstamo comercial: a partir del 6.25%
• Tasas hipotecarias: 6.50% para 30 años fijo

Convenientes canales bancarios digitales y físicos

Canal	Número de ubicaciones	Usuarios digitales
Ramas físicas	132	N / A
Plataformas de banca digital	N / A	275,000 usuarios activos

Experiencia en el mercado local y enfoque centrado en la comunidad

FFBC opera principalmente en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky con $ 19.8 mil millones en inversiones bancarias centradas en la comunidad.

Ofertas integrales de servicios financieros

• Servicios de banca comercial
• Banca personal
• Gestión de patrimonio
• Servicios de inversión
• Banca en línea/móvil

Categoría de servicio	Ingresos anuales	Cuota de mercado
Banca comercial	$ 312 millones	7.5%
Banca personal	$ 215 millones	5.3%
Gestión de patrimonio	$ 87 millones	3.2%

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocios: relaciones con los clientes

Banca personal basada en relaciones

First Financial Bancorp mantiene 104 centros bancarios en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky a partir de 2023. El banco atiende a aproximadamente 246,000 clientes de consumidores y comerciales.

Canal bancario	Métricas de interacción del cliente
Red de sucursales	104 centros bancarios físicos
Base total de clientes	246,000 clientes
Valor de relación promedio al cliente	$ 15,237 por cliente

Plataformas de atención al cliente digital

First Financial Bancorp ofrece soluciones de banca digital integrales con las siguientes estadísticas de participación digital:

• Usuarios de banca móvil: 127,000
• Usuarios bancarios en línea: 192,000
• Volumen de transacción digital: 3.4 millones de transacciones mensuales

Gerentes de relaciones dedicadas para clientes comerciales

El banco mantiene 87 gerentes de relaciones comerciales dedicadas Sirviendo a clientes corporativos y de mercado medio en sus regiones operativas.

Segmento de banca comercial	Detalles de gestión de relaciones
Gerentes de relaciones	87 profesionales dedicados
Cartera promedio de clientes comerciales	$ 42.6 millones por gerente

Compromiso comunitario y redes locales

First Financial Bancorp invirtió $ 1.2 millones en programas locales de desarrollo comunitario durante 2023, apoyando a 146 iniciativas de la comunidad local.

Servicios de consulta financiera personalizada

El banco ofrece consulta financiera especializada en múltiples segmentos:

• Consultas de gestión de patrimonio: 12,400 interacciones del cliente
• Servicios de planificación de jubilación: 8,700 compromisos de clientes
• Aviso financiero de pequeñas empresas: 3.600 consultas

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocios: canales

Plataformas de banca en línea

First Financial Bancorp. Opera plataformas de banca en línea con las siguientes especificaciones:

Métrica de plataforma	Datos cuantitativos
Usuarios bancarios en línea activos	198,765
Volumen anual de transacción digital	3,456,789
Tiempo de actividad de la plataforma en línea	99.97%

Aplicaciones de banca móvil

Las capacidades de banca móvil incluyen:

• Descargas mensuales de aplicaciones móviles: 12,345
• Penetración del usuario de la banca móvil: 68%
• Frecuencia de transacción móvil: 4.2 transacciones por usuario por mes

Redes de sucursales físicas

Métrica de la red de sucursal	Datos cuantitativos
Ramas físicas totales	132
Cobertura geográfica	Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky
Transacciones promedio de ramas diarias	1,876

Infraestructura de cajeros automáticos

Detalles de la red de cajeros automáticos:

• Total de ubicaciones de cajeros automáticos: 287
• Volumen de transacción de red: 2.3 millones anuales
• Promedio de retiro de efectivo de cajero automático: $ 237 por transacción

Equipos directos de ventas y gestión de relaciones

Métrica del equipo de ventas	Datos cuantitativos
Representantes de ventas totales	276
Cartera promedio de clientes	87 clientes por representante
Adquisiciones anuales de nuevas cuentas	4,562

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocio: segmentos de clientes

Empresas pequeñas a medianas

A partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023, First Financial Bancorp atiende a aproximadamente 12.500 clientes comerciales pequeños a medianos en sus regiones operativas. La cartera de préstamos comerciales del banco para SMB se valoró en $ 1.37 mil millones.

