Executive at First Financial (NASDAQ: FFBC) awarded 13,554 common shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

First Financial Bancorp executive Karen B. Woods received a stock award, increasing her ownership in the company. On March 4, 2026, the General Counsel & CAO acquired 13,554 shares of common stock as a grant or award at a stated price of $0 per share.

After this grant, Woods directly held 77,508 common shares, including 6,777 restricted performance shares that vest after three years if certain performance measures are met. She also reports indirect ownership of 100 common shares as UTMA custodian for her daughter.

Insider Trade Summary

2 transactions reported

Mixed 2 txns

Insider Woods Karen B

Role General Counsel & CAO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common Stock	13,554	$0.00	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 77,508 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 100 shares (Indirect, UTMA Custodian for Daughter)

Footnotes (1)

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Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Woods Karen B

(Last) (First) (Middle)

255 EAST 5TH STREET, SUITE 2900

(Street)

CINCINNATI OH 45202

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/ [ FFBC ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	General Counsel & CAO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/04/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	03/04/2026		A		13,554(1)	A	$0	77,508	D
Common Stock								100	I	UTMA Custodian for Daughter

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 6,777 restricted performance shares subject to vesting at three years upon the attainment of certain performance measures.

	/s/ Maria Hinkel, POA	03/05/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did FFBC executive Karen B. Woods report?

Karen B. Woods reported receiving a grant of 13,554 shares of First Financial Bancorp common stock. The transaction was coded as a grant or award, meaning she acquired additional shares without an open-market purchase, increasing her direct ownership stake in the company.

What is Karen B. Woods’ total direct shareholding in FFBC after this Form 4?

After the award, Karen B. Woods directly holds 77,508 shares of First Financial Bancorp common stock. This figure includes both unrestricted shares and restricted performance shares, reflecting her updated direct equity position as General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer.

Does the FFBC Form 4 for Karen B. Woods include restricted performance shares?

Yes. The filing notes that her holdings include 6,777 restricted performance shares. These shares are subject to a three-year vesting period and depend on the attainment of specified performance measures before becoming fully earned and unrestricted.

What does the indirect ownership reported by Karen B. Woods in FFBC represent?

The Form 4 shows 100 shares of First Financial Bancorp common stock held indirectly. These shares are reported as owned in her capacity as UTMA custodian for her daughter, meaning they are legally held for the benefit of the minor under custodial arrangements.

Was the FFBC insider transaction by Karen B. Woods a market purchase or sale?

No. The transaction is identified with code A, described as a grant, award, or other acquisition. This indicates an equity award from the company rather than an open-market purchase or sale, so no market trading price is associated with the 13,554-share grant.

What role does Karen B. Woods hold at First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)?

Karen B. Woods is listed as General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer of First Financial Bancorp. Her executive role helps explain why she receives equity awards, such as the 13,554-share grant reported in this Form 4, aligning her interests with the company’s shareholders.