CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Feb 29, 2012) - First Midwest Bank today announced the addition of several key staff members to its recently formed Asset Based Lending Division. The new division is part of the bank's strategic initiative to expand its lending capability and grow its loan portfolio. Led by John Littrell, Group Senior Vice President, the asset based lenders collectively add over 105 years of ABL experience to First Midwest's strong lending platform. The group will focus on middle market companies with financing needs that range from $2 million to $25 million. The First Midwest Asset Based Lending Group will include:

• Craig Kempton - Senior Vice President, Business Development Officer
• Scott Kennedy - Senior Vice President, Credit Manager
• Karen Strom - Vice President, Systems Manager
• Philip Tan - Vice President, Field Exam Manager

"The assembly of the Asset Based Lending Group represents significant growth opportunities for First Midwest and continues to illustrate our commitment to service middle market borrowers in the Chicago market and the Midwest," stated Mark Sander, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Midwest Bank. "Additionally, this team will be fully operational in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin."

For detailed background and contact information on the members of the Asset Based Lending Division, please visit [ www.firstmidwest.com/abl ].

About First Midwest
First Midwest Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Itasca-based First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ FMBI ]) is the premier relationship-based banking franchise in the Chicagoland banking market with approximately $8.0 billion in assets. As one of the Chicago metropolitan area's largest independent bank holding companies, First Midwest provides the full range of business, retail banking and wealth management services through some 100 offices located in communities in metropolitan Chicago, northwest Indiana, central and western Illinois and eastern Iowa. First Midwest was recently recognized as having the "Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Midwest" according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study(SM). The Bank was also recognized by the Chicago Tribune for the second straight year as one of the top 20 best places to work in Chicago among large employers.