When Cincinnati-based First Financial Bank and Greensburg-based MainSource Bank began exploring a merger more than a year ago, the deal had implications locally.
One big question was what the merged company’s presence would look like in the community, particularly in regard to philanthropy.
When the banks announced their consolidation plans last July, in which MainSource would merge into First Financial (which became official April 1), they said their mutual commitment to philanthropy would remain strong. But what “strong” meant was not clear at that point.
First Financial showed just what that term meant at a meet-and-greet event June 13 at The Commons. It announced $100,000 donations to both Foundation for Youth and Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Columbus.
That’s an incredible display of generosity and continued commitment to the community, and can’t be taken lightly.
The donations combined with what has typically been given to the community, about $100,000 in some years, will represent about three times the amount First Financial usually makes. The bank said the significance of the Columbus market to its operations factored into its contributions.
First Financial’s donation to Heritage Fund helps its 100 Campaign, which is intended to grow its Community Fund, used to make grants to local organizations and projects. The donation to FFY helps provide scholarships for program participation to children of families with extended needs.
The donations means a lot of families in the community will be impacted positively one way. That’s heartening.
And seeing such commitment to one of the bank’s primary communities is reassuring.
