First Financial Bank Announces Leadership for Northeast Ohio Banking Operations

Medina, OH – May 1, 2026 – First Financial Bank (Nasdaq: FFBC) has announced leadership for its new operations in Northeast Ohio, with Kevin Vonderau serving as regional president for commercial banking and Aaron Barnhart serving as vice president and district leader for retail banking.

Vonderau and Barnhart add to First Financial’s existing commercial lending team nearby in Cleveland, where Dave Dannemiller has been serving as commercial banking market president since 2023.

“Kevin and Aaron both bring excellent knowledge of the market, and under their leadership we’re already having productive conversations about First Financial creating opportunities to help Northeast Ohio clients and communities to thrive,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO of First Financial.

Vonderau and Barnhart both joined First Financial Bank through its recent acquisition of Westfield Bank. With First Financial, Vonderau will be responsible for all of First Financial’s commercial banking activities and team members in Northeast Ohio south of Cleveland. He has 37 years of banking experience, all in Northeast Ohio. Barnhart will be responsible for all retail banking activities and team members in Northeast Ohio. He brings 27 years of banking experience to his current role, also all in Northeast Ohio. Both Barnhart and Vonderau are graduates of the University of Akron.

About First Financial Bancorp.

First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had $22.8 billion in assets, $13.5 billion in loans, $17.9 billion in deposits and $2.9 billion in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $4.1 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026. The Company operated 153 full service banking centers as of March 31, 2026, located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. In 2025, First Financial Bank received its second consecutive Outstanding rating from the Federal Reserve for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act and was recognized as a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner, one of only 70 Gallup clients worldwide to receive this designation. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition is a network of organizations and individuals dedicated to creating a nation that not only promises but delivers opportunities for all Americans to build wealth and live well. Learn more at ncrc.org.

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Media Contacts

Timothy Condron, Corporate Communications Director
Email: media@bankatfirst.com
Phone: 513.979.5796

Peter Osborne
Email: peter.osborne@keypointpr.com