How does First Financial Bancorp compare with its peers on AI and technology?
On this site's AI disclosure index First Financial Bancorp scores 4.4 (#105 of 120 US banks), seventh in a seven-bank group of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois regionals led by Old National (66) and Busey (44.9), with First Merchants (29.8), WesBanco (26.9), First Commonwealth (25.9) and Park National (6.6) in between. The gap is deployment, not paperwork. First Financial has the most own disclosures in the group (24) and its 10-K's AI language grew from none for 2023 to a stand-alone risk factor with about 25 references for 2025, filed February 19, 2026; its 2026 proxy says it 'has implemented an AI governance framework'. But it names no AI tool, leader or budget, and its earnings calls and 2026 10-Qs are silent on AI. Its peers name tools with results. Busey hired its first director of AI, data science and insights in April 2026 and says Glia virtual assistants handled 61.5% of its calls. Old National runs an AI Center of Excellence and Abrigo reports about 31% higher loan-review efficiency there (July 2026). Park National implemented an AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers in 2025. First Financial's only named AI vendor is Upstart, whose referral network has supplied personal loans since 2021. Its technology work has gone into three acquisitions in 13 months: Westfield, BankFinancial and Finward.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
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
Where does First Financial Bank lead its peers on AI?
01
The most own AI disclosures in the group
First Financial scores 24 on its own primary disclosures, first of seven (peer median 21.5). Its FY2025 10-K carries a stand-alone risk factor on AI, generative AI, large language models and AI agents used by customers, vendors and competitors, with about 25 AI references; Park National's 10-K, filed February 23, 2026, contains no AI at all.[2][10]
02
Board AI oversight by a former Fifth Third, PNC and Visa CISO
First Financial's 2026 proxy says it has implemented an AI governance framework, overseen by the board's Enterprise Risk and Compliance Committee chaired by Gary Warzala, a former chief information security officer of Fifth Third, PNC and Visa. WesBanco's 2026 proxy only lists AI expertise among desired director qualifications.[3][13][14]
03
More independent coverage than most peers
First Financial scores 7 on independent sources, second of seven behind Old National (9); the median peer has 3.5. Much of that coverage is about its three acquisitions in 13 months (Westfield for $325 million, BankFinancial for $142 million and Finward for about $208 million) rather than about AI.[15][16][12]
Where does First Financial Bank trail its peers on AI?
01
No named AI tool, while Busey, Park and First Commonwealth name theirs
First Financial names no AI tool in production; its CISO said in a 2025 client seminar that 'We are building our AI strategy'. Busey's Glia virtual assistants handled 61.5% of calls (February 2026), Park National implemented an AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers in 2025, and First Commonwealth's CEO described a call-centre AI feature as one of probably a dozen or more uses (July 2026).[17][7][10][18]
02
No AI leader, while Busey and Old National name owners
First Financial's technology is led by CIO Donnie Slavens and it has named no AI head; former CIO Malcolm Myers became chief operating officer in September 2026. Busey appointed Adrianne Bernini as its first director of AI, data science and insights in April 2026, and Old National runs an AI Center of Excellence that keeps a live inventory of AI.[19][20][6][8]
03
Silent on AI in calls and quarterly filings
First Financial's earnings calls, 2026 10-Qs and releases say nothing about AI. Old National's CEO tied investment in 'technology, AI, and process improvements' to a 45.2% adjusted efficiency ratio on the July 2026 call, and WesBanco's investor decks since May 2026 say it is advancing automation and AI initiatives in loan operations, the call centre and credit underwriting.[5][21][22][23]
04
No vendor-reported AI result in credit
Abrigo reports that Old National's loan reviewers gained about 31% in efficiency with its AI Loan Review Assistant (July 2026). First Financial's only named AI-adjacent vendor is Upstart, whose referral network has originated personal loans for it since February 2021, with no result disclosed.[9][11]
Where does First Financial Bank rank against its peers on AI disclosure?
