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Sued by First Financial Bank – How to Respond

George Simons | January 30, 2025

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Are you being sued by First Financial Bank? Find out how to respond to the lawsuit and increase your chances of receiving a positive outcome.

Millions of Americans suffer from debt, and if you have past-due credit card debt, you might feel like all hope is lost, but this is simply not true. Debt collections are common, and if not addressed, they can lead to negative consequences.

However, it's important to remember that having unpaid debt does not define you or your future. Many people in similar situations have successfully resolved their financial challenges by understanding their rights and taking proactive steps. The key is to face the situation head-on and equip yourself with the knowledge to get out of debt.

If you have defaulted on your credit card debt and cannot figure out an arrangement with your original creditor, you may be sued by a debt collector such as First Financial Bank. The most important thing you should know is that you should not ignore a Summons to appear for a debt collection lawsuit. Below, we’ll explain how to respond if you’ve been sued by First Financial Bank and how to settle your debt.

Settle debt with First Financial Bank

You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.

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What is First Financial Bank?

First Financial Bank is a financial services provider that offers personal and business banking solutions. It has been in business for over 114 years, with its head office in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their services include:

  • Checking and savings accounts
  • Mortgages
  • Loans
  • Credit cards
  • Wealth management services

Established with a commitment to helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals, the bank also assists in managing delinquent accounts, which may involve debt recovery processes.

If you’re experiencing financial hardship that is making it hard to pay your bills on time, you can call the First Financial Bank phone number or use the other contact information listed below:

First Financial Bank reviews

Online reviews can help you determine the best steps for resolving a debt with First National Bank by giving you insight into other customers' experiences. Visit the following:

Who does First Financial Bank collect for?

First Financial Bank typically collects debts for itself or companies dealing with unpaid credit card balances, loans, or other financial products. Depending on the situation, the bank may manage the collection process internally or collaborate with third-party debt collection agencies to recover the outstanding balances.

Being sued for non-payment of debt

If you cannot pay your credit card bills, then there are many ways that debt collectors can attempt to collect by asking you to pay. You may have already experienced many of these, such as written statements or serving you with a lawsuit.

One of the first steps typically involves reporting your account to a credit agency such as Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. If a collection agency is involved, you will also end up with a record of missing payments on your credit report. You will most likely see your credit score go down due to late payments, charge-off status, and collection accounts.

If you ignore calls or debt collection letters from a debt collection agency, you should stop immediately. This can make the situation a lot worse. When you get to this point in the creditor lawsuit, you may be given another chance to settle your debt or pay it off. If you do not decide to do either of these options, then you will be required to go to court.

Respond to a debt collection lawsuit with SoloSuit and resolve your case.

What you need to know about debt collection lawsuits

If you have been sued by First Financial Bank, then you need to prepare yourself. This will depend on your state of residence, but usually, the process is similar. After you receive a Summons in the mail, the process of suing you will begin. You will be given important information on the Summons and Complaint that you receive. It will include:

  • Who is suing you
  • The amount you are being sued for (may include balance, interest fees, and legal expenses)
  • Date of the hearing
  • How to file a formal response

You cannot be sent to jail for failing to pay a debt, as nonpayment is considered a civil matter, not a criminal offense. While debt collectors have the right to seek repayment, they must follow specific rules outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This law protects consumers from unfair practices and ensures that communication remains professional and respectful. Understanding your rights under this law can help you handle interactions with debt collectors with confidence and clarity.

Make the right defense the right way with SoloSuit.

Follow these steps if you’ve been sued by First Financial Bank

If you are being sued by First Financial Bank for debt, then you must know the steps you take to respond appropriately.

File an Answer

The first step in responding to a lawsuit is to file an Answer to the Complaint. The Answer allows you to answer the allegations in the Complaint. You will typically use one of three answers:

  1. Admit–you are admitting that the allegation is true
  2. Deny–you deny that the allegation is true and force First Financial Bank to prove the allegation is true.
  3. Deny due to lack of knowledge–this means you don’t have enough information about the allegation.

Once you’ve filed your Answer with the court, it is cruical to remember that you have to keep track of your court case and show up for all hearings until a resolution is reached.

Ask for debt verification

Although you may have received a summons for the debt, it does not mean you owe the debt or that it is accurate. If you are being sued for unpaid debt, you must ask the debt collector to verify that debt. Ask them to prove that it belongs to you.

It is common for debt collectors to sue consumers by mistake or to make mistakes on the lawsuit. The balance might be wrong, or the payment dates could be off. This is extremely common because debt collection agencies often purchase these debts from creditors at a cost significantly lower than the original debt. Because of this, they are often not given the necessary paperwork to collect on the debt.

Legally you can ask for verification of a debt under the FDCPA. The only requirement is to send the request in writing as a legal Answer. This should be mailed as a certified letter (return receipt requested) to the party suing you.

Use SoloSuit to respond to debt collectors in 15 minutes.

Decide on your response

When you receive the Summons and Complaint regarding your debt, it is essential to pay close attention. You most likely do not have much time to respond, only between 14 to 40 days (depending on your state). If you ignore the lawsuit and do not show up in court, you will lose automatically.

Your best bet is one of the following responses:

  • Settling the debt is possible if you speak to the creditor or debt collector. You can decide how much you can pay and offer a settlement amount in one lump sum or generate a payment plan. This may not always be possible, but trying is worth it. If you decide to do this, you must be careful about what you sign. If you accidentally sign something that gives up your rights, you may be in a bad situation.
  • Speaking with a credit counselor is another option. Certified credit counselors can often help you to set up a debt management plan. This will allow you to pay off your credit card debt in one payment and pay off all of the individual payments, making it more manageable.
  • Going to court may be inevitable if you do not find a settlement or debt management plan. It is also the only option if you wish to continue with the debt collection lawsuit in court. Whether the statute of limitations has expired or you have another affirmative defense, this is another way to win the debt collection lawsuit against First Financial Bank.

Settle your debt with First Financial Bank

Settling a debt is often the best approach for resolving a past-due debt. The following steps outline the settlement process.

  1. Start by assessing your financial situation and calculating how much you can realistically pay toward settling the debt. Consider whether paying half of the owed amount would still leave you with enough to cover your living expenses.
  2. Make your offer to initiate settlement discussions. Begin with an amount lower than you determined in the first step, allowing room for negotiation if your initial offer is declined.
  3. If you and First Financial Bank agree on a settlement amount after discussions, prepare a written debt settlement agreement. This document should be signed by both you and First Financial Bank to formalize the terms of the settlement.
  4. Once the agreement is in place, pay the settled amount on time. Sticking to the agreed payment terms will finalize the settlement and help you move forward with a clean slate.

SoloSettle is a software that allows you to approach First Financial Bank with a settlement offer and helps you take care of the paperwork after you reach an agreement. Learn more about this tool in the following video.

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If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

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Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

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Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

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Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

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Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote a guide on each state’s statutes. Check it out below.

Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State (Best Guide)

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How to stop wage garnishment in your state

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How to settle a debt in your state

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created a guide on how to settle your debt in all 50 states. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

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Civil law legal definitions

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