First Financial Bank - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

First Financial Bank is Medium Risk.

First Financial Bank is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. First Financial Bank implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Medium Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	High Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

First Financial Bank integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility page: “Foundations of corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance (ESG) are integrated and rooted within the policies, procedures, and principles of First Financial Bank” (1). However, the company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

First Financial Bank’s charitable giving guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

First Financial Bank offers DEI training to its employees (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain. From its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: “When everyone in our communities has the
opportunity to achieve financial success, then every
member of that community wins. This is why First
Financial Bank seeks out diverse suppliers that are
qualified minority-owned, women-owned, veteranowned, or disability-owned businesses” (2). First Financial Bank has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in May 2024, the company removed training policies from its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (3). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (4)(5).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

First Financial Bank supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: “One of six companies in greater Cincinnati recognized as a company that aligns
with an employee’s values, supports sustainability, and incorporates diversity,
equity and inclusion” (1). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: “Sustainable investing, also called socially responsible
investing, involves consideration of environmental,
social, and corporate governance factors before
contributing money and resources to a particular
company or venture. First Financial’s goal, whenever
possible, is to use investment dollars to promote
positive community impact, corporate responsibility,
and long-term financial return” (2). First Financial Bank has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in May 2025, the company removed DEI language from its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

In 2021, First Financial Bank donated $50,000 to the Louisville Urban League, $40,000 to the Columbus Urban League, and $50,000 to the YWCA Hamilton (1). In 2020, the company donated $25,000 to the YWCA of Van Wert County, $50,000 to the Louisville Urban League, and $40,000 to the Columbus Urban League (2). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of First Financial Bank using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

First Financial Bank does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).