First Financial Bancorp. · NASDAQ:FFBC
First Financial Bancorp — Q3 2026 Earnings Presentation
40 slides from First Financial Bancorp's earnings presentation, Nov 3, 2026
Slide 1: Investor Presentation Third Quarter 2026
investor presentation • Third Quarter 2026 Exhibit 99.1
Slide 2: Forward Looking Statements Disclosure
forward looking statements disclosure 2 Certain statements in this presentation constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section
Slide 3: Forward Looking Statements Disclosure
forward looking statements disclosure 3 These factors are not necessarily all of the factors that could cause First Financial’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unkno
Slide 4: Forward Looking Statements Disclosure
forward looking statements disclosure 4 No Offer or Solicitation This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed transaction between First Financial and Finward. No o
Slide 5: Presentation Contents
About First Financial Bancorp Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 5
Slide 6: Our Franchise
our franchise Commercial C&I, O-CRE, Treasury, ABL, ESOP, Equipment Finance, Bannockburn Global Forex Retail Banking Consumer, Small Business Mortgage Banking NASDAQ: FFBC Headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio Founded: 1863 Banking Centers: 151 Employees: 2,251 Market Cap (9/30/26): $3.3B Dividend Yield (9
Slide 7: Key Investment Highlights
key investment highlights ✓ Proven & sustainable business model for more than 160 years o Conservative operating philosophy with 144 consecutive quarters of profitability o Well managed through past credit cycles ✓ Premier Midwest franchise with top quartile1 profitability o Top quartile1 ROATCE, NI
Slide 8: An Experienced & Successful Acquirer
$2.0B $6.4B $7.2B $8.1B $8.4B $8.9B $14.0B $14.5B $16.0B $16.3B $17.0B $17.5B $18.6B $21.1B $22.8B $24.3B 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 1Q26 3Q26 Total Assets ($B) an experienced & successful acquirer 8 2014 First Financial acquires Insight Bank, First Bexley Bank,
Slide 9: A Top Quartile Performer
ROAA1 ROATCE1 Net Interest Margin Noninterest Income / Net Revenue1 Loans + HTM / Deposits Cash + AFS Securities / Assets ACL / Gross Loans NPAs / Assets CET1 Ratio Total RBC Ratio Consolidated CRE / RBC KRX Constituents Bottom Top Quartile Median Quartile 2Q26 1.13% 1.31% 1.51% 1.50% 13.8% 15.2% 17
Slide 10: Consistent Best-in-Class Earnings
1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year KRXKRX 92% Percentile Rank 19.3% 15.6% 95% Percentile Rank FFBC Top Quartile1 17.4% 16.1% 87% Percentile Rank 1.34% 1.30% 77% Percentile Rank 1.37% 1.31% 84% Percentile Rank 4%1% 8% 18.2% 15.1% FFBC Top Quartile1 1.36% 73% Percentile Rank 1.38% 9% 42% Percentile Rank 26%
Slide 11: Key Company Brands
key company brands Full suite of diversified financial products for individuals and businesses $22.3 Billion Assets $17.7 Billion Deposits Diversified financial holding company with comprehensive and innovative solutions for individuals and businesses Wealth & asset management services for individua
Slide 12: Market-centric strategies
Note: Financial data as of 9/30/26. Greater Cincinnati/Dayton loan and deposit balances include large public fund relationships, special assets, loan marks, and other out of market and corporately held balances. *Includes leasing business expense complementary market centric strategies Loans $4.6B /
Slide 13: Diversified Lines of Business
The number of Trust & Investments and RPS relationships are updated as of 9/30/22. All other data as of 12/31/22. Note: Data as of 6/30/26 and excludes the impact of BankFinancial acquisition. diversified lines of business 13
Slide 14: Presentation Contents
About First Financial Bancorp Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 14
Slide 15: 3Q 2026 Results
