FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/

FORM 10-K CROSS REFERENCE INDEX

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference that are not statements of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the statements specifically identified as forward-looking statements within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, certain statements in future filings by us with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with our approval, which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include: (i) projections of income or expense, earnings per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of our plans and objectives of our management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services or potential acquisition activity; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” "likely," “expected,” "estimated," “intends,” “can,” “may,” “should,” “potential,” “believe,” “could,” “will,” “desire,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information so long as those statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements because of various factors and possible events, including those factors and events identified (i) in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and (ii) in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of First Financial's 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (included within Exhibit 13 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference into Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.