ITASCA, IL--(Marketwire - Jun 12, 2012) - First Midwest Bank today announced that Marc R. Parise will head its Commercial Real Estate Division and will transfer to the metropolitan Chicago area to assume his new responsibilities. The Bank also announced that Robert C. Wareham has joined First Midwest and will succeed Parise as President/Commercial Banking Manager for the Bank's Bi-States region.

Parise, a 30-year First Midwest veteran, will head the Bank's Commercial Real Estate Division which has been revamped to take advantage of the improving commercial real estate market. He will also be responsible for evaluating niche asset formation opportunities to meet the ever increasing credit needs of the Bank's clients.

In making the announcement, Mark G. Sander, President and COO of First Midwest Bank said, "Marc has done an outstanding job for us in the Quad Cities and we intend to utilize his skillset to help us grow the loan portfolio on a Bank-wide basis in the markets of Illinois, Iowa and Indiana." Adding, "I also am very pleased to welcome Bob Wareham to First Midwest. He is a seasoned banking professional and I look forward to working with him in his new role with us," said Sander. Wareham and Parise have developed a transition plan to ensure a seamless and positive transition for the management of the Bi-States region.

Wareham comes to First Midwest Bank from Metropolitan Bank Group, where he spent the last 2 years as an Executive Vice President of its holding company. Prior to that role, Bob held the position of President and Director of Plaza Bank, a subsidiary of Metropolitan Bank Group, and various senior positions at the former LaSalle National Bank. He is a graduate of Iowa State University. He and his family currently live in Park Ridge, IL and will be relocating to the Quad Cities area.

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 dynamic 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 has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune for two straight years as one of the top 20 best places to work in Chicago among large employers. Additionally, Forbes has recognized First Midwest as one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies for 2012.