MAX Credit Union Acquires First Financial Bank
The all-cash deal would make MAX its first bank acquisition and expand its footprint into the Greater Birmingham market.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Banking
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MAX Credit Union, based in Montgomery, Alabama, agreed to acquire First Financial Bank of Bessemer, Alabama, in an all-cash transaction. The combined institution is expected to have approximately $2.6 billion in assets and 24 branches.
Why it matters
The deal extends MAX's reach into the Greater Birmingham market and marks its first bank acquisition, consolidating a credit union and a bank under one institution. First Financial Bank's eight locations are slated to remain open.
The transaction combines MAX's $2.3 billion in assets with First Financial's $245 million, for an expected $2.6 billion institution. Closing is expected in 2027, but the deal remains subject to FirstFed shareholder and regulatory approvals.
The players
MAX Credit Union
MAX Credit Union was founded in 1955 by airmen at Maxwell Air Force Base and now serves more than 134,000 members across Alabama and West Georgia.
First Financial Bank
First Financial Bank, founded in 1937 in Bessemer, Alabama, is a subsidiary of FirstFed Bancorp Inc. and operates eight locations.
The details
MAX Credit Union will acquire substantially all of First Financial Bank's assets and assume substantially all of its liabilities under a purchase and assumption agreement. First Financial Bank, founded in 1937, is a subsidiary of FirstFed Bancorp Inc.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: First Financial Bank reported $245 million in assets.
2027: Closing and integration of the acquisition are expected.
Market Dynamics
The acquisition reflects the broader pattern of credit unions acquiring community banks to expand their footprint. For MAX, it is a first step into bank acquisition and a move into the Greater Birmingham market.
For First Financial Bank customers, all eight locations are slated to stay open under MAX. Depositors and borrowers should expect continuity of service while the transaction moves through approvals and integration.
The takeaway
Community banking in Alabama continues to consolidate, and members of both institutions should watch for integration details as the deal approaches its expected 2027 close.
What happens next
Closing and integration are expected during 2027, pending FirstFed shareholder approval and regulatory approvals.
Further reading
For more on how institutions like these operate, see Banking coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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