First Financial Bancorp is acquiring Finward Bancorp in an all-stock deal to expand its Chicago metro footprint, gaining Finward’s 24 outlets and boosting regional deposits by about 75% to over $4 billion. The move, announced July 21, 2026, aligns with a strategy to grow through acquisitions while maintaining a community-focused approach, with First Financial’s leadership highlighting increased market presence and broader banking services. Finward and its subsidiary would merge into First Financial, with a reverse-structure bank merger where Peoples Bank would join First Financial Bank, and the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026 pending regulatory and shareholder approvals. The deal includes an exchange of 1.35 shares of First Financial stock for each Finward share, and it has received unanimous approval from the boards of both companies. Market data notes a modest 12.6 P/E for First Financial alongside insider stock sales totaling about $1.3 million over the past three months, signaling cautious but ongoing confidence in the deal. The combination is presented as a strategic, growth-oriented step for First Financial to deepen its midwestern banking footprint while continuing its commitments to community giving and local involvement, such as supporting organizations in the Finward footprint.