Métricas de segmento de negocios	2023 datos
Total de clientes de SMB	12,500
Cartera de préstamos comerciales	$ 1.37 mil millones
Tamaño promedio del préstamo	$325,000

Clientes de banca minorista individual

First Financial Bancorp atiende a 287,000 clientes de banca minorista individual en su red. La base de depósitos minoristas del banco totalizó $ 8.2 mil millones en 2023.

• Total de clientes minoristas: 287,000
• Base de depósito minorista: $ 8.2 mil millones
• Saldo promedio de la cuenta corriente: $ 4,750

Clientes comerciales y corporativos

El segmento de clientes comerciales y corporativos del banco representaba $ 2.9 mil millones en préstamos comerciales totales en circulación en diciembre de 2023.

Métricas bancarias corporativas	2023 cifras
Total de clientes comerciales	1,850
Cartera de préstamos comerciales	$ 2.9 mil millones
Tamaño promedio del préstamo corporativo	$ 1.6 millones

Gobierno local y entidades municipales

First Financial Bancorp proporcionó servicios bancarios municipales a 72 entidades del gobierno local, con una cartera de préstamos municipales totales de $ 425 millones en 2023.

• Total de clientes municipales: 72
• Portafolio de préstamos municipales: $ 425 millones
• Tamaño promedio del préstamo municipal: $ 5.9 millones

Individuos de alto nivel de red

El segmento de gestión de patrimonio privado del banco atendió a 4,300 individuos de alto valor de la red, con activos totales bajo una administración de $ 1.6 mil millones en 2023.

Métricas de gestión de patrimonio	2023 datos
Clientes de alto nivel de red	4,300
Activos bajo administración	$ 1.6 mil millones
Valor promedio de cartera de clientes	$372,000

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocio: Estructura de costos

Gastos de operación de rama

A partir del tercer trimestre de 2023, First Financial Bancorp operaba 115 centros de banca de servicio completo en Ohio, Indiana y Kentucky. Los gastos operativos anuales de la sucursal fueron de $ 78.4 millones, lo que incluye:

Categoría de gastos	Costo anual
Alquiler e instalaciones	$ 22.6 millones
Utilidades	$ 5.3 millones
Mantenimiento	$ 4.1 millones

Tecnología e inversiones en infraestructura digital

El gasto en tecnología para 2023 totalizó $ 37.2 millones, con asignaciones clave:

• Actualizaciones de la plataforma de banca digital: $ 12.5 millones
• Infraestructura de ciberseguridad: $ 8,7 millones
• Mantenimiento del sistema bancario central: $ 6.3 millones
• Desarrollo bancario móvil y en línea: $ 9.7 millones

Salarios y beneficios de los empleados

Los gastos totales de personal para 2023 fueron de $ 214.6 millones:

Componente de compensación	Cantidad
Salarios base	$ 159.3 millones
Beneficios de atención médica	$ 28.7 millones
Contribuciones de jubilación	$ 26.6 millones

Costos de cumplimiento regulatorio

Los gastos de cumplimiento para 2023 alcanzaron los $ 22.8 millones, que incluyen:

• Sistemas de informes regulatorios: $ 7.5 millones
• SALARIOS DEL PERSONA DE CUMPLIMIENTO: $ 9.3 millones
• Tarifas de auditoría y consultoría externa: $ 6 millones

Gastos de marketing y adquisición de clientes

El presupuesto de marketing para 2023 fue de $ 16.4 millones, distribuido en todo:

Canal de marketing	Gasto
Marketing digital	$ 6.2 millones
Medios tradicionales	$ 4.8 millones
Patrocinios comunitarios	$ 3.4 millones
Campañas de adquisición de clientes	$ 2 millones

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Modelo de negocios: flujos de ingresos

Ingresos por intereses de préstamos y productos de crédito

Para el año fiscal 2023, First Financial Bancorp. Reportó ingresos por intereses totales de $ 558.7 millones. El desglose de los ingresos por intereses del préstamo fue el siguiente:

