welcome, Westfield Bank clients

I’d like to extend a sincere welcome to Westfield Bank! We’re delighted to welcome you and as we join together, we’re excited to expand our commercial, consumer, and specialty banking businesses and broaden our ability to serve additional clients in Northeast Ohio. Both teams share a community-first approach, while emphasizing a positive workplace culture, which is an excellent foundation for us as we expand our banking solutions to serve more communities.

Over the coming months we’ll share more details, but for now please continue to access your Westfield Bank accounts as you always have. This site includes additional information about First Financial and what to expect in the coming months. We hope you take a moment to review the frequently asked questions and Facts about First linked below to learn more about this transaction and more about First Financial. All of us at First Financial look forward to meeting you.

Archie Brown, president & CEO

First Financial Bank

Facts about First

Investor Relations - more than a century of strength

Press release

About us

An expanded footprint to serve you

You will soon have access to 127 banking centers in Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan with access to more than 55,000+ ATMs across the country.

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If you have questions, please continue to reach out to your local banker, a Westfield banking center or call the call center at 800-368-8930.

Frequently asked questions

The agreement to join together is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. We anticipate the closing will happen in the Fall. Until the closing everything stays the same. You’ll continue to bank with your current Westfield branch team, commercial banker, or private banker.

First Financial is excited to expand our commercial presence in Cleveland into Northeast Ohio and all the existing Westfield locations will become First Financial branch locations following the closing. If there are changes to products or services you’ll know well in advance, and we expect these to be minimal. We’re also excited to share more information with you on new products and services which will be available after we complete the transition.

Westfield Bank has grown into one of Ohio’s largest independently owned community banks and has evolved since being established in 2001. This decision is aligned with Westfield Insurance’s strategic focus on its portfolio of property and casualty insurance businesses. The sale enables Westfield Insurance to prioritize investments in its P&C businesses.

First Financial Bank was founded in 1863 and provides banking and financial services to businesses and consumers across its key lines of business, including Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking, Consumer Lending, Commercial Finance, and Wealth Management. Wealth Management services are provided by the Company's Yellow Cardinal Advisory Group division, offering wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate planning, brokerage services, and retirement plan services. First Financial has 127 full-service banking centers located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. In 2025, First Financial Bank received its second consecutive Outstanding rating from the Federal Reserve for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act and was recognized as a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner, one of only 70 Gallup clients worldwide to receive this designation.

The First Financial Bank leadership team will begin working with Westfield Bank leadership team over the coming weeks. The Westfield bankers you know will remain in place to support customers now and going forward. We know you don’t bank with a name, you bank with a person, so both banks have prioritized making sure the same team that support you now will support you in the future.

The Westfield Bank name will be replaced with the First Financial Bank brand sometime early next year. 

Westfield Bank will work closely with First Financial Bank in the coming months to understand any differences in our products and services. Client loans and CD rates will remain the same and we already see many similarities in our banking products. If there are some changes in product features and benefits or how you access them, we’ll make sure you are aware of them well in advance. And, as a bigger regional bank, First Financial has some new products and services that Westfield Bank does not currently offer. 

First Financial intends all existing branches to remain open now and in the future. Westfield Bank will continue with the plans for a new Wadsworth location. First Financial Bank has a Commercial and Wealth Management office on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland. 

Westfield Bank clients will continue to bank as they do today. The terms of client loans will remain the same and you will continue to access accounts the way you do today. As we move into next year, we'll share exciting new products and services First Financial offers, and if there are some enhancements or differences in your business account, we’ll share them with you well in advance. 

First Financial is excited to have the expertise of the Westfield Bank Agency Banking Team as they join the bank. Offering these key services will be invaluable when servings clients. First Financial Bank also has Agile Premium Finance and Oak Street Funding, which offer the same or similar agency products. 

You will continue to bank as they do today. For further help, please reach out to your banker or call the Westfield Bank call center.

All Westfield bankers are expected to remain with First Financial Bank following the closing. The Westfield Bank team is getting to know the First Financial team now and is looking forward to learning more about the new products and services First Financial offers. Westfield client bankers will remain in their roles as Westfield Bank joins with First Financial. It may be a new bank name in the future, but it’s still us. 

The terms of your CDs and loans will remain the same. Early in 2026 as we convert onto the First Financial system there may be some changes to things like your debit card or checks, but you will know well in advance and there will not be any disruptions in how you access your accounts. We’ll also be here to help along the way. 

Westfield Bank and First Financial will continue to update you through email and direct mail to your homes and businesses. Any changes will be communicated well in advance. 

Eventually Westfield Bank clients will be able to access their Westfield accounts at First Financial branches, but that will not occur until early next year.

We’re here to help now and going forward. Please call your current banker or the Westfield Bank Call Center with any questions. 

As Westfield Bank looked at banks to partner with, we were excited to find First Financial. We share a very similar culture, including a commitment to our communities.

First Financial has committed to contributing $500,000 from its Foundation to organizations in the Westfield Bank communities to continue the work we’ve done and as an initial example of their dedication to supporting the communities in which they do business. 

First Financial has received an “Outstanding” rating for CRA from the banking regulators – the highest rating possible.

They won the prestigious Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award in 2025. Out of the thousands of organizations Gallup works with, First Financial is one of 70 to win this award this year.

In 2024, First Financial signed our second Community Benefits Agreement with the National Community Investment Coalition. The 5-year agreement includes $2.5 billion in investments to support the needs of communities throughout our footprint.