One of Butler County's biggest landmarks — and among its most prominent financial institutions — will get a face-lift Friday.

        That's when the First National Bank of Southwestern Ohio in Hamilton and Hebron Deposit Bank in Northern Kentucky will become First Financial Bank, a moniker that more than 250,000 Tristate customers will have to get used to.

        The name change reflects an effort by the bank's parent, First Financial Bancorp, to regionalize its operations and expand its folksy community banking image throughout Greater Cincinnati. First Financial acquired Hebron Deposit Bank in 1999.

        The new First Financial logo and signs — “1” enclosed in a big “F” in bold black letters — will appear at 35 branches in Butler, Preble, Warren and Hamilton counties in Ohio and Boone County in Kentucky.

        First Financial is optimistic that customers won't mind the change.

        “One reason we left "first' in the name is because many people in Hamilton already refer to the bank as that, so hopefully, it won't be a big adjustment for them,” Margaret Baker, a bank spokeswoman, said.

— Jeff McKinney

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