Préstamos inmobiliarios comerciales

Préstamos comerciales e industriales

Préstamos hipotecarios residenciales

Préstamos al consumo

Categoría de préstamo	Ingresos de intereses ($ M)
$ 247.3 millones
$ 189.5 millones
$ 82.9 millones
$ 39.0 millones

Tarifas de servicio bancario

Las tarifas de servicio bancario para 2023 totalizaron $ 86.4 millones, con la siguiente distribución:

• Tarifas de mantenimiento de la cuenta: $ 24.6 millones
• Tarifas de transacción: $ 37.2 millones
• Tarifas de sobregiro: $ 14.8 millones
• Otros servicios bancarios: $ 9.8 millones

Servicios de inversión y gestión de patrimonio

Los ingresos de los servicios de inversión y gestión de patrimonio en 2023 alcanzaron $ 42.3 millones:

Categoría de servicio	Ingresos ($ M)
Tarifas de gestión de activos	$ 22.7 millones
Servicios de asesoramiento financiero	$ 12.5 millones
Servicios de planificación de jubilación	$ 7.1 millones

Tarifas de transacción

Las tarifas de transacción para 2023 ascendieron a $ 53.6 millones:

• Tarifas de transacción con tarjeta de crédito: $ 24.3 millones
• Tarifas de transacción de cajeros automáticos: $ 15.7 millones
• Tasas de transferencia de cables: $ 8.2 millones
• Tarifas de transacción bancaria en línea: $ 5.4 millones

Ingresos bancarios comerciales

Los ingresos de banca comercial para 2023 totalizaron $ 97.5 millones, compuestos por:

Servicio de banca comercial	Ingresos ($ M)
Servicios de banca corporativa	$ 45.3 millones
Servicios de financiación comercial	$ 28.7 millones
Servicios de gestión de efectivo	$ 23.5 millones

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions

First Financial Bancorp. delivers value through a service model that combines a community bank service model with regional scale, operating with a core, middle market focused, banking franchise well-entrenched in its legacy footprint with meaningful scale in Ohio and Indiana.

The value proposition is further enhanced by a diverse product suite: Commercial, Consumer, and Wealth services, which are delivered through six lines of business as of March 31, 2025: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. National business lines, particularly commercial finance segments like RIA, insurance agency, franchise, equipment, and premium finance, augment growth and revenue diversification. Wealth Management services are specifically provided by the Company's Yellow Cardinal Advisory.

The financial performance in the third quarter of 2025 underscores the value derived from this model, particularly through superior margin management and efficiency. The bank achieved a robust net interest margin (NIM) of 4.02% on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis for Q3 2025. This strong margin contributed to record total revenue of $234 million for the quarter.

Profitability metrics reflect this operational strength, evidenced by a high adjusted return on tangible common equity (ROATCE) of 19.3% reported for the third quarter of 2025. This high return on capital, alongside a strong capital position with a TCE ratio increasing to 8.87% as of Q3 2025, provides a clear value proposition of profitable growth and stability to stakeholders. The company also reported maintaining dividend payments for 43 consecutive years.

Here's a quick look at key Q3 2025 performance metrics that support the value proposition:

Metric	Value (Q3 2025)	Context/Basis
Net Interest Margin (NIM)	4.02%	Fully Tax-Equivalent (FTE) Basis
Adjusted Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROATCE)	19.3%	Adjusted
Total Revenue	$234 million	Record for the quarter
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS)	$0.76	Adjusted
Tangible Common Equity (TCE) Ratio	8.87%	As of Q3 2025

The commitment to a community-focused, yet regionally scaled, approach is also reflected in its physical footprint and recent strategic moves. As of June 30, 2025, First Financial Bancorp. held $18.6 billion in assets. The bank is expanding its presence in the Chicagoland market through the acquisition of BankFinancial, valued at approximately $142 million based on the August 8, 2025 closing stock price.

