Collage of First Financial associates participating in community development activities
Collage of First Financial associates participating in community development activities

committed to making a difference

Community Benefits Agreement

Through our Community Benefits Agreement with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, we committed (beginning January 30, 2024) to invest $2.4 billion over five years in our local communities. The plan includes opening three new banking centers in low-to-moderate-income communities, increasing mortgage, small business and community development lending and investments and expanding philanthropic giving. Together, with this five-year plan, we can make a difference.

Read our corporate social responsibility report
View our CRA public file
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Mortgage lending

$700 million in mortgage lending to low-to-moderate-income and rural communities, a commitment to community development mortgage loan officers, and providing small-dollar mortgages and home improvement loans.

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Small business lending

$600 million in small business lending to small business development corporations and business incubators.

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Philanthropy

$18 million in donations to organizations who create and preserve affordable housing and workforce development, plus provide housing counseling and promote financial and economic inclusions.

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Lending and investments

$1.075 billion in community development lending and investment focused on affordable housing, community revitalization and stabilization, and creating permanent jobs benefiting low-to-moderate-income areas and individuals.

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Branch distribution

$9 million in branch distribution and access for low-to-moderate-income communities by opening three new banking centers.

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Marketing and communications

$1.2 million to benefit clients and communities in low-to-moderate-income communities and majority-minority census tracts.

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Investments and inclusion

Financial commitments are intended to ensure a 25% minimum of source-able spend goes to women-, minority-, disability-, veteran-owned businesses by 2028.

Read more details about the agreement >

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This new agreement follows the successful conclusion of the 2018-2023 Community Benefits Agreement with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. First Financial committed $1.7 billion over five years to local communities. First Financial Bank not only met its goal but nearly doubled it! This plan included lending, investment, philanthropy, access, inclusion, and marketing.

Overall total of $3,360,832,285, reaching 192% of goal.

The initiatives of our Community Investment Plan align with our ALIVE strategy, which focuses on:

To support the efforts around our commitments, First Financial worked with National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) to establish an advisory board. The advisory board provides oversight and accountability to the plan, as well as technical and strategic advice regarding community development efforts. Together, the teams define the work the bank will do to support, engage, and strengthen local neighborhoods and small businesses.

In accordance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), First Financial Bank is required to maintain and, upon request, make available for public inspection, a complete CRA Public File, which includes information about the Bank's branch and ATM locations, our products and services, regulatory performance evaluations of our record of meeting community credit needs, and other information. Interested parties can request to review the data provided at any of our banking centers. In addition, if a document hard copy is needed, a request can be made by emailing CommunityDevelopment@bankatfirst.com.