Who are First Financial Bancorp's competitors, and what are the alternatives?
First Financial's 2025 10-K, filed February 19, 2026, says its competitors include local and regional institutions, credit unions, brokerage firms, online lenders, retail stores offering credit, fintechs that operate without branches, and 'some of the largest banking organizations in the United States'. In its home market those large banks dominate: in the Cincinnati metro area at June 30, 2025, U.S. Bank held 54.50% of branch deposits (including deposits booked at its Cincinnati-area offices), Fifth Third 23.78% and PNC 4.70%, with First Financial fourth at $6.42 billion, or 3.35%, in 46 offices. Statewide it ranked 12th in Ohio ($7.54 billion) behind U.S. Bank, Huntington, KeyBank, Fifth Third and JPMorgan Chase, and 10th in Indiana ($6.20 billion), where JPMorgan Chase, PNC, Old National, Fifth Third and First Merchants are larger. Its newest market is Chicagoland, where it will hold $4.1 billion of deposits and 40-plus branches after Finward, against JPMorgan Chase (19.94% of the metro) and BMO (17.72%). It also lends nationally through Oak Street, First Franchise, Summit equipment finance and Bannockburn foreign exchange. The non-bank rivals the 10-K names are clearest in deposits and consumer credit: fintechs such as Chime, with 10.4 million active members in June 2026, and online lenders such as LendingClub, which automates more than 90% of the loans it issues.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Data as of Oct 20, 2026 · First Financial Bank profile updated Oct 13, 2026 · computed tables recalculate from the 140 bank profiles on this site · Markdown
What does First Financial Bank say about its competition?
"First Financial believes that it is well positioned to compete in its markets. Smaller than super-regional and multi-national bank holding companies, First Financial believes that it can meet the needs of its markets through a local decision-making process and that it is better positioned to compete than smaller community banks that may have size or geographic limitations. First Financial's targeted customers include individuals and small to medium sized businesses within the Bank's geographic footprint."[1]
"First Financial faces strong competition from financial institutions and other non-financial organizations. Its competitors include local and regional financial institutions, savings and loans and bank holding companies, as well as some of the largest banking organizations in the United States. In addition, other types of financial institutions, such as credit unions, offer a wide range of loan and deposit services that are competitive with those offered by First Financial. The consumer is also served by brokerage firms and mutual funds that provide checking services, credit cards, margin loans and other services similar to those offered by First Financial. Online lenders also create additional competition, particularly in the mortgage and consumer lending areas. Major consumer retail stores compete for loans by offering credit cards and retail installment contracts."[1]
"First Financial also competes with Financial Technology Companies ('FinTechs') which provide similar services to financial institutions while operating predominantly online and without the use of physical branch locations in a customer's market area. FinTechs also compete with financial institutions by embedding financial services into non-bank platforms which could reduce customer reliance on traditional banking services. Digital assets and cryptocurrencies also operate as competitors, as many of these digital assets and cryptocurrencies seek to provide payment functionality."[1]
From the risk factors of the same 10-K: "We operate in a highly competitive industry that could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes, including AI, Generative AI, LLMs and AI agents, and continued consolidation. ... Credit unions that compete with us have tax, regulatory and other advantages that allow them to price products and services more competitively. Competing banks may have greater financial resources and/or face fewer regulatory constraints." (2025 Form 10-K, filed February 19, 2026.)[1]
Who competes with First Financial Bank in each of its businesses?