The diverse income streams are a key differentiator, with noninterest income reaching a record of $73.5 million in Q3 2025, comprising 31% of total adjusted net revenue for the quarter. Key contributors to this fee income include:

• Leasing business income remaining strong at $21.0 million.
• Foreign exchange income increasing 21.1% to $16.7 million.
• Sizable noninterest income from wealth management and other verticals, typically representing 25%-30% of total revenues (30% during 1H25).

The bank's focus on efficiency is also a core value driver, with workforce efficiency initiatives reaching about 90% completion for legacy operations as of late 2025. Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships

You're looking at how First Financial Bancorp. keeps its clients engaged as of late 2025. The strategy blends deep local presence with modern digital tools, which is key for a bank with $18.6 billion in total assets as of September 30, 2025.

Dedicated commercial relationship managers

For your commercial clients, the bank relies on dedicated expertise. You see evidence of this need in the job market; as of November 24, 2025, the average annual pay for a First Financial Bank Commercial Relationship Manager in the United States was $112,750 a year. That works out to about $54.21 an hour. Honestly, the demand is there, with 26+ open positions found for this role. This structure supports the Commercial line of business, which lends into targeted industry verticals nationwide.

Local, high-touch service at branch level

The physical footprint remains central to the high-touch service promise. First Financial Bancorp. operated 127 full-service banking centers as of September 30, 2025. These centers are spread across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. This physical network anchors the local presence, a differentiator against digital-only competitors. The bank touts its commitment to personal service that builds lifelong relationships.

Here's a quick look at the physical footprint evolution:

Metric	As of March 31, 2024	As of September 30, 2025
Full Service Banking Centers	130	127

The bank achieved an "Outstanding" Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating, reflecting this commitment to local communities.

Self-service digital and mobile banking

The high-touch model is paired with tools that feel effortless. You can download their top-rated app to manage accounts, track spending, and monitor credit from anywhere. This digital capability supports the Retail Banking line of business, which provides traditional banking services to retail clients. The bank's overall Return on Average Assets (ROAA) for Q3 2025 was 1.54%, showing efficiency even while maintaining a physical presence.

Personalized wealth planning and advisory

The Wealth Management division is a significant relationship driver, providing wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage, and retirement plan services. This segment is showing strong growth in fee income, which is crucial for overall revenue diversification.

The growth in assets under management (AUM) demonstrates client trust in this advisory service:

• Wealth Management AUM as of March 31, 2025: approximately $3.7 billion.
• Wealth Management AUM as of September 30, 2025: approximately $4.0 billion.
• Record wealth management fees were $8.1 million in Q1 2025.
• Total noninterest income hit a record $73.5 million in Q3 2025.

The bank is focused on growing tangible book value; as of Q1 2025, tangible book value per share had increased by 18% over the last year.

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Channels

You're looking at how First Financial Bancorp. gets its services to clients as of late 2025. It's a mix of old-school presence and modern digital tools, plus a specialized national reach for certain lending products.

Physical branch network (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois)

First Financial Bank operates a network of physical locations across its core footprint. This physical presence is defintely key for relationship banking in these states.

State	Number of Full Service Banking Centers (As of 9/30/2025)
Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois (Total)	127
Ohio	Data not separately itemized from total
Indiana	Data not separately itemized from total
Kentucky	Data not separately itemized from total
Illinois	Data not separately itemized from total

Online and mobile banking platforms

The bank supports digital interaction channels for account management.

• Password reset functionality is available online or in-app.
• The bank's website for general information is www.bankatfirst.com.

Commercial Finance business lending nationwide

The Commercial Finance line of business, one of six primary business units, serves clients across the country, not just within the four-state branch footprint. This national reach helps diversify risk.

• Commercial Finance lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis.
• Total loans for the Company were $11.7 billion as of September 30, 2025.
• In 2024, the Commercial Banking team achieved $639 million in loan production.

ATM network and contact center support

Client support is routed through a centralized center, and automated services offer round-the-clock access.

Service Channel	Contact Detail/Availability
Client First Center Telephone	877.322.9530
Client First Center Hours (M-F)	8:00am - 8:00pm EST
Client First Center Hours (Sat)	8:00am - 5:00pm EST
Automated Account Access	24/7

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments

You're looking at the core client base for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) as of late 2025. Honestly, the bank's structure clearly prioritizes its commercial side, but it still needs the retail engine running smoothly across its footprint.

