How First Financial Bank modernized disaster recovery while cutting costs
Regional banks expanding into new markets often find their legacy infrastructure can't keep pace. First Financial Bank faced exactly that challenge.
First Financial Bank has served communities across the Midwest and Southeast for over 190 years. As the fifth-oldest national bank in the United States, the institution built its reputation on personal service and trusted relationships, and that commitment hasn't changed even as the bank has grown to 79 locations across five states. What did need to change was the IT infrastructure supporting that growth.
Their story shows how moving from an in-house disaster recovery setup to enterprise-grade colocation can strengthen resilience, reduce costs, and create a foundation for continued expansion.
Outgrowing an outdated backup site
First Financial Bank's disaster recovery site was located in a branch "closet" just 20 miles from its primary data center. That proximity created real risk: a single regional event like severe weather or a widespread power outage could take down both locations at once. The physical limitations of the space also made routine maintenance difficult and upgrades inefficient.
"Our top priority was finding a partner who could deliver the highest level of security, built-in scalability for growth, and reliable connectivity," said Brad Waldhoff, Chief Information and Operations Officer. As the bank expanded into new markets, the team knew they needed geographic separation, redundant connectivity, and a facility that could grow alongside the business.
A facility built for what's next
"Walking into the Flexential data center in Franklin, Tennessee, was like stepping into a whole new world," said Waldhoff. "Suddenly, everything we needed for security, growth, and resilience was right in front of us."
After comparing several data center providers, Waldhoff and his team chose the Flexential Franklin facility. The audit-ready data center offered the security controls, redundant power and cooling, and multicarrier connectivity the bank required. Physical security includes around-the-clock monitoring, biometric access, and a five-zone access model for sensitive workloads. And with the Flexential nationwide footprint of 40+ data centers, the bank has the flexibility to expand its geographic presence as it continues growing into new markets.
A seamless transition
The Flexential team coordinated circuit installations, assisted with rack placement, and designed a cage layout that anticipated future growth. Because the bank's IT team is located several hours from the facility, they've also relied on Flexential Remote Hands service for on-site support when needed.
"We're not just planning for today, we're building for what's next," Waldhoff explained.
Resilience that supports the mission
With the new infrastructure in place, First Financial Bank now has the geographic diversity and 24/7 availability its business continuity requirements demand. The bank is spending less than it did managing disaster recovery on-premises while gaining stronger security and improved application performance, all backed by 100% network and power availability SLAs.
"With Flexential, it truly feels like you're hitting the easy button on disaster recovery." – Brad Waldhoff, Chief Information and Operations Officer
To see how First Financial Bank built a modern infrastructure foundation for growth, read the full customer story.
