Loan Purchase Agreement Summary   --  Approximately $150 million in performing loans, selected from the       following Indiana markets:       --  Avon       --  Carmel       --  Columbus       --  Franklin       --  Greensburg       --  Indianapolis       --  Shelbyville    --  Closed on June 30, 2009     Branch Purchase Agreement Summary   --  Three banking centers       --  Includes deposits of approximately $143 million   --  Additional $50 million in select performing commercial and consumer       loans    --  Expected to close late in the third quarter of 2009     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090702/CL41300 )    

The proposed branch purchase transaction has received approval from the board of directors of each company and is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. First Financial expects the proposed purchase of the three banking centers to close late in the third quarter of 2009.

The separate loan purchase agreement whereby First Financial purchased approximately $150 million of performing commercial business loans closed on June 30, 2009. These loans provide relationship opportunities with clients with whom recently hired First Financial loan officers in the company's South Central Indiana market are already familiar. None of the purchased loans are residential development, land acquisition or development loans and none are 30 days or more delinquent, watch list, substandard, classified, or criticized.

With regard to both transactions, the loans and deposits are being purchased and assumed without premium. First Financial anticipates the combined transactions to be accretive to earnings in 2010, the first full year of integration.

"The purchase of these three banking centers from Irwin is consistent with our growth plan of expanding our presence in strategic locations in both existing and adjacent markets," said Claude Davis, president and chief executive officer of First Financial Bancorp.

These transactions are a continuation of First Financial's plan to significantly extend its reach into central and southeastern Indiana where the company already has announced plans to build a new banking center in Columbus, Indiana, later this year. Furthermore, these banking centers are a strategic fit with the company's recently established Indianapolis market.

First Financial currently operates 29 banking centers in Indiana. Upon closing the proposed Irwin banking center transaction later this quarter and when combined with the Peoples Community Bank transaction expected to close later this month, First Financial will operate a total of 36 banking centers in 27 communities in Indiana.