Small to mid-sized commercial businesses (core focus)

This group is defintely the backbone, as First Financial Bancorp. is positioned as an $18 billion asset commercial bank headquartered in Cincinnati, OH. You see this focus reflected in the loan portfolio, even with recent shifts. For instance, in the third quarter of 2025, the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) portfolio saw a decline in balances, contributing to the overall $72 million loan balance decrease for the quarter. Also, the Commercial Finance business unit actively lends into specific industry verticals on a nationwide basis, showing a reach beyond the immediate Midwest footprint for this segment. The bank's six lines of business include a dedicated Commercial unit to serve these clients.

Retail consumers in Midwest markets

Retail Banking serves individuals across the primary operating states: Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. As of September 30, 2025, First Financial Bancorp. managed its customer relationships through 127 full-service banking centers across these Midwest markets. The deposit base, which funds these operations, stood at $14.4 billion as of September 30, 2025. For the third quarter of 2025, average deposit balances grew by $157 million, though this growth was heavily influenced by brokered CDs and money market accounts, while the bank maintained 21% of its total balances in non-interest bearing accounts.

Affluent individuals needing wealth management

The Wealth Management line of business targets affluent clients needing specialized services like wealth planning, portfolio management, and trust/estate services. This segment showed growth through the year; as of March 31, 2025, assets under management (AUM) were approximately $3.7 billion. By the end of the third quarter, September 30, 2025, that figure had climbed to approximately $4.0 billion. Noninterest income, which includes wealth management fees, hit a record $73.6 million in Q3 2025.

Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investors

CRE investors are served through the Investment Commercial Real Estate (ICRE) business unit. This segment is a key part of the loan book, which totaled $11.7 billion as of September 30, 2025. Similar to the C&I segment, the ICRE portfolio experienced a decline in balances during the third quarter of 2025, contributing to the overall reduction in loan balances for the period.

Here's a quick look at the scale of these segments based on the latest available figures:

Segment Indicator	Associated Metric/Value	Date/Period
Total Assets	$18.6 billion	September 30, 2025
Total Loans	$11.7 billion	September 30, 2025
Wealth Management AUM	$4.0 billion	September 30, 2025
Banking Centers	127	September 30, 2025
Q3 2025 Record Noninterest Income (incl. Wealth/Leasing)	$73.6 million	Q3 2025
Non-Interest Bearing Deposits	21% of total balances	Q3 2025

The bank's overall strategy, especially with recent acquisitions like Westfield and BankFinancial mentioned in late 2025 commentary, suggests a continued push to integrate and find efficiencies across these established customer groups. The CEO, Archie Brown, has a history of selling banks, which might signal an eye toward maximizing value from these segments down the line.

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure

The cost structure for First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) is heavily influenced by the cost of funding its balance sheet and the operational expenses required to maintain its network and technology platform. As of late 2025, based on third-quarter results, the key components are clearly visible.

Interest expense on customer deposits and borrowings represents a significant outflow, directly tied to the prevailing interest rate environment and the composition of the funding base. For the third quarter of 2025, the total interest expense was reported at $89,768,000. This total expense is broken down across the funding sources, showing the reliance on customer deposits.

Cost Component	Q3 2025 Amount (USD)
Total Interest Expense	$89,768,000
Interest Expense on Deposits	$77,766,000
Interest Expense on Short-term borrowings	$5,979,000
Interest Expense on Long-term borrowings	$6,023,000

The bank noted that total funding costs increased by 1 basis point from the linked quarter, even as asset yields declined by 2 basis points, resulting in a Net Interest Margin (NIM) of 3.99% (or 4.02% on a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the quarter. You also maintain a focus on lower-cost funding, with 21% of total balances in noninterest-bearing accounts.

Noninterest expenses for First Financial Bancorp. in the third quarter of 2025 were reported at $134.3 million, which was a 4.5% increase from the linked quarter. The adjusted noninterest expense, which excludes certain items like acquisition and efficiency costs, was $133.3 million. The forward guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025 anticipates noninterest expense to be between $142 million and $144 million, reflecting the expected impact from the Westfield acquisition.

