“We’re proud to expand into the Columbus market, a key strategic area for the bank,” said Claude Davis, chief executive officer of First Financial, in a statement. “We look forward to building on the success of these two banks and offering our full suite of products and services to the local community, including consumer, business, mortgage, and wealth management solutions.”
First Bexley and Insight will be converted to First Financial systems the weekend of September 6 and 7. Banking centers will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 6., in order to update the Columbus branches with First Financial’s new signage and interior merchandising.
The banking centers will reopen under the First Financial brand on Monday, Sept. 8, and customers will have access to a network of more than 100 banking centers and 130 ATMs across a three-state footprint, according to the company.
First Financial officials also expect to close on a third Columbus-area acquisition of Guernsey Bank in August, which will add three more banking center locations. Once that deal closes, First Financial says it will be positioned as the largest community bank operating in the Columbus-area.
First Financial is the eighth largest bank by deposits in the Dayton metropolitan area, and fifth largest in Cincinnati, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
About the Author