Scores from the US AI disclosure index of 120 banks (0–100; 45% of the weight on independent coverage). The index measures what each bank has put on the public record and what outside outlets have reported about its AI, not capability or spending; every count is of entries on that bank's profile, each of which cites its sources.
| Bank | Score | Rank | Independent sources | Own disclosures | Use cases in production | Moves, last 12 months | Named AI platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old National Bancorp | 66 | #40 of 120 | 9 | 22 | 10 of 14 | 18 | Vendor-delivered automation on an acquisition-built bank[24][25][26][27] |
| First Busey Corporation | 44.9 | #64 of 120 | 4 | 21 | 10 of 13 | 13 | Director of AI, Data Science and Insights (from April 2026)[6][28][29][30][7][31] |
| First Merchants Corporation | 29.8 | #88 of 120 | 3 | 22 | 9 of 11 | 18 | Not disclosed |
| WesBanco | 26.9 | #92 of 120 | 2 | 23 | 9 of 12 | 17 | Not disclosed |
| First Commonwealth Financial Corporation | 25.9 | #94 of 120 | 6 | 14 | 7 of 8 | 10 | Not disclosed |
| Park National Corporation | 6.6 | #103 of 120 | 2 | 10 | 5 of 8 | 10 | Not disclosed |
| First Financial Bancorp (this page) | 4.4 | #105 of 120 | 7 | 24 | 8 of 11 | 17 | Not disclosed |
On which parts of the AI record is First Financial Bank ahead of or behind its peers?
Each row is one input of the index, counted on the profiles of First Financial Bank and the 6 peers that are scored on the same basis. "Place" is First Financial Bank's position in the group of 7 (1st = most).
| Component (weight) | First Financial Bank | Peer median | Most in the group | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent sources (45%) | 7 | 3.5 | Old National (9) | 2nd of 7 |
| Use cases in production (10%) | 8 | 9 | Old National (10) | 5th of 7 |
| Own primary disclosures (10%) | 24 | 21.5 | First Financial Bank (24) | 1st of 7 |
| Dated moves, last 12 months (10%) | 17 | 15 | First Merchants (18) | 3rd of 7 |
| Disclosed numbers (5%) | 13 | 13 | Old National (16) | 4th of 7 |
| Named AI leaders (5%) | 7 | 6.5 | Old National (12) | 3rd of 7 |
| Use cases described (5%) | 11 | 11.5 | Old National (14) | 4th of 7 |
What has each bank in First Financial Bank's peer group disclosed about its AI?
Facts from each bank's profile, cited to the profile's own sources. "Not disclosed" means the bank's public record, as cited on its profile, does not state it.
| Bank | Platform or assistant, as the profile names it | AI leaders named | Headline AI number disclosed | Patents on the record | Open AI roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial Bancorp | Not disclosed | 7, incl. Archie Brown (Chief Executive Officer)[12][32][20] | AI references in the 10-K, FY2023 / FY2024 / FY2025: none / 1 passage / about 25 (Feb 19, 2026)[1][33][2] | Not disclosed | 0 open AI roles (Sep 24, 2026) |
| First Merchants Corporation | Not disclosed | 7, incl. Mark K. Hardwick (President and CEO)[34][35][36] | Digital platform conversion cost (non-core, 2024): $2.4 million (Dec 31, 2024)[37] | Not disclosed | Not surveyed |
| Old National Bancorp | Vendor-delivered automation on an acquisition-built bank[24][25][26][27] | 12, incl. Jim Ryan (Chairman and CEO)[38][39] | Legacy Power BI code clean-up with AI: ≈ 1 week vs ≈ 1 month for top programmers (Apr 22, 2026)[40] | None found (the profile's patent search)[41][42] | 1 open AI roles (Oct 1, 2026); most in AI product & strategy |
| Park National Corporation | Not disclosed | 6, incl. Matthew R. Miller (President and Chief Executive Officer)[10][43] | Virtual voice assistant self-service growth: 132% in 2025 (Dec 31, 2025)[10] | Not disclosed | Not surveyed |
| WesBanco | Not disclosed | 5, incl. Jeff Jackson (President and CEO)[44][45] | Retail customers using digital channels / logins per month: ≈ 80% / 7.7 million (Jun 30, 2026)[46] | Not disclosed | Not surveyed |
| First Busey Corporation | Director of AI, Data Science and Insights (from April 2026)[6][28][29][30][7][31] | 8, incl. Van A. Dukeman (Chairman, President and CEO)[47][48] | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not surveyed |
| First Commonwealth Financial Corporation | Not disclosed | 6, incl. Mike Price (President and Chief Executive Officer)[18] | Full-time employees: 1,522 full-time and 55 part-time (Dec 31, 2025)[49] | Not disclosed | Not surveyed |
What are the latest dated moves on the AI record of First Financial Bank and its peers?
