First Financial Bancorp to Acquire BankFinancial

The latest announcement is out from First Financial Bancorp ( (FFBC) ).

On August 11, 2025, First Financial Bancorp announced its agreement to acquire BankFinancial Corporation, expanding its presence in the Chicago market. The acquisition, valued at approximately $142 million, will be an all-stock transaction and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. This strategic move will add 18 retail locations to First Financial’s portfolio, enhance its commercial banking capabilities, and integrate BankFinancial’s consumer, trust/wealth management, and selected commercial credit lines into its operations. The merger aims to strengthen First Financial’s market position and provide a broader range of financial solutions to Chicago clients.

The most recent analyst rating on (FFBC) stock is a Buy with a $33.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Financial Bancorp stock, see the FFBC Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on FFBC Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, FFBC is a Outperform.

First Financial Bancorp’s solid financial performance and attractive valuation are the primary drivers of its strong stock score. The positive outlook from the recent earnings call and strategic corporate events, such as the acquisition of Westfield Bancorp, bolster confidence in the company’s future growth potential. Technical analysis presents a more neutral outlook but does not detract significantly from the overall positive assessment.

To see Spark’s full report on FFBC stock, click here.

More about First Financial Bancorp

First Financial Bancorp, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a bank holding company with $18.6 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. It offers a range of banking and financial services through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, which operates 128 full-service banking centers across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The company provides services in Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking, Consumer Lending, Commercial Finance, and Wealth Management, including wealth planning and investment banking. First Financial has been recognized for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act and workplace excellence.

Average Trading Volume: 360,646

Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold

Current Market Cap: $2.27B

See more data about FFBC stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.