| Business line | Competitor | Type | Why it competes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home region: Cincinnati and Ohio | Fifth Third Bancorp | Bank | Cincinnati-headquartered Fifth Third held 23.78% of Cincinnati-metro branch deposits in 94 offices at June 30, 2025, against First Financial's 3.35% in 46, and $66.89 billion in Ohio (fourth in the state).[2][3] |
| Home region: Cincinnati and Ohio | U.S. Bancorp | Bank | U.S. Bank booked 54.50% of Cincinnati-metro branch deposits ($104.35 billion, including deposits gathered beyond the metro) and was first in Ohio with 19.73% at June 30, 2025.[2][3] |
| Home region: Cincinnati and Ohio | PNC | Bank | PNC was third in the Cincinnati metro with $8.99 billion (4.70%) in 47 offices, just ahead of First Financial, and sixth in Ohio with $38.23 billion at June 30, 2025.[2][3] |
| Home region: Cincinnati and Ohio | Huntington Bancshares | Bank | Columbus-based Huntington was second in Ohio with $96.09 billion (17.00%) in 343 offices and fifth in the Cincinnati metro with 36 offices at June 30, 2025.[3][2] |
| Home region: Cincinnati and Ohio | Park National | Bank | Ohio's Park National ranked tenth in the state with $7.63 billion in 75 offices at June 30, 2025, just ahead of First Financial's $7.54 billion.[3] |
| Commercial banking in Indiana and Chicagoland | Old National Bancorp | Bank | Old National was third in Indiana with $13.82 billion in 93 offices and eighth in the Chicago metro with $18.01 billion at June 30, 2025, both markets where First Financial is growing.[4][5] |
| Commercial banking in Indiana and Chicagoland | First Merchants Corporation | Bank | First Merchants was sixth in Indiana with $11.67 billion in 74 offices at June 30, 2025, ahead of First Financial's $6.20 billion in tenth place.[4] |
| Commercial banking in Indiana and Chicagoland | JPMorgan Chase | Bank | Chase led Indiana with $25.04 billion (11.80%) and the Chicago metro with $119.99 billion (19.94%) at June 30, 2025; First Financial will have $4.1 billion of Chicagoland deposits after Finward.[4][5][6] |
| Commercial banking in Indiana and Chicagoland | BMO | Bank | BMO Bank was second in the Chicago metro with $106.66 billion (17.72%) in 184 offices at June 30, 2025, the market First Financial entered with BankFinancial and is expanding with Finward.[5][9][6] |
| Commercial banking in Indiana and Chicagoland | First Commonwealth Financial | Bank | Pennsylvania's First Commonwealth entered Cincinnati by buying CenterBank, which closed on April 30, 2025.[10][11] |
| Retail deposits and everyday digital banking | Chime | Fintech | A fintech operating 'without the use of physical branch locations' of the kind First Financial's 10-K describes; Chime's own 10-K claims a significant cost advantage over traditional banks, and it had 10.4 million active members at June 30, 2026.[1][12][7] |
| Retail deposits and everyday digital banking | Cash App (Block) | Fintech | First Financial's 10-K says fintechs embed financial services into non-bank platforms; Block's 2025 10-K lists banks among Cash App's competitors in peer-to-peer payments and debit cards.[1][13] |
| Retail deposits and everyday digital banking | Credit unions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky | Credit union | First Financial's 10-K says competing credit unions 'have tax, regulatory and other advantages that allow them to price products and services more competitively'.[1] |
| Consumer lending | LendingClub (Happen Bank) | Fintech | First Financial's 10-K says online lenders compete 'particularly in the mortgage and consumer lending areas'; LendingClub, now Happen Bank, reports a record automation rate above 90% for issued loans (June 30, 2026).[1][8] |
| Consumer lending | Retail stores offering credit | Other | The 10-K says 'major consumer retail stores compete for loans by offering credit cards and retail installment contracts'.[1] |
How do the AI and digital offerings of First Financial Bank's competitors compare?
First Financial Bank first, then each competitor. Use-case counts, index scores and latest moves are computed from our profiles of each company; "No profile" means this site has no page on it yet.