3Q 2026 results 144th Consecutive Quarter of Profitability 15 • EOP assets decreased $125.5 million compared to the linked quarter to $22.3 billion • EOP loans increased $170.2 million compared to the linked quarter to $13.9 billion; 4.9% on an annualized basis • Average deposits increased $52.4 mil
Slide 16: 3Q 2026 Highlights
3Q 2026 highlights • Received Federal regulatory approval for Finward acquisition • Expected close 1/1/27; subject to the receipt of state regulatory and Finward shareholder approvals • Strong adjusted1 quarterly earnings driven by robust net interest margin and record adjusted1 noninterest income •
Slide 17: Noninterest income, expense and credit quality
• Noninterest income of $77.7 million; $77.6 million as adjusted1 • Double digit percentage growth from linked quarter in wealth management income, bankcard income, and client derivative fees • Foreign exchange income increased $4.4 million, or 33.5% from linked quarter • Strong leasing business inc
Slide 18: As Reported vs Adjusted Income Statement
As Reported Adjusted 1 As Reported Adjusted 1 Net interest income 196,256$ 196,256$ 190,377$ 190,377$ Provision for credit losses-loans and leases 8,975$ 8,975$ 12,933$ 12,933$ Provision for credit losses-unfunded commitments (72)$ (72)$ (4,743)$ (4,743)$ Noninterest income 77,658$ 77,658$ 73,791$ 7
Slide 19: Profitability
profitability 19 Return on Average Assets Return on Avg Tangible Common Equity Diluted EPS 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliation. Adjusted1 Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Earnin
Slide 20: Net Interest Income & Margin
3.88%3.87%3.82%3.81%3.89% 0.09%0.06%0.07%0.12% 0.13% 0.10%0.05%0.10%0.05% 4.07% 3.98%3.99%3.98%4.02% 3Q262Q261Q264Q253Q25 Base Margin (FTE) Loan Fees Loan Accretion net interest income & margin 20 3Q26 NIM (FTE) Progression All dollars shown in millions 1 1 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which managem
Slide 21: Noninterest Income
noninterest income 21 Noninterest Income 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliations. 3Q26 Highlights • Adjusted1 noninterest income 28% of net revenue • Foreign exchange inc
Slide 22: Noninterest Expense
noninterest expense 22 Noninterest Expense 3Q26 Highlights 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliations. All dollars shown in millions • Adjusted1 noninterest expense increase
Slide 23: Average Balance Sheet
$13,822$13,619$14,028$12,812$11,806 6.57% 6.45%6.50% 6.68% 6.88% 3Q262Q261Q264Q253Q25 Loans Loan Yield average balance sheet 23 All dollars shown in millions 1 Includes loans fees and loan accretion Average Securities Average Loans 1 Average Deposits $4,926$5,080$4,769 $3,989$3,552 4.51%4.45%4.42% 4
Slide 24: Deposits
deposits 24 Deposit Product Mix (Avg) 3Q26 Average Deposit Progression All dollars shown in millions Total growth/(decline): $52.4 million Noninterest- bearing $3,609 20% Interest-bearing demand $2,494 14% Savings $1,142 7% Money Market $4,529 26% Retail CDs $2,546 14% Brokered Deposits $1,245 7% Pu
Slide 25: Average Deposit Trends
average deposit trends 25 All dollars shown in millions Average Deposit Balances Uninsured Deposits $16,369$16,214$16,061 $14,424 $13,000 3Q262Q261Q264Q253Q25 Uninsured deposits (per call report instructions) 7,577$ Less: Public funds 2,002 Less: Intercompany deposits 532 Adjusted uninsured deposits
Slide 26: Liquidity
26 Borrowing Capacity • Interest-bearing deposits with other banks of $567 million • Investment securities portfolio: • 99.2% of investment portfolio classified as available-for-sale • $751.9 million of expected cash flow from securities portfolio in next 12 months • $448.0 million of floating rate
Slide 27: Loan Portfolio
loan portfolio 27 Loan LOB Mix (EOP) Net Loan Change-LOB (Linked Quarter) All dollars shown in millions Total growth/(decline): $170.2 million ICRE $3,776 27% Commercial & Small Business Banking $4,142 30% Oak Street $1,130 8% Summit $1,266 9% Agile $381 3% Consumer $1,305 9% Mortgage $1,905 14% Tot
Slide 28: Loan Concentrations
