Notice of Application to Establish a Branch of a State Member Bank
First Financial Bank, a Texas State Banking Association, under Charter Number 3241-09, and headquartered at 400 Pine Street, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, is filing an application with the Texas Department of Banking and the Federal Reserve Board, on or around January 9, 2026, for permission and approval to establish a branch bank at 865 South 8th Street, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas 77701. The Federal Reserve and the Texas Department of Banking consider a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the application including First Financial Bank's record of performance in helping to meet local credit needs.
In 1890, forty-five years after Texas became a state, Farmers and Merchants National Bank (now called First Financial Bank) opened in Abilene, Texas. First Financial Bank was founded to provide critical support for a region essential to the state's rapid economic growth. We played a vital role in the early days—and continue to today—in the food, fuel and fiber industries that drive our state's economy. First Financial Bank has grown from a small regional bank to a nationally respected, statewide industry leader with 80 locations only in Texas. We are proud of our Texas roots and will continue serving Texans with the same determination and vision our founders displayed many years ago. Our new branch in Beaumont, Texas will expand our reach in the Southeastern Texas market and bring vital products and services to the Texans residing there. We look forward to serving more Texans from our future Beaumont, Texas location.
Any person wishing to comment on First Financial Bank's application, either for or against, may file written comments with the Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705-4294 on or before the 14th day after the date of this publication. Such comments will be made a part of the record before and considered by the banking commissioner. Any person wishing to formally protest and oppose First Financial Bank's establishment of a branch bank at 865 South 8th Street, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas 77701 and participate in the application process may do so by filing a written notice of protest with the Texas Department of Banking on or before the 14th calendar day after the date of this publication accompanied by a protest filing fee of $2,500. The protest fee may be reduced or waived by the banking commissioner upon a showing of substantial hardship.
You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, P.O. Box 655906, Dallas, Texas 75265-5906 or via email to comments.applications@dal.frb.org. The comment period will not end before January 17, 2026. The Board's procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25. To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board's procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the application, contact Lindsey Wieck, Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, at (214) 490-2183. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the application if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period.
January 2 2026
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