| Company | AI or digital offering | On the record (our profiles) | Latest dated AI move |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial Bancorp (this page) | Not disclosed | Index 4.4 (#105); 11 use cases, 8 in production | Succession reshuffle: Anderson president, former CIO Myers COO (Sep 14, 2026)[14][15] |
| Fifth Third Bancorp | Jeanie chatbot, named Best Chatbot of 2026; self-service containment from 3% to 42% since launch[16] | Index 84 (#14); 13 use cases, 10 in production | AI chief Jay Budzik describes the lending-model upgrade (Oct 12, 2026)[17] |
| U.S. Bancorp | In-house tools from the AI Center of Excellence[18][19][20][21] | Index 81.3 (#18); 18 use cases, 16 in production | Venkatachari: from proving AI to industrializing it (Oct 7, 2026)[22] |
| PNC | PNC AI factory[23][24][25][26] | Index 68.2 (#38); 14 use cases, 8 in production | Head of ATM Banking hired with an AI mandate (Sep 25, 2026)[27] |
| Huntington Bancshares | Agentic process transformation, run from finance[28][29][30] | Index 84.2 (#13); 17 use cases, 15 in production | Named a Coverbase enterprise customer (Sep 29, 2026)[31] |
| Park National | AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers (2025 annual report)[32] | Index 6.6 (#103); 8 use cases, 5 in production | Q2 10-Q: data processing costs up, Tennessee legacy core still running (Aug 7, 2026)[33] |
| Old National Bancorp | AI Center of Excellence; Abrigo AI loan review with about 31% higher reviewer efficiency (vendor-reported)[34][35] | Index 66 (#40); 14 use cases, 10 in production | Q2 2026 10-Q has no AI language (Jul 29, 2026)[36][37][38] |
| First Merchants Corporation | Not disclosed | Index 29.8 (#88); 11 use cases, 9 in production | CEO succession: Stewart to replace Hardwick on 1 January 2027 (Oct 1, 2026)[39][40] |
| JPMorgan Chase | LLM Suite[41][42] | Index 89 (#6); 15 use cases, 8 in production | Q3 2026 call: outside AI agents stay blocked; AI spend put near $700 million (Oct 13, 2026)[43][44][45] |
| BMO | Lumi, Aura and the Institute for Applied AI & Quantum[46][47][48] | Index 85.8 (#10); 16 use cases, 14 in production | Evident AI Index 2026: top 20 overall, #2 for AI outcomes (Oct 6, 2026)[49] |
| First Commonwealth Financial | Not disclosed | Index 25.9 (#94); 8 use cases, 7 in production | Q2 2026 10-Q: no AI language (Aug 10, 2026)[50][51] |
| Chime | Jade, an in-app AI financial partner available to some members[52] | 8 use cases, 6 in production | Agreement to acquire Stride Bank (Sep 8, 2026)[53] |
| Cash App (Block) | Moneybot consumer agent: over 1 million weekly engaged accounts (June 30, 2026)[54] | 7 use cases, 6 in production | Q2 2026: Moneybot passes 1 million weekly engaged accounts (Aug 5, 2026)[54] |
| Credit unions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky | Not disclosed | No profile | Not disclosed |
| LendingClub (Happen Bank) | More than 60 active AI initiatives (April 2026)[55] | 7 use cases, 6 in production | Q2 2026: Penny AI agent and servicing tools reported (Jul 27, 2026)[8][56] |
| Retail stores offering credit | Not disclosed | No profile | Not disclosed |
Who should look beyond First Financial Bank, and where?
| If you are | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Customers who want an AI virtual assistant in the banking app | Fifth Third (Jeanie) or Busey (Glia virtual assistants) | First Financial has disclosed no customer-facing AI assistant. Fifth Third, the second-largest deposit holder in the Cincinnati metro, says its Jeanie chatbot contains 42% of conversations in self-service, and Busey reports Glia virtual assistants handling 61.5% of calls.[1][16][2][57] |
| People who need branches outside Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois | JPMorgan Chase or Huntington | First Financial's banking centers are primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois (2025 10-K). Chase reported 5,083 branches nationally in 2025; Huntington ran 343 offices in Ohio alone at June 30, 2025.[1][58][3] |
| Customers who want a branchless, app-only account | Chime | First Financial is a community bank with 151 full-service banking centres (June 30, 2026). Chime avoids branches, had 10.4 million active members at June 30, 2026, and offers some members Jade, an in-app AI financial partner.[59][7][52] |
| Borrowers who want a personal loan decided online | LendingClub (Happen Bank) or Upstart's lending partners | First Financial's own personal loans come through Upstart's Referral Network (since 2021). LendingClub, now Happen Bank, automates more than 90% of the loans it issues and reports over 60 active AI initiatives.[60][8][55] |
| Chicago-area customers who want the largest local branch networks | JPMorgan Chase or BMO | First Financial will have $4.1 billion of Chicagoland deposits and more than 40 branches after Finward. Chase held 19.94% of Chicago-metro branch deposits in 267 offices and BMO 17.72% in 184 at June 30, 2025.[6][5] |
Where does First Financial rank by deposits in Cincinnati?
Branch deposits in the Cincinnati metropolitan area at June 30, 2025, from the FDIC's Summary of Deposits, summed by bank. U.S. Bank's figure includes deposits booked at its Cincinnati-area offices from beyond the metro.
