UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 20, 2022

FIRST FOUNDATION INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(469) 638-9636

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 20, 2022, First Foundation Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Foundation Bank, entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Piper Sandler & Co., as representative of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”). Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to sell, and the Underwriters agreed to purchase, subject to and on the conditions set forth therein, $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.50% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”) in a registered public offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration File No. 333-239396). The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the Company, conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriters, and termination and other customary provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates and were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement. The description of the Underwriting Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 21, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of its offering of the Notes. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.