Company: FFWM
Filing Date: 2025-08-11
Form Type: 8-K
Source: 0001104659-25-076175
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Company: First Foundation Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-08-11
Form: 8-K
Item: Item 5.02
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Item 5.02      Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of  

On August 11, 2025, First Foundation Inc. (the “ Company”)
announced the appointment of Stuart Bernstein as Chief Banking Officer of First Foundation Bank (the “ Bank”), the wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, effective August 11, 2025.

Mr. Bernstein, age 54, is a banking professional with experience across
consumer and business banking, wealth management, investments, and residential lending. He most recently served as the Head of Branch
and Private Client for Santander NA from 2021 to 2023, where he oversaw investments, mortgage production, and the private client program.
Prior to his role with Santander, Mr. Bernstein spent over ten years with MUFG Union Bank, last serving as Head of Private Banking and
Investment Sales from 2019 to 2020 where he led teams of private bankers and financial advisors across the western United States. Mr.
Bernstein has also had roles with Bank of America/Countrywide Bank and Wells Fargo Bank. Mr. Bernstein is a graduate of the University
of Southern California and the Graduate School of Banking at the Pacific Coast Banking School.

Mr. Bernstein will receive an annual base salary of $450,000. He may
also receive a bonus of up to 100% of his annual base salary at the Bank’s sole discretion, payable half in cash and half in restricted
stock units or performance stock units. Mr. Bernstein may also participate in the other benefit programs of the Bank available to executive
employees generally. In addition, the Company will enter into its standard indemnification agreement with Mr. Bernstein, the form of which
is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and incorporated herein.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Bernstein and
any other persons pursuant to which he was selected to his position with the Bank. There are no family relationships between Mr. Bernstein
and any director or executive officer of the Company. No information is required to be disclosed with respect to Mr. Bernstein pursuant
to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.