Who is bigger than First Financial in Ohio and Indiana?
Statewide branch deposits at June 30, 2025 (FDIC Summary of Deposits). First Financial Bank is FDIC certificate 6600; Indiana's separately owned First Financial Bank, N.A. of Terre Haute is a different bank.
| State | Rank | Bank | Deposits | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | U.S. Bank | $111.51 billion | 19.73%[3] |
| Ohio | 2 | Huntington | $96.09 billion | 17.00%[3] |
| Ohio | 4 | Fifth Third | $66.89 billion | 11.83%[3] |
| Ohio | 12 | First Financial Bank | $7.54 billion | 1.33%[3] |
| Indiana | 1 | JPMorgan Chase | $25.04 billion | 11.80%[4] |
| Indiana | 3 | Old National | $13.82 billion | 6.51%[4] |
| Indiana | 6 | First Merchants | $11.67 billion | 5.50%[4] |
| Indiana | 10 | First Financial Bank | $6.20 billion | 2.92%[4] |
Who leads the Chicago market First Financial is entering?
Branch deposits in the Chicago metropolitan area at June 30, 2025 (FDIC Summary of Deposits). First Financial entered with BankFinancial, converted in June 2026, and expects $4.1 billion of Chicagoland deposits after Finward. Northern Trust and CIBC book large deposits in few offices.
Who are First Financial Bank's biggest competitors?
In Cincinnati, U.S. Bank (54.50% of metro branch deposits), Fifth Third (23.78%) and PNC (4.70%), with First Financial fourth at 3.35% (June 30, 2025). Statewide, Huntington, KeyBank and JPMorgan Chase are larger in Ohio, and Old National and First Merchants in Indiana. Its 10-K also names credit unions, online lenders and fintechs.[2][3][4][1]
Is Fifth Third a competitor of First Financial Bank?
Yes, most directly in Cincinnati, where both are headquartered: Fifth Third held 23.78% of metro branch deposits in 94 offices against First Financial's 3.35% in 46 (June 30, 2025). Fifth Third also ranks fourth in Ohio and fourth in Indiana, and its Jeanie chatbot was named Best Chatbot of 2026.[2][3][4][16]
Is Chime a competitor of First Financial?
By category, yes: First Financial's 10-K names fintechs that operate online without local branches, and Chime's 10-K says its digital model gives it a cost advantage over traditional banks. Chime had 10.4 million active members at June 30, 2026. Neither company names the other.[1][12][7]
Who competes with First Financial in Chicago?
The Chicago metro is led by JPMorgan Chase (19.94% of branch deposits) and BMO (17.72%), followed by Bank of America, CIBC, Northern Trust, Fifth Third, PNC and Old National (June 30, 2025). First Financial entered with BankFinancial, converted in June 2026, and will have $4.1 billion of deposits there after Finward.[5][61][6]
How does First Financial compete with larger banks?
Its 10-K says it is smaller than super-regional and multinational banks but meets local needs through local decision-making, and is better placed than smaller community banks with size or geographic limits. It also lends nationally through Oak Street, First Franchise, Summit and Bannockburn.[1]
Who competes with First Financial in Indiana?
JPMorgan Chase (11.80% of Indiana branch deposits), PNC, Old National, Fifth Third, Merchants Bank of Indiana and First Merchants were all larger at June 30, 2025; First Financial ranked tenth with $6.20 billion. First Merchants, the closest Indiana-based peer, scores 29.8 on this site's AI index against First Financial's 4.4.[4]
Does First Financial see AI as a competitive threat?
Yes. Its FY2025 10-K says competition 'could become even more competitive' because of AI, generative AI, large language models and AI agents, and that competitors' use of these tools 'may impair our ability to attract or retain business if our competitors are successful in their implementation'.[1]
Is Huntington a competitor of First Financial Bank?
Yes. Columbus-based Huntington was second in Ohio with $96.09 billion of branch deposits (17.00%) in 343 offices and fifth in the Cincinnati metro with 36 offices at June 30, 2025; it also ranked ninth in Indiana. First Financial ranked 12th in Ohio and fourth in Cincinnati.[3][2][4]
Is U.S. Bank a competitor of First Financial Bank?
