June 23 (Reuters) - First Financial Bancorp ( FFBC ):

* FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP AND WESTFIELD JOINTLY ANNOUNCE

FIRST

FINANCIAL'S ACQUISITION OF WESTFIELD BANCORP

* FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP ( FFBC ) - DEAL VALUED AT $325 MILLION,

PAID 80%

IN CASH, 20% IN STOCK

* FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP ( FFBC ) - WESTFIELD BANK LOCATIONS TO BE

REBRANDED AS FIRST FINANCIAL BANK

* FIRST FINANCIAL: DEAL EXPECTED TO BE 12% ACCRETIVE TO CO'S

EARNINGS WITH TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE EARN-BACK OF ABOUT 2.9 YEARS

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