The Federal Reserve and the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions approved the merger of MainSource Financial Group with and into First Financial Bancorp.

The official closing of the merger transaction is scheduled for April 1, 2018, when the two banks will legally become one company. While MainSource will officially be First Financial Bank after the close date, the usual course of business will continue for associates and clients until the transition weekend targeted later in Q2/18. At that time, MainSource Bank’s operating systems will convert and its branches will be re-branded as First Financial Bank branches.

“We are extremely pleased that the final step of merging our two banks is now a reality. The integration process is underway and we are excited to continue the First Financial brand as a combined financial institution to better serve our clients and communities,” said Claude E. Davis, president and CEO of First Financial.

Founded in 1863 and based in Cincinnati, First Financial Bancorp currently has $8.9 billion in assets, and provides services through four lines of business: commercial and private banking, retail banking, investment commercial real estate and commercial finance.

MainSource Financial Group has assets of approximately $4.6 billion and operates 88 full-service offices throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio.