In Brief: Ohio's First Financial Buying Bank in Indiana

HAMILTON, Ohio - First Financial Bancorp said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire $110 million-asset Bright Financial Services Inc., Flora, Ind., in a $15 million deal.

Bright would become the 13th affiliate of $1.9 billion-asset First Financial. First Financial operates 69 offices in Ohio and Indiana.

In the deal, each of Bright's 205,714 outstanding common shares would be exchanged for First Financial shares at an estimated $73.18 per share in a tax-free exchange.

Subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, the merger is expected to close in the third quarter.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER