First Savings Financial jumps on $241 million buyout deal with First Merchants

** Community lender First Savings Financial Group's FSFG.O shares jump 17.9% to $32.63

** Regional lender First Merchants FRME.O will buy FSFG in a $241.3 million all-stock deal, the banks say

** Deal will create a combined bank with over $20 billion in assets and bolster FRME's Indiana deposit network

** FSFG shareholders will receive 0.85 share of FRME for each share held, valuing the bank at $33.60 apiece

** Deal represents a 21.4% premium to stock's last close and is expected to close in Q1 2026

** As of last close, FSFG stock up 4.2% YTD