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Summit Funding Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Summit Funding Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary 600 400 Summit Funding Group

Summit Funding Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Published in Monitordaily

Summit Funding Group, a provider of equipment leasing and financing solutions based in Mason, OH, celebrated its 30th anniversary. The celebration included a gala held at Cincinnati Music Hall.

All Summit employees were in attendance to commemorate the milestone achievement, as well as several clients and guests from the firm’s parent company, First Financial Bank.

Founded in 1993 by Richard L. Ross, Summit has grown into a business that supports thousands of businesses and end-users alike with their equipment financing needs.

Unlocking Growth: Summit Funding and First Financial Bank Join Forces

Unlocking Growth: Summit Funding and First Financial Bank Join Forces 600 400 Summit Funding Group

Unlocking Growth: Summit Funding and First Financial Bank Join Forces

Published in Equipment Finance Advisor

In early December 2021, First Financial Bank, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced the acquisition of Cincinnati-based Summit Funding Group, Inc. (Summit), the fourth largest independent equipment financing platform in the United States.

Summit’s founder and CEO, Rick Ross, is remaining in his leadership position and as a subsidiary of First Financial Bank, Summit is continuing to operate under the name Summit Funding Group, allowing them to take full advantage of the company’s brand recognition within the equipment finance industry.

Upon announcement of the acquisition, Rick Ross stated, “With First Financial, we are joining a like-minded partner who is well-positioned to assist Summit in unlocking significant growth, while enhancing profitability through immediate funding synergies and sharing a commitment to credit performance excellence.”

First Financial Bank Completes Acquisition of Summit Funding Group

First Financial Bank Completes Acquisition of Summit Funding Group 600 400 Summit Funding Group

First Financial Bank Completes Acquisition of Summit Funding Group

Published in First Financial

CINCINNATI, Jan. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — First Financial Bancorp. (Nasdaq: FFBC) (“First Financial”) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Cincinnati-based Summit Funding Group, Inc. (“Summit”), the fourth largest independent equipment financing platform in the United States.

“We are excited about the opportunity to provide our clients with additional services through Summit’s extensive leasing capabilities, and we look forward to the growth potential that is created through this acquisition,” said First Financial President and Chief Executive Officer Archie Brown. 

First Financial to Acquire Summit Funding Group

First Financial to Acquire Summit Funding Group 600 400 Summit Funding Group

First Financial to Acquire Summit Funding Group

Published in First Financial

First Financial Bancorp. (Nasdaq: FFBC) (“First Financial”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Cincinnati-based Summit Funding Group, Inc. (“Summit”), the fourth largest independent equipment financing platform in the United States.

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Celebrates Headquarters Expansion, Highlighting Company Success and Growth

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Celebrates Headquarters Expansion, Highlighting Company Success and Growth 600 400 Summit Funding Group

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Celebrates Headquarters Expansion, Highlighting Company Success and Growth

Published in ELFA Online

During this time when just about everything seems out of the ordinary, Summit Funding Group, Inc. remains a vibrant business and is looking to grow. Not only has the company been running business as usual, but they also have announced the expansion plus wall-to-wall remodeling of its headquarters in Mason, Ohio. The renovations bring the new total to 20,000 square feet of fresh office space.

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Recognized in Cincinnati Business Courier’s Top 150 Private Companies for 2020

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Recognized in Cincinnati Business Courier’s Top 150 Private Companies for 2020 600 400 Summit Funding Group

Summit Funding Group, Inc. Recognized in Cincinnati Business Courier’s Top 150 Private Companies for 2020

Published in ELFA Online

The Cincinnati Business Courier has named Summit Funding Group, Inc. as one of the Greater Cincinnati Top 150 Private Companies for 2020, coming in at #35 on the esteemed list which is ranked by 2019 total revenue.

Founded in 1993, Summit is one of the largest independent equipment lessors in the U.S. and has been led by CEO Rick Ross since inception. With its headquarters in Mason, OH, Summit has 70 employees and a nationwide footprint with offices throughout the Unites States including Texas, Florida, Nevada and California.

Summit’s business model has proven stable in both volatile and healthy markets and the company has been profitable every single year since inception.  

Financing Solutions For Smarter Building Upgrades

Financing Solutions For Smarter Building Upgrades 1000 667 Summit Funding Group

Financing Solutions For Smarter Building Upgrades

Published in Facility Executive

Seasoned property owners and facility managers across sectors and building types are continuously working towards the goal of optimizing their building’s safety, efficiency, environmental footprint, and occupant experience. In addition to routine maintenance, their strategies increasingly include upgrading and replacing building systems, fixtures, and other components with more high-tech, economical, and eco-friendly alternatives.

Forklifts and fine print

Forklifts and fine print 1024 683 Summit Funding Group

Forklifts and fine print

Published in Modern Materials Handling


By Josh Bond, Senior Editor
Technology and telemetry are driving more precise fleet acquisition practices.

If they haven’t already, it’s time for small and medium-sized businesses to take a hard look at how they acquire forklift fleets. Finance partners have responded to customer demands for more nuanced and cost-effective options.

“It’s important to always try to be as educated as you can because there are certainly some ‘gotchas’ in leasing that have rubbed people the wrong way,” says Chris Lewis, senior manager for Summit Funding Group. “Larger companies know all those details before they sign on the dotted line, so it’s more critical to middle market operators out there.”

New Vs. Used Equipment: Financing Strategies for Today’s Industrial Firms

New Vs. Used Equipment: Financing Strategies for Today’s Industrial Firms 1024 683 Summit Funding Group

New Vs. Used Equipment: Financing Strategies for Today’s Industrial  Firms

Published in Industrial Machinery Digest

Today’s industrial firms are ripe with opportunity.

While benefiting from a continued strong economy, driven by ongoing GDP growth and record-low unemployment, today’s manufacturing and industrial firms are faced with a unique challenge: how to keep up with growth while remaining financially solvent.

Business growth can be a double-edged sword in this industry. While new contracts and services bring in more revenue and support expansions, these opportunities also typically require additional equipment investment, which can be a costly endeavor.

When assessing equipment needs and making investment decisions, it’s important for owners, CFOs, and managers to be aware of the very latest in financing strategies that can support their company’s equipment acquisitions without placing undue pressure on the bottom line.

Rethinking Fleet Financing to Improve Bottom Line Results

Rethinking Fleet Financing to Improve Bottom Line Results 300 188 Summit Funding Group

Rethinking Fleet Financing to Improve Bottom Line Results


The construction sector is stabilizing following a period of rapid growth, with drivers of commercial construction remaining strong amid a thriving economy. While fundamentals are healthy, experienced contractors understand that whether a long phase of stability or a downturn is on horizon, it’s important to adjust their fleet management and business operations strategies accordingly.

Keep Fleets Fresh and Nimble Through Smart Diversification and Leasing

As economic expansion slows and the construction industry moderates, contractors are faced with uncertainty regarding whether the country is heading toward a downturn in the next few years or an extended period of slow growth. The good news is that many construction business owners and managers have begun to reevaluate fleet financing and diversification strategies to consider how they can be best positioned for either outcome.

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