First Financial Bank

First Financial Bank is a regional banking institution headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana. Its origins date to 1834, when it was established as a branch of the Second State Bank of Indiana. The institution later became known as Terre Haute First National Bank and developed a long-standing presence in western Indiana. It is described as the oldest national bank in Indiana and among the oldest national banks in the United States. The bank operates within the First Financial Corporation holding-company structure. First Financial Corporation was established in 1983, and in August 1984 it became Indiana's first multi-bank holding company. This structure allowed the organization to coordinate multiple affiliated banking institutions while retaining a community-bank orientation. In 2003, affiliated banks were brought together under the First Financial Bank name. For much of its history, First Financial Bank concentrated on Terre Haute and surrounding counties in Indiana and Illinois. Its later expansion relied substantially on acquisitions and mergers. In Illinois, the company announced the acquisition of PNB Holding Company in 2011; PNB's sole subsidiary was Freestar Bank, which operated 13 offices in central Illinois. In 2013, First Financial Corporation acquired nine branch offices in central and southern Illinois from Bank of America. The bank expanded into Kentucky through two significant transactions. In July 2019, First Financial Corporation completed its merger with HopFed Bancorp, while First Financial Bank merged with HopFed's wholly owned subsidiary, Heritage Bank USA, based in Hopkinsville. In 2021, First Financial Bank announced the acquisition of Hancock Bank & Trust, a community bank based in Hawesville, Kentucky. The transaction added locations in Hawesville, Lewisport, Madisonville, Cloverport, and Bowling Green, and was reported as having a value of $31.3 million. The company's resulting network also includes loan-production activity in Tennessee. First Financial Bank provides conventional community-banking services, including deposit accounts, lending, cash management, debit cards, online banking, and other electronically delivered services. Through related capabilities, it also offers lease financing, investment advisory and wealth-management services, brokerage and investment services, and investment consulting. Its positioning combines a regional branch network with commercial, consumer, and wealth-oriented financial services. In September 2021, First Financial Corporation announced that The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute, which had long operated as a subsidiary, would be merged into First Financial Bank effective December 31, 2021. This further consolidated the organization's local financial-services operations under the bank brand. First Financial Bank remains an active regional institution serving customers across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

First Financial Bank traces its history to 1834, when it began as a branch of the Second State Bank of Indiana. The institution subsequently became known as Terre Haute First National Bank and developed around Terre Haute and the surrounding counties of western Indiana. Its long operating history is reflected in descriptions of the bank as Indiana's oldest national bank and one of the oldest national banks in the United States. The organization adopted a modern holding-company structure in the 1980s. First Financial Corporation was formed in 1983, and in August 1984 it became Indiana's first multi-bank holding company. The structure brought affiliated banks under common corporate oversight while allowing the organization to expand its geographic and service footprint. In 2003, the affiliated institutions were consolidated under the First Financial Bank name. The bank's historical market was centered on Indiana, with additional operations in nearby Illinois communities. First Financial Corporation announced the acquisition of Pontiac-based PNB Holding Company in October 2011. PNB's only subsidiary was Freestar Bank, which operated 13 offices in central Illinois. In March 2013, First Financial Corporation acquired nine Bank of America branches in central and southern Illinois, strengthening its position in that state. A later phase of expansion moved the organization into Kentucky. On July 29, 2019, First Financial Corporation completed its merger with HopFed Bancorp. At the bank level, First Financial Bank merged with Heritage Bank USA, HopFed's wholly owned subsidiary based in Hopkinsville. The transaction materially broadened the company's regional presence beyond its traditional Indiana and Illinois base. In August 2021, First Financial Bank announced the acquisition of Hancock Bank & Trust, a long-established community bank headquartered in Hawesville, Kentucky. The transaction added banking locations in Hawesville, Lewisport, Madisonville, Cloverport, and Bowling Green. It was reported as valued at $31.3 million, or $18.38 per share. Also in 2021, First Financial Corporation announced the planned merger of The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute into First Financial Bank, effective December 31 of that year. Morris Plan had long been a subsidiary of the company, and the transaction consolidated another related financial-services operation under the bank brand. The contemporary bank operates banking centers and loan-production offices across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Its services include deposits, lending, cash management, lease financing, debit cards, online banking, and other electronic banking services. It also provides investment advisory, wealth-management, investment, brokerage, and investment-consulting services. The institution's development therefore combines historical local banking roots with holding-company expansion, branch acquisitions, and a broader regional financial-services model.

• 2021

  Hancock Bank & Trust acquisition announced

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The bank announced a transaction adding multiple Kentucky banking locations.

• 2021

  Morris Plan Company merger announced

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute was scheduled to merge into First Financial Bank effective December 31.

• 2019

  HopFed Bancorp and Heritage Bank USA merger completed

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The completed transaction brought Heritage Bank USA's Kentucky operations into First Financial Bank.

• 2013

  Nine Illinois branches acquired from Bank of America

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The company acquired nine branches in central and southern Illinois from Bank of America.

• 2011

  PNB Holding Company acquisition announced

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  First Financial Corporation announced the acquisition of PNB Holding Company and its Freestar Bank subsidiary in central Illinois.