The two newest dated entries of each bank since Oct 16, 2025, from the timelines of the profiles (which also log filings, results and deals that bear on the AI record), newest first.
| Date | Bank | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | First Merchants | CEO succession: Stewart to replace Hardwick on 1 January 2027[36][50] |
| Sep 14, 2026 | First Financial Bank | Succession reshuffle: Anderson president, former CIO Myers COO[20][51] |
| Aug 27, 2026 | WesBanco | Q3 2026 investor presentation repeats the AI initiatives[46] |
| Aug 11, 2026 | First Merchants | Customer warning on bank-impersonation scams[52] |
| Aug 10, 2026 | First Commonwealth | Q2 2026 10-Q: no AI language[53][54] |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Park National | Q2 10-Q: data processing costs up, Tennessee legacy core still running[55] |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Busey Bank | Q2 2026 10-Q: AI named in forward-looking risks; headcount and data processing[56] |
| Aug 6, 2026 | First Financial Bank | Q2 2026 10-Q: no AI language[5][57] |
| Jul 30, 2026 | WesBanco | Q2 2026 10-Q has no AI language[58] |
| Jul 29, 2026 | First Commonwealth | Q2 2026 call: call-centre AI example[18][59] |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Old National | Q2 2026 10-Q has no AI language[60][61][38] |
| Jul 28, 2026 | Busey Bank | Q2 2026 investor presentation: AI in the CFO's portfolio[30] |
| Jul 27, 2026 | Park National | Q2 2026 results; conversion on track for third quarter[62] |
| Jul 22, 2026 | Old National | Q2 2026 call: AI for scalability[22] |
What AI tools have First Financial and its Midwest peers named?
The AI or automation tools each bank has named publicly, with the result it or its vendor reported. A blank means nothing is on the record, not that nothing exists.
| Bank | Tool | Where | Result or scale disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial | None named; Upstart Referral Network for personal loans (since February 2021) | Consumer lending | Not disclosed[11][2] |
| Busey | Glia virtual assistants and Glia Voice | Contact centre | 61.5% of calls handled; wrap-up time down 50%; 30,000 CrossFirst customers absorbed without extra headcount (February 2026)[7] |
| Old National | Abrigo Loan Review Assistant; Quavo disputes; AI call-centre automation | Credit review, disputes, contact centre | About 31% higher reviewer efficiency (vendor-reported, July 2026)[9][24][8] |
| Park National | AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers; virtual voice assistant | Branches and service | Voice-assistant self-service up 132% in 2025[10] |
| First Commonwealth | Vendor-enabled AI feature that surfaces policy and procedure during calls | Call centre | 'Probably a dozen or more' AI uses, per the CEO (July 2026)[18] |
| WesBanco | Automation and AI initiatives, vendor not named | Loan operations, call centre, credit underwriting | About 80% of retail customers digital; 7.7 million logins a month (2026)[23][46] |
Who owns AI at First Financial and its Midwest peers?
The named owner of AI or data, and the governance each bank has disclosed.
| Bank | Named owner | Governance disclosed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial | No AI head; CIO Donnie Slavens; CISO Lance Murray chairs the Cybersecurity ERM Committee | AI governance framework 'implemented' (2026 proxy); board Enterprise Risk and Compliance Committee oversees AI risk | April 2026[19][63][3] |
| Busey | Adrianne Bernini, first director of AI, data science and insights | AI sits in the CFO's portfolio (Q2 2026 investor presentation) | April and July 2026[6][30] |
| Old National | CIO Matt Keen; AI Center of Excellence | Acceptable-use policies and a live inventory of AI, including AI inside vendor platforms; board Enterprise Risk Committee updated on AI | May 2026[8][64] |
| First Commonwealth | CIO Ryan Gorney (from April 2026); Mike Clark in the first enterprise data analytics and strategy role | AI risk sentences in the 10-K; CISO reports to the chief risk officer | December 2025 and April 2026[65][66][49] |
| WesBanco | No AI or data leader named; chief administrative officer runs technology and operations | AI expertise among desired director qualifications (2026 proxy) | 2026[14][67] |
How does First Financial's acquisition pace compare with its peers'?
