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First Financial to move Bancorp HQ

Move will not affect its bank headquarters in Hamilton, company says

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 7:27 PM Wednesday, December 16, 2009

CINCINNATI — Due to continued growth from bank acquisitions, First Financial Bancorp will be moving its headquarters to a new building in downtown Cincinnati.

As a result of significantly accelerated growth in 2009, First Financial Bancorp, holding company for Hamilton-based First Financial Bank, has outgrown its current working space at 4000 Smith Road. The company on Tuesday, Dec. 15, signed a two-year lease for a 45,500-square-feet office space on two floors of Atrium One at 201 E. Fourth St. in downtown Cincinnati. About 75 corporate executives and support staff will move to the 19th and 20th floor of Atrium One in January, according to company officials.

The company’s bank headquarters at 300 High St. in Hamilton would be unaffected by the change, said spokeswoman Helen Hassler.

“We’ve had many exciting announcements this year —ones that have moved us farther along on our strategic path and helped us secure our future and the continued growth of our company,” said Claude Davis, president and chief executive officer of First Financial. “While Cincinnati will continue to remain an important part of our overall strategy and we are excited to start expanding into downtown, our longer-term space needs will be determined over the next 12 to 24 months and will include consideration of various other locations.”

First Financial acquired the assets of West Chester Twp.-based Peoples Community Bancorp, Indiana-based Irwin Bank and Trust Co. and Kentucky-based Irwin Union Bank earlier this year. All had been seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., adding 36 banking centers and $3.8 billion in assets to the local banking company.

While First Financial is moving its headquarters, Davis said that First Financial Bank’s Cincinnati market team will remain at the Smith Road location.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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