Bank branch closing

Two Portland banking offices will become one as the conversion of MainSource Bank into First Financial Bank wraps up.

MainSource’s north branch office at 1511 N. Meridian St. will close and the bank will move all operations to its sister branch at 112 N. Meridian St. All banking operations, including its employees, will remain the same, just under a new name — First Financial Bank, a subsidiary of First Financial.

“We are just merging the two offices together as one whole office,” said Annie Efkeman, MainSource Financial Group public relations manager. “With our merger, having two offices so close together, it just didn’t make sense to keep both.”

Efkeman said the bank will also be expanding its hours. The drive thru and lobby will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The two financial institutions jointly announced their intentions to merge last July and MainSource officially became part of First Financial Bank on April 1.

“We see this merger as a significant milestone in our company’s history that positions us for continued growth and success,” said Claude E. Davis, executive chairman, in a press release. “Our commitment to provide value to our clients, communities and shareholders remains our top priority, and by joining together, our expanded First Financial team will continue striving to provide superior service and exceed expectations for all of our constituents.”

The merge in partnership was considered “an ideal strategic, financial and operational fit,” according to the press release, “allowing the company to better meet the needs of its communities in a rapidly changing banking environment.”

“By taking the best of both banks, we believe that the combined company will be even more effective in meeting the lending, economic development and financial education needs of the communities we serve,” Davis said. “With both companies having proven records of success in organic performance as well as through acquisitions, we see this as a tremendous opportunity to partner with MainSource to create a new company that is even better positioned for growth and continued success.”

Because of the merger, First Financial is anticipated to become the sixth largest bank in deposit market share in Indiana and the fourth largest in the Greater Cincinnati area.

The bank will be closed today as MainSource banking centers, along with the client relationships and accounts, convert to First Financial Bank.

While MainSource Bank customers have received multiple notifications leading up to this change in online banking, the conversion of debit and credit card and other banking matters, Efkeman said associates are prepared to assist clients and answer any questions related to their accounts.

Clients will have access to the Cincinnati-based First Financial Bank’s network of 150 branches and more than 55,000 ATMs.

“It’s really not going to be much different,” Efkeman said. “It’s going to be a name change and that is pretty much it. The local community can expect business to run as usual.”