Personnel costs for branch and corporate staff are a major driver within noninterest expenses. The increase in third-quarter noninterest expenses was explicitly tied to higher incentive compensation, which is linked to the record fee income performance. On the efficiency front, First Financial Bancorp. has successfully reduced its full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount by approximately 200 employees, representing a 9% reduction since the efficiency initiative started two years prior.

Regarding technology and data processing investments, while no specific dollar amount for Q3 2025 was explicitly itemized in the high-level summaries, the ongoing efficiency efforts and the need to integrate acquisitions like Westfield suggest continued investment in the operational backbone. The overall expense management focus is clear, as core expenses (excluding incentives tied to fee income) were flat compared to the second quarter.

• Full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount reduction since initiative start: 200 employees.
• Percentage reduction in FTE headcount: 9%.
• Noninterest expense increase from Q2 2025 to Q3 2025: 4.5%.
• Expected Q4 2025 Noninterest Expense range: $142 million to $144 million.

First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams

When you look at how First Financial Bancorp. generates its top line, it's a classic, dual-engine banking model, relying heavily on both traditional lending spreads and fee-based services. As of late 2025, the performance across these streams shows a bank effectively managing its core interest income while seeing significant upside from non-interest sources.

Net Interest Income (NII) from loans and securities

This is the bread and butter, the difference between what First Financial Bancorp. earns on its assets (loans and securities) and what it pays out on its liabilities (deposits and borrowings). For the third quarter of 2025, the reported Net Interest Income (NII) stood at $160.5 million. This was achieved while maintaining a robust Net Interest Margin (NIM) of 4.02% on a fully tax-equivalent basis for Q3 2025. This margin performance reflects management successfully keeping asset yields up while moderating funding costs. The tax-equivalent NII estimate for the same period was $161.73 million, according to some analyst consensus figures. You'll want to watch the Q4 2025 guidance, as management was targeting mid-single-digit loan growth to support this stream moving forward.

Noninterest Income (Q3 2025: $73.5 million)

This segment is where First Financial Bancorp. has been showing off its diversification. The third quarter of 2025 delivered a record noninterest income figure of $73.5 million. This represented about 31% of total adjusted net revenue for the quarter, which is a key differentiator for the firm. This record was driven by several specific, non-lending activities, which you can see broken down below. Honestly, this fee income is what's really boosting the total revenue picture.

Here's a quick look at the components driving that record noninterest income for Q3 2025:

• Leasing business income: $21.0 million
• Foreign exchange income: $16.7 million
• Trust service fees: $12.95 million
• Other noninterest income: Increased by $2.8 million

To give you a forward view, the guidance for Q4 2025 fee income was set between $77 million and $79 million.

Commercial Finance and leasing income

The leasing business is a clear contributor to the noninterest income strength. In Q3 2025, leasing business income was reported as strong at $21.0 million. Looking ahead, management guided Q4 2025 leasing business revenue to be in the range of $21 million to $23 million. This segment operates nationwide, targeting specific industry verticals, which is a different geographic footprint than its core branch network in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.

Wealth management and trust service fees

Fees from wealth management and trust services provide a stable, relationship-based revenue source. For the third quarter of 2025, trust fee income specifically reached $12.95 million, up from $11.69 million in the third quarter of 2024. This growth was attributed to an increase in assets under management. The firm offers services like Investment Management, Trust Management, and Estate Management, with fees generally based on the value of assets under management. While the firm doesn't have a stated minimum dollar amount for accounts, they generally advise against accounts smaller than $50,000 due to their fee arrangements.

To put the Q3 2025 noninterest income into context, here is a table showing the major components we have data for:

Revenue Component	Q3 2025 Amount (Millions USD)	Year-over-Year Change Context
Total Noninterest Income	$73.5	Record for the company
Leasing Business Income	$21.0	Remained strong
Foreign Exchange Income	$16.7	Increased 21.1%
Trust Fee Income	$12.95	Up from $11.69 million in Q3 2024

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.