Recent bank deals and conversions in the group. Conversions take the same technology teams that would otherwise build AI.
| Bank | Deal | Conversion | What was disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Financial | Westfield ($325 million); BankFinancial ($142 million); Finward (about $208 million) | Westfield March 2026; BankFinancial June 8, 2026; Finward conversion planned for Q2 2027 | Chicagoland deposits of $4.1 billion and 40-plus branches after Finward[15][68][69][12][57] |
| Old National | Bremer Financial | Majority of conversions finished mid-October 2025 | 100% of $111 million annual cost saves realised by April 2026[70][71] |
| Busey | CrossFirst Bankshares ($917 million) | Merged into Busey Bank June 20, 2025 | Glia voice AI absorbed 30,000 CrossFirst customers without extra headcount[72][7] |
| WesBanco | Premier Financial | First half of 2025 | Equipment and software expense up 51.6% in 2025 while two cores ran[73][74] |
| Park National | First Citizens (Tennessee) | Systems conversion planned for the third quarter of 2026 | Data processing fees $15.1 million in Q2 2026 against $11.0 million[75][62][55] |
Which banks are First Financial Bank's peers, and why these?
First Financial Bancorp is compared here with First Merchants Corporation, Old National Bancorp, Park National Corporation, WesBanco, First Busey Corporation and First Commonwealth Financial Corporation: chosen by the editors for this page (see the note below the table). First Financial Bancorp is classed as a regional or retail-commercial bank in the Midwest.
The computed group mixed in First National Bank of Omaha, Home BancShares (Arkansas), TowneBank (Virginia), Nicolet (Wisconsin) and Commerce (Missouri); this group holds the community and regional banks that compete for deposits in First Financial's own states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, from Indiana's First Merchants and Old National to Ohio's Park National, WesBanco, Busey in Illinois and First Commonwealth, which entered Cincinnati in 2025.
Is First Financial Bank better than Old National at AI?
The record cannot settle capability, but Old National has put much more on it: 66 on this site's disclosure index against First Financial's 4.4. Old National runs an AI Center of Excellence and reports vendor results in loan review and disputes. First Financial has an AI governance framework and a long AI risk factor but no named AI tool.[8][9][3][2]
Does First Financial Bancorp use AI?
It has not named an AI deployment. Its CISO said in 2025 that the bank is building its AI strategy, its 2026 proxy says an AI governance framework is implemented, and its 10-K asks vendors in due diligence how they use AI. The one AI-adjacent partner on the record is Upstart, for personal loans since 2021.[17][3][2][11]
How does First Financial compare with Busey on AI?
Busey scores 44.9 on this site's index and First Financial 4.4. Busey named a director of AI, data science and insights in April 2026 and reports Glia virtual assistants handling 61.5% of calls. First Financial has no AI leader or tool on the record, though its governance framework and 10-K risk disclosure are more detailed.[6][7][3][2]
Which Ohio bank has the most disclosed AI?
Among Ohio-based banks in this group, First Financial scores 4.4 and Park National 6.6 on this site's index; both name few AI tools. Park's 2025 annual report describes an AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers. The large Ohio banks, Huntington and Fifth Third, are scored with the regionals; Fifth Third's Jeanie assistant was named Best Chatbot of 2026.[10][76]
Who leads AI at First Financial Bank?
No one is named for AI. Chief information officer Donnie Slavens leads technology strategy, infrastructure and data management; CISO Lance Murray chairs the Cybersecurity ERM Committee; and the board's Enterprise Risk and Compliance Committee, chaired by Gary Warzala, oversees AI risk. Former CIO Malcolm Myers became COO in September 2026.[19][63][3][20]
What does First Financial's 10-K say about AI compared with peers'?
Its FY2025 10-K has a stand-alone risk factor on AI, generative AI, large language models and AI agents, warning that competitors' use of these tools may impair its ability to attract business. Park National's 10-K has no AI; First Commonwealth's adds AI-enhanced fraud; Old National's names 'digital employees and digital engineers'.[2][10][49][70]
How does First Financial's technology work compare with its peers' while it integrates acquisitions?
First Financial converted Westfield in March 2026 and BankFinancial in June 2026, and plans Finward's conversion for the second quarter of 2027. Busey says Glia's voice AI let it absorb 30,000 CrossFirst customers without extra headcount, and Old National realised all $111 million of Bremer cost saves by April 2026.[68][69][57][7][71]
How does First Financial compare with Park National on AI?
Both have little on the record: Park National scores 6.6 on this site's index and First Financial 4.4. Park's 2025 annual report names an AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers and says voice-assistant self-service grew 132%, but its 10-K has no AI. First Financial's 10-K has a stand-alone AI risk factor and its proxy an AI governance framework, but it names no AI tool.[10][2][3]
Does First Financial Bank have an AI assistant for customers?
