First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) — ESG & Values Scores

Environment story

First Financial Bancorp., a regional bank holding company, has not disclosed Scope 1, Scope 2, or Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, net-zero targets, or renewable energy percentages in the 10-K filing. The company operates primarily in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois with ~2,199 employees and conducts lending, wealth management, and capital markets operations. Banking sector environmental exposure is indirect, through loan portfolio composition and counterparty credit risk management. No material environmental controversies, toxic-waste liabilities, or resource-intensive operations are disclosed. The absence of published ESG metrics, climate commitments, or decarbonization initiatives results in significant disclosure gaps; scoring reflects lack of verified environmental performance data rather than confirmed poor performance.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Compliance

Bank maintains 'outstanding' CRA rating and is obligated to help meet credit needs of entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Indirect environmental benefit through financing community development; not a direct decarbonization initiative.

Social story

First Financial Bancorp. has disclosed a robust human capital strategy focused on employee wellbeing, engagement, compensation equity, and development. As of December 31, 2025, the company employed ~2,199 employees across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The 10-K reports 60% participation in a comprehensive Wellbeing Program, receipt of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award in 2025, sixth consecutive employee engagement survey with increases vs. prior year, monthly virtual town halls, and in-person market rallies. Compensation includes competitive short-term and long-term pay, health/dental/vision insurance, free/low-cost primary care and behavioral health services, 5% company-paid pension allocation (100% vested and portable), paid time off, parental leave, and product discounts. The Bank regularly reviews total rewards practices for equitable compensation considering experience, education, performance, and market data. No CEO-to-worker pay ratio, diversity metrics (gender/race in leadership and workforce), union-suppression activities, major strikes, or supply-chain human-rights controversies are disclosed in the filing. Absence of diversity percentages and leadership representation data limits full Social pillar assessment but disclosed employee programs and engagement metrics are positive indicators.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

Employee Wellbeing Program

Multifaceted program supporting employees across physical, financial, social, community, and purpose areas. Includes health savings account contributions, paid time off, reimbursements, annual physical exams, health-risk assessments, educational webinars, community service, financial assistance, fitness activities, life coaching, mental health resources, and stress management support. Approximately 60% of eligible employees qualified for benefits in 2025.

Enhanced employee retention, engagement, and holistic health; contributes to organizational culture and long-term success.
Employee Engagement Strategy

Launched in 2020; partnership with third party on comprehensive measurement, targeted manager training, coaching, and action planning. July 2025 sixth all-associate engagement survey recorded significant increase vs. prior year. Includes manager accountability, coaching, training, regular team huddles, mentoring, career and leadership development, updated action plans, monthly virtual town halls, in-person market rallies, and supplemental pulse surveys.

Improved employee engagement scores; Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award in 2025; enhanced transparency and strategic priority reinforcement.
Talent Development & Training Programs

Comprehensive training on career development, onboarding, security, and compliance. On-the-job skills, leadership, associate engagement, personal development, and career development training. Physical and cybersecurity training; compliance training on regulations, policies, and procedures. New manager onboarding program and high-performing associate program.

Investment in future leaders and workforce capability development; reduced compliance and security risk.
Compensation & Benefits Equity Review

Bank regularly reviews total rewards practices to ensure compensation is equitable, considering experience, education, performance, and market data.

Supports fair and competitive compensation; transparency in pay equity considerations.

Governance story

First Financial Bancorp. is a publicly traded bank holding company with comprehensive federal and state regulatory oversight. The company is subject to Federal Reserve Board supervision as a financial holding company, FDIC deposit insurance requirements, CFPB consumer protection regulations, OCC/state banking authority examination, and Nasdaq listing standards. As of December 31, 2025, the Bank met capital adequacy requirements to be deemed 'well-capitalized' under Basel III prompt corrective action guidelines. The 10-K discloses adoption of an SEC-compliant clawback policy for incentive compensation (Exhibit 97) in response to Dodd-Frank Rule 10D-1 and SEC rules adopted in October 2022. No disclosure of board independence percentage, share structure (single vs. dual-class), annual lobbying expenditures, or major regulatory fines/enforcement actions is provided in the filing. The company operates under standard banking regulations including Volcker Rule restrictions, OFAC sanctions compliance, anti-money laundering (Patriot Act Title III), and Community Reinvestment Act obligations. Absence of disclosed governance controversies, antitrust proceedings, or consumer-protection violations in the 10-K suggests regulatory compliance, but lack of detailed board composition and lobbying disclosure metrics constrains full Governance scoring.

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

Clawback Policy Adoption

First Financial adopted and implemented a clawback policy (Exhibit 97 to Form 10-K) compliant with SEC Rule 10D-1 and Dodd-Frank Act amendments effective December 2023. Policy allows recovery of incentive compensation paid based on erroneous financial information necessitating accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements. Applies to compensation paid within three completed fiscal years preceding restatement and covers all executives (including former executives).

Enhanced executive accountability and investor protection; compliance with SEC listing standards and Dodd-Frank Act requirements.
Well-Capitalized Status

As of December 31, 2025, the Bank met all Basel III capital ratio requirements to be deemed 'well-capitalized' under prompt corrective action guidelines (Common Equity Tier 1 ≥6.5%, Total Risk-Based Capital ≥10.0%, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital ≥8.0%, Leverage Ratio ≥5.0%).

Demonstrates financial stability, regulatory compliance, and capacity to absorb losses; supports depositor confidence and access to capital markets.
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Outstanding Rating

Bank received 'outstanding' rating under CRA regulations at most recent examination, demonstrating compliance with obligation to help meet credit needs of entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Affirms commitment to fair lending and community development; supports regulatory standing for merger/acquisition approvals.
Cybersecurity Governance & Disclosure

Bank established policies and procedures for compliance with federal cybersecurity requirements, including FDIC/OCC/Federal Reserve final rule (effective May 2022) requiring notification of computer-security incidents within 36 hours. Complies with SEC rules adopted July 2023 requiring Material Cybersecurity Incident disclosure on Form 8-K within four business days and annual cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance disclosure on Form 10-K.

Mitigates systemic cybersecurity risk; enhances investor and regulator transparency; demonstrates proactive governance of emerging threats.

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of First Financial Bancorp.. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open First Financial Bancorp. in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

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