• 2003

  Affiliated banks unified under the First Financial Bank name

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The company's affiliated banking institutions were brought together under the First Financial Bank brand.

• 1984

  Indiana multi-bank holding-company milestone

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  In August, First Financial Corporation became Indiana's first multi-bank holding company.

• 1983

  First Financial Corporation established

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The bank's holding company, First Financial Corporation, was created.

• 1834

  Institution founded as a branch of the Second State Bank of Indiana

  [1]First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org

  The bank began operations in Terre Haute as a branch of the Second State Bank of Indiana.

A regional community bank combining traditional branch banking with commercial finance, electronic banking, and investment-related services across the Midwest and parts of the South.

• Retail banking

  Consumer banking

  First Financial Bank provides traditional consumer banking services through its regional network, including deposit products, debit cards, electronic banking access, and related account services. The offering is designed for individuals and households served by the bank's branches and digital channels.

• Business banking

  Commercial banking and lending

  The bank serves businesses and community organizations with commercial banking and lending capabilities. Its regional footprint includes banking centers and loan-production offices, supporting relationship-based business finance across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

• Treasury services

  Cash management

  Cash-management services help banking customers handle payments, collections, liquidity, and other day-to-day financial-management needs. The service is part of the bank's broader commercial and electronically delivered banking offering.

• Commercial finance

  Lease financing

  First Financial Bank offers lease-financing services as part of its commercial finance portfolio. The service broadens the bank's business offerings beyond conventional deposit and loan products.

• Wealth management

  Wealth and investment services

  The bank provides investment advisory and wealth-management services, together with investment, brokerage, and investment-consulting capabilities. These services extend the brand into advisory and financial-planning relationships in addition to deposit and lending activities.

• 2021

  Acquisition of Hancock Bank & TrustM&A

  Background

  First Financial Bank continued its Kentucky expansion by pursuing Hancock Bank & Trust, a community bank based in Hawesville.

  Action taken

  The bank announced an acquisition that added locations in Hawesville, Lewisport, Madisonville, Cloverport, and Bowling Green.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened First Financial Bank's Kentucky branch network. It was reported at $31.3 million, or $18.38 per share.

  Reported transaction value. $31.3 million (2021 announcement)

  Source

• 2021

  Morris Plan Company consolidationM&A

  Background

  The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute had long operated as a subsidiary of First Financial Corporation.

  Action taken

  First Financial Corporation announced that Morris Plan would merge into First Financial Bank effective December 31, 2021.

  Aftermath

  The decision consolidated the subsidiary's operations under the First Financial Bank brand.

  Source

• 2019

  Merger with HopFed Bancorp and Heritage Bank USAM&A

  Background

  The transaction was intended to expand First Financial Corporation's regional banking platform into Kentucky.

  Action taken

  First Financial Corporation merged with HopFed Bancorp, while First Financial Bank merged with Heritage Bank USA, HopFed's wholly owned subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  The completed merger added Heritage Bank USA's Hopkinsville-based Kentucky operations to First Financial Bank.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquisition of Bank of America branchesM&A

  Background

  First Financial Corporation pursued additional scale in Illinois through a branch transaction with Bank of America.

  Action taken

  The company acquired nine branches in central and southern Illinois.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition increased First Financial's branch presence in Illinois.

  Source

• 2011

  Acquisition of PNB Holding CompanyM&A

  Background

  First Financial Corporation sought to expand its Illinois presence through the Pontiac-based PNB Holding Company and its Freestar Bank subsidiary.

  Action taken

  The company announced the pending acquisition of PNB Holding Company, whose subsidiary operated 13 central Illinois offices.

  Aftermath

  The transaction supported the expansion of the First Financial banking network in central Illinois.

  Source

• 2021.11.18

  Reported2021.11.18

  First Financial NoWorry Checking receives Bank On certification[2]First Financial NoWorry Checking获得Bank On认证prnewswire.com

  First Financial Bank announced that its NoWorry Checking account received national Bank On certification for meeting the 2021–2022 Bank On National Account Standards.

• 2021.08

  Reported2021.08.10

  First Financial Bank and West Dayton Caravan announce community initiative[3]First Financial Bank 与 West Dayton Caravan 宣布社区合作项目dayton247now.com

  First Financial Bank and the West Dayton Caravan of Churches announced a joint initiative offering customized services, financial education, and counseling to support financial well-being among churches and their members.

• 2020.05.20

  Reported2020.05.20

  First Financial Bank announces executive promotions[4]First Financial Bank宣布高管晋升prnewswire.com

  First Financial Bank announced that David W. Bailey was promoted to Executive Vice President and Senior Lender for the Abilene Region, and Candi Kanady was promoted to Eastland Division President.

Read more

1. 1First Financial Banken.wikipedia.org
2. 2First Financial NoWorry Checking获得Bank On认证prnewswire.com
3. 3First Financial Bank 与 West Dayton Caravan 宣布社区合作项目dayton247now.com
4. 4First Financial Bank宣布高管晋升prnewswire.com
5. 5First Financial Bank Announces Promotion Of Nora P. Thompson To Chief Executive Officer Of Bryan/College Station Regionprnewswire.com