• First Financial Bancorp ("First Financial") has agreed to acquire Chicago-based BankFinancial Corporation ("BankFinancial").
• The acquisition strategically expands First Financial's presence in the robust Chicago market with a strong core deposit franchise.
• Complementary to Illinois and Northwest Indiana branch locations, adding 18 retail locations and augmenting its existing commercial banking presence with additional capabilities. Total pro forma deposits will be $2.2 billion.
• All BankFinancial bank employees will become First Financial Bank associates upon closing.

First Financial (NASDAQ:FFBC) and BankFinancial (NASDAQ:BFIN) jointly announced today that they have entered into an agreement by which First Financial will acquire Chicago-based BankFinancial in an all-stock transaction, strategically expanding First Financial's presence in the economically robust Chicagoland market with a strong core deposit franchise including 18 financial centers. The acquisition also builds on First Financial's existing commercial banking presence in the Chicagoland market.