The article focuses on First Financial Bancorp in Ohio, a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHC Act), has requested the Board's approval under section 3 of the BHC Act to merge with MainSource Financial Group, Inc., and thereby indirectly acquire MainSource Bank. Topics include the First Financial Bank also has applied under section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act to establish, and First Financial also has filed with the Board an election.