loan concentrations 28 C&I and Owner Occupied CRE Loans by Sector1 Investor CRE Loans by Property Type All dollars shown in millions 1 Excludes Agile Premium Finance • CRE balances were approximately 170% of risk-based capital at September 30th NAICS Sector 9/30/26 % of Total Loans Finance and Insur
Slide 29: Area of Focus – NDFI Exposure
area of focus – NDFI exposure 29 All dollars shown in millions NDFI Private Credit Exposure • Direct Exposure • $135.3 million outstanding • Primarily subscription lines to well- established funds that are either an institutional investor or publicly traded • $210.0 million committed • Loans to NDFI
Slide 30: Allowance for Credit Losses
allowance for credit losses 30 3Q26 Highlights All dollars shown in millions • $209.8 million combined ACL; $8.9 million combined provision expense • $191.7 million ACL – loans and leases • ACL 1.38% of total loans; unchanged from second quarter • Utilized Moody’s September baseline forecast in quan
Slide 31: Asset Quality
asset quality 31 Classified Assets / Total Assets 1 Provision includes both loans & leases and unfunded commitments All dollars shown in millions Nonperforming Assets / Total Assets Net Charge Offs & Provision Expense1 $6.0 $5.2 $8.8 $11.6 $6.7 $9.8 $9.1 $10.1 $8.5 $8.2 0.20% 0.35% 0.27% 0.18% 0.21%
Slide 32: Capital
capital 32 Tangible Common Equity Ratio 9/30 Risk Weighted Assets = $16,693,251 All capital numbers are considered preliminary. 1 Non-GAAP financial measure which management believes facilitates a better understanding of the Company’s financial condition. See Appendix for Non-GAAP reconciliation. Ad
Slide 33: Capital Strategy
capital strategy 33 Strategy & DeploymentTangible Book Value Per Share • 3.3% annualized dividend yield as of September 30th • 34% of 3Q26 earnings returned to shareholders through common dividend • Most recent internal stress testing indicates capital ratios above regulatory minimums in all modeled
Slide 34: Outlook Commentary
outlook commentary1 • Loan balances expected to increase low to mid single digits on an annualized basis • Core deposit balances expected to increase low single digits 34 • Total noninterest expense expected to be $150 - 153 million • Incentive expense will fluctuate with fee income Noninterest Expe
Slide 35: Presentation Contents
About First Financial Bancorp Financial Performance Appendix presentation contents 35
Slide 36: Appendix: Our Markets
appendix: our markets • Greater Cincinnati/Dayton • Loans $5.1 billion • Deposits $8.1 billion • Deposit Market Share #4 (3.7%) • Banking Centers 46 • Fortune 500 Companies 8 • Indianapolis • Loans $1.0 billion • Deposits $0.5 billion • Deposit Market Share #15 (1.0%) • Banking Centers 7 • Fortune 5
Slide 37: Appendix: Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 37 All dollars shown in thousands Net interest income and net interest margin - fully tax equivalent Sep. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sep. 30, 2026 2026 2026 2025 2025 Net interest income 196,256$ 190,377$ 189,610$ 173,995$ 160,486$ Tax equivalent adjustm
Slide 38: Appendix: Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 38 All dollars shown in thousands Additional non-GAAP ratios Sep. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sep. 30, (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2026 2026 2026 2025 2025 Net income (a) 81,182$ 76,456$ 74,445$ 62,393$ 71,923$ Average total shareholders
Slide 39: Appendix: Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliation
appendix: non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation 39 All dollars shown in thousands Additional non-GAAP measures 1Q26 4Q25 As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted As Reported Adjusted Net interest income (f) 196,256$ 196,256$ 190,377$ 190,377$ 189,610$ 189,610$ 173,995$ 173,995$ Provi
Slide 40: First Financial Bancorp
40 First Financial Bancorp First Financial Center 255 East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
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