Not one it has disclosed. Its client-facing AI content is fraud education, including a 2026 checklist that flags AI deepfakes. In its home market, Fifth Third's Jeanie chatbot was named Best Chatbot of 2026, and in the peer group Busey reports Glia virtual assistants handling 61.5% of calls.[77][76][7]
- First Financial Bancorp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
- First Financial Bancorp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- First Financial Bancorp. 2026 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A)
- First Financial Bancorp. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026
- First Financial Bancorp. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- Bernini Joins Busey as Director of AI
- Building Relationships When Checking No Longer Confers Primacy
- How CFOs Can Drive Real Returns From AI Investments
- Old National Bank increased loan review efficiency and capacity with Abrigo
- Park National Corporation 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (Form ARS)
- First Financial Bank Launches Personal Loans Powered by Upstart
- Cincinnati's First Financial strikes third deal in 13 months
- First Financial Bancorp. 2025 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A)
- WesBanco, Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement (Schedule 14A), 2026 Annual Meeting
- First Financial Bancorp to acquire Ohio bank in $325M deal
- Ohio's First Financial strikes deal to get bigger in Chicago
- Fighting fraud in the age of AI: A First Financial Bank seminar
- Earnings call transcript: First Commonwealth beats Q2 2026 estimates, shares rise
- Leadership Team
- First Financial Bancorp. Form 8-K (Item 5.02: appointment of President, Chief Banking Officer and Chief Operating Officer)
- First Financial Bancorp. Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
- Old National Bancorp Q2 Earnings Call Highlights
- Q2 2026 Investor Presentation (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1)
- Old National Receives 2026 Trust in Banking Award
- Old National Bank, Axletree Solutions Partnership Finalizes Critical Swift Architecture, Achieves ISO 20022 Compliance for 2026
- Four tips to identify AI solutions that solve real business problems
- What not to share when using AI for personal finance help
- Q1 2026 Earnings Investor Presentation
- First Busey Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Q2 2026 Earnings Investor Presentation (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.2)
- Busey Bank: 30,000 New Customers, Zero Hiring
- First Financial Bancorp Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results, Quarterly Dividend Increase & Acquisition of Finward Bancorp
- First Financial Bancorp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
- First Merchants Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results
- First Merchants Bank Recognized on Forbes' World's Best Banks 2026
- First Merchants Corporation Form 8-K: CEO retirement and succession
- First Merchants Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Old National Bancorp Reports Record Second Quarter 2026 Results; Announces Enhanced Executive Leadership Structure
- Acquisitive Old National eyes growth in Midwest, Southeast
- Old National (ONB) Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript
- Google Patents assignee search: Old National Bancorp (0 results)
- Google Patents assignee search: Old National Bank (only third-party patents that mention the bank)
- Park National Corporation names Matthew R. Miller Chief Executive Officer; David L. Trautman to continue as Board Chair
- WesBanco, Inc. 2025 Annual Report
- WesBanco Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Q3 2026 Investor Presentation (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1)
- First Busey Corporation Announces 2026 Second Quarter Earnings
- Busey, Dukeman Agree to Contract Extension
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- First Merchants Bank CEO Mark Hardwick to Retire at the End of 2026 and President Mike Stewart to Become President and CEO
- After year of rapid growth, Ohio bank revamps its top ranks
- It Could Happen to You: Bank Impersonation Scams
- 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
- Park National Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2026
- First Busey Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- Earnings call transcript: First Financial Bancorp posts Q2 2026 profit beat
- WesBanco, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary
- 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
- Park National Corporation reports financial results for second quarter and first half of 2026
- First Financial Bank names Murray chief information security officer
- Old National Bancorp 2026 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A)
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Form 8-K, April 15, 2026 (appointment of Chief Information Officer)
- Mike Clark joins First Commonwealth in new firmwide data post
- WesBanco Inc. Names Jan Pattishall-Krupinski as Chief Administrative Officer
- First Financial Completes Conversion of Westfield Bank
- First Financial Completes Conversion of BankFinancial
- Old National Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Old National (ONB) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
- Head start: Old National says Bremer deal will close early
- WesBanco, Inc. Expands Regional Presence with Conversion of Premier Financial Corp.
- WesBanco, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Park National Bank announces completion of First Citizens National Bank merger
- Fifth Third's Jeanie Named Best Chatbot by Tearsheet AI Innovation Awards
- 2026 Annual Fraud Checklist
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