Ohio

The $6.2 billion-asset First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) will close 10 branches to cut costs, according to a report.

Earnings at FirstMerit, the $14.6 billion-asset Akron, Ohio, bank rose 10%, to $34.9 million in the third quarter, compared with a year earlier, it reported Tuesday. Noninterest expense fell 6.4%, to $108.5 million, over the same period.

First Defiance Financial (FDEF) in Defiance, Ohio, reported third-quarter income of $5.4 million, up 32% from a year earlier, as credit costs dissipated.

Park National (PRK) in Newark, Ohio, warned that a loan chargeoff may lower earnings per share for the third quarter by as much as 41%.

S&T Bank in Indiana, Pa., has expanded its commercial loan business into northeast Ohio by opening an office in Akron.

Shares of United Bancorp (UBCP) fell sharply Thursday after the Martins Ferry, Ohio, company announced that it was cutting its quarterly dividend in half in order to preserve capital.

FirstMerit (FMER) in Akron, Ohio, trumped higher noninterest costs with more lending for a slight gain in quarterly profits.

United Community Financial (UCFC) in Youngstown, Ohio, will take a $5.2 million loss on a group of loans to a single commercial customer.

Struggling First Place Financial (FPFC) in Warren, Ohio, has turned to longtime banking executive Louis Dunham to help lead its recovery.

Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) in Columbus, Ohio, continues to bet big on in-store branches.

Central Federal (CFBK) has restructured a planned capital raise and reached a deal with the Treasury Department that would help it exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Third Federal Savings & Loan Association in Cleveland has promoted Chief Retail Officer Meredith S. Weil to the position of chief operating officer, effective July 6.

The Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it plans to sell off its shares in seven more community banks as part of its ongoing effort to wind down the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is streamlining its number of checking and savings products in an effort to win a larger share of customers' wallets.

Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) is pairing with a Michigan retailer to substantially expand its presence in the state over the next decade.

First Financial in Cincinnati instituted a full pay-out of earnings in August. Although investors were happy with the move, the company has been swarmed with questions over how long it plans to keep the payout. Last week, the company committed to it until the end of 2013.

PVF Capital (PVFC) posted its first profitable quarter in four years as the Solon, Ohio, company benefited from a surge in mortgage lending activity and continued improvement in asset quality.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati is planning to close 10 of its branches in a move it says will reduce its annual overhead by about $2.3 million.

Park National (PRK) in Newark, Ohio, announced Friday that it will repay the $100 million it received from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program by issuing new debt and reducing its short-term investments.

United Community Financial (UCFC) of Youngstown, Ohio, will once again raise fresh capital to meet the requirements of a regulatory order.