In Cincinnati, yes: U.S. Bank booked 54.50% of metro branch deposits at June 30, 2025, a figure that includes deposits gathered beyond the metro at its Cincinnati-area offices, and it was first in Ohio with 19.73%. First Financial's 10-K counts 'some of the largest banking organizations in the United States' among its competitors.[2][3][1]
- First Financial Bancorp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Summary of Deposits: branch deposits in the Cincinnati metropolitan area (CBSA 17140), June 30, 2025 (BankFind API query)
- Summary of Deposits: branch deposits in Ohio, June 30, 2025 (BankFind API query, all institutions)
- Summary of Deposits: branch deposits in Indiana, June 30, 2025 (BankFind API query, all institutions)
- Summary of Deposits: branch deposits in the Chicago metropolitan area (CBSA 16980), June 30, 2025 (BankFind API query)
- Cincinnati's First Financial strikes third deal in 13 months
- Chime Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Happen, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
- Ohio's First Financial strikes deal to get bigger in Chicago
- First Commonwealth Completes Acquisition of CenterGroup Financial, Inc.
- First Commonwealth Finalizes Conversion of Cincinnati's Former CenterBank
- Chime Financial, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Block, Inc. Annual Report 2025 (Form 10-K)
- First Financial Bancorp. Form 8-K (Item 5.02: appointment of President, Chief Banking Officer and Chief Operating Officer)
- After year of rapid growth, Ohio bank revamps its top ranks
- Fifth Third's Jeanie Named Best Chatbot by Tearsheet AI Innovation Awards
- Alum Spotlight: Jay Budzik (PhD '03)
- U.S. Bank launches Design Assistant, an AI solution to empower designers at scale
- U.S. Bank gives embedded banking clients a gen AI assistant
- AI-powered Statement Analyzer simplifies payment services for small businesses
- U.S. Bank launches AI-driven cash forecasting tool
- How U.S. Bank Is Industrializing AI
- Why PNC is building its own 'AI factory'
- PNC's solution to rising AI costs: build its own AI
- PNC's New Mobile App Delivers an Intuitive, Personalized Experience to Help Clients Seamlessly Manage Their Day-to-Day Financial Lives
- PNC at Barclays conference: growth, AI and branch push (transcript)
- Mark Williamson hired as Head of ATM Banking
- At Huntington Bancshares, the CFO is also the AI strategist
- Huntington Bank's plan to obtain a return on gen AI
- Banking on AI: Huntington's CFO on Innovation and Risk Oversight
- Coverbase Adds Third-Party Risk Veterans as Enterprise Adoption Accelerates
- Park National Corporation 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (Form ARS)
- Park National Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2026
- How CFOs Can Drive Real Returns From AI Investments
- Old National Bank increased loan review efficiency and capacity with Abrigo
- Old National Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- Old National Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026
- Old National Bancorp Reports Record Second Quarter 2026 Results; Announces Enhanced Executive Leadership Structure
- First Merchants Corporation Form 8-K: CEO retirement and succession
- First Merchants Bank CEO Mark Hardwick to Retire at the End of 2026 and President Mike Stewart to Become President and CEO
- How JPMorganChase democratized employee access to gen AI
- Driving AI Use Cases and Adoption (Women in Banking 2025 session)
- JPMorgan Chase blocks outside AI agents like Muse, Instinct from directly accessing accounts
- JPMorgan CEO Dimon warns customers of 'liability transfer' with AI
- JPMorgan warns of risks to consumers who rely on AI agents
- Meet Lumi Assistant: BMO's award-winning AI tool empowering Team BMO
- Aura: Helping power BMO's goal of 50% faster underwriting by 2028
- BMO Establishes Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum
- BMO Earns Top Recognition for Responsible AI Leadership in Global Banking
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- What is Jade Financial Partner? (help centre, retrieved 2026-09-23)
- Chime Announces Agreement to Acquire Stride Bank
- Q2 2026 Shareholder Letter (Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K)
- LendingClub Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
- Happen’s Digital Banking Push Helps Deposits Jump 18%
- Building Relationships When Checking No Longer Confers Primacy
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025
- First Financial Bank Announces Leadership Promotions Designed to Strengthen its Future
- First Financial Bank Launches Personal Loans Powered by Upstart
- First Financial Completes Conversion of BankFinancial
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