First Defiance Financial Corp. and United Community Financial Corp. jointly announced that approval has been received from the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

and the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions (collectively, the “Regulatory Authorities”) for the merger of United Community with and into First Defiance, followed by the merger of Home Savings with and into First Federal Bank. Immediately prior to the merger, First Defiance will convert from a Unitary Thrift Holding Company to a Bank Holding Company, and it has elected Financial Holding Company status, and First Federal Bank will convert from a Federal Savings Association to an Ohio-chartered commercial bank. First Defiance's Board of Directors approved the selection of directors that will sit on the combined company's board following the completion of the merger.

The new board will consist of 13 members including John L. Bookmyer, current First Defiance Chairman, serving as Chairman of the Board until succession of Donald Hileman to Executive Chairman when he relinquishes his CEO role. John Bookmyer will serve on the board until he stands for reelection at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Richard J. Schiraldi, current United Community Chairman, will serve as Vice Chairman of the Board until he stands for reelection at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

In addition to Bookmyer and Schiraldi, there will be 6 directors from First Defiance and 5 directors from United Community: Current directors from United Community that will serve on the Board following the merger: Marty E. Adams, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Zahid Afzal, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Louis M. Altman, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Lee Burdman, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Gary M. Small, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Current directors from First Defiancethat will serve on the Board following the merger: Terri A. Bettinger, who will serve until she stands for reelection at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Donald P. Hileman, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Jean A. Hubbard, who will serve until she stands for reelection at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Charles D. Niehaus, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Mark A. Robison, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Samuel S. Strausbaugh, who will serve until he stands for reelection at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.