August 27, 2026 – First Financial Corporation and First Illinois Corporation have signed an agreement that will bring Decatur-based Hickory Point Bank and Trust into First Financial’s Illinois banking franchise.
The stock-and-cash transaction is valued at approximately $111.3 million, based on First Financial’s August 26 closing stock price of $79.07.
Hickory Point Bank operates eight branches in Decatur, Springfield and Champaign. As of June 30, the bank had approximately $717 million in assets, $438 million in loans and $627 million in deposits.
First Financial says the merger will strengthen its presence in central Illinois. Once completed, the combined company is expected to have approximately $6.9 billion in assets, $4.9 billion in loans and $5.5 billion in deposits.
Anthony G. Nestler, President of First Illinois and President & CEO of Hickory Point Bank, added, “We are pleased to be joining an organization that shares Hickory Point Bank’s commitment to relationship-focused community banking. This combination will provide our customers and employees with access to additional resources and capabilities while delivering meaningful value to our stockholders.”
The merger has been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors. It is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval and approval by First Illinois shareholders.
