First Midwest Bank Expands Relationship Banking Business in Downtown Chicago

ITASCA, IL--(Marketwire - May 16, 2011) - Itasca-based First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (First Midwest) (NASDAQ: FMBI), the holding company of First Midwest Bank, today announced that their new commercial banking office located at 180 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2101 in downtown Chicago is now fully operational for commercial credit, cash management and trust services. The new location represents the first loop-based office for one of the largest banks headquartered in Chicagoland.

"With more than seventy years of experience in the market, close to one hundred area locations, and tens of thousands of current business clients, we have an exceptional understanding of how to best meet the needs of Chicago area businesses. Our expansion into downtown Chicago is the latest example of First Midwest's strength and focus on helping local businesses prosper," commented Michael L. Scudder, President and CEO of First Midwest. "Our hand selected team of relationship managers has already found success expanding our capabilities in the loop, winning new business, as well as managing our existing Chicago-based client relationships in a more consistent and efficient manner."

First Midwest Bank's loop office is managed by Kyle Freimuth, Commercial Banking Senior Vice President. Before joining First Midwest, Freimuth spent almost 20 years as a commercial lender in downtown Chicago including stints with American National Bank and LaSalle Bank.

"These economically challenging times have demonstrated that middle market companies want and need a bank that understands the unique aspects of their business in order to make appropriate credit decisions," commented Freimuth. "Every company has a 'story' that cannot be told exclusively through numbers and ratios on a spreadsheet. It's told through the character and decision making of the owners, the relationships the company has with its clients and suppliers and the long-term viability of its products in the markets it serves. That story needs an audience that is willing to listen and able to respond effectively."

"This is the essence of First Midwest's approach to relationship banking and what we bring to the downtown Chicago banking community today," Freimuth added.

First Midwest's Chicago loop office will cater to privately-owned businesses headquartered in the Chicagoland area that value relationship banking. Services offered include working capital lines of credit, equipment loans, owner-occupied real estate loans as well as additional financing solutions. First Midwest will also offer a full suite of state of the art cash management and trust solutions to address all the financial needs of its clients.

About First Midwest
First Midwest is the premier relationship-based banking franchise in the growing Chicagoland banking market. As one of the Chicago metropolitan area's largest independent bank holding companies, First Midwest provides the full range of both business and retail banking and trust and investment management services through some 100 offices located primarily in metropolitan Chicago. First Midwest was recently recognized as having the "Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Midwest" according to J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study(SM). The bank is also recognized by the Chicago Tribune as one of the top 20 best places to work in Chicago among large employers.