Ohio

Cincinnati-based First Financial scooped up Westfield Bank near Cleveland after Westfield's parent company decided to exit the bank space and focus on its core insurance business.

The Cincinnati bank aims to grow in northeast Ohio with the acquisition of Westfield. The deal is expected to boost First Financial to a $20.6 billion institution.

The $330 million transaction announced late Monday would give the Jasper-based company a foothold in fast-growing Columbus, as well as in Cincinnati.

The 130-year-old Warsaw Federal Savings & Loan achieved a minority status after retooling its board this summer. Its CEO, who is also new to the job, has no plans to slow the pace of change at the depositor-owned bank.

The Ohio community bank generated 76% of its 2020 revenue from the three-year-old business line. But mortgages are cyclical, and the bank wants to step back before things get rough.

Thomas Caldwell has run Middlefield Banc Corp. for 26 years.

Sherry Cornell, who has led the Ashtabula, Ohio, credit union since 2002, is stepping down next month.

The retirement of the chief executive at Cincinnatio Ohio Police FCU has resulted in a new hire there and at nearby TruPartner Credit Union.

Columbus Metro Federal Credit Union members will have access to more products, including commercial loan services, and 14 branches with the merger.

Members of First Choice Community Credit Union will have access to mobile banking and other products once the institution becomes part of Credit Union of Ohio.