One First Financial Plaza, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807 (812) 238-6000
First Financial Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results
Terre Haute, Indiana, October 27, 2026 – First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) today announced results for the third quarter of 2026.
- Net income was $27.4 million compared to $20.8 million reported for the same period of 2025;
- Diluted net income per common share of $2.31 compared to $1.75 for the same period of 2025;
- Return on average assets was 1.79% compared to 1.48% for the three months ended September 30, 2025;
- Benefit from credit losses was $750 thousand compared to provision expense of $2.0 million for the third quarter 2025; and
- Pre-tax, pre-provision net income was $33.7 million compared to $27.7 million for the same period in 2025.1
The Corporation further reported results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026:
- Net income was $70.0 million compared to $57.8 million reported for the same period of 2025;
- Diluted net income per common share of $5.89 compared to $4.87 for the same period of 2025;
- Return on average assets was 1.54% compared to 1.39% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025;
- Provision for credit losses was $3.1 million compared to provision of $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025; and
- Pre-tax, pre-provision net income was $90.3 million compared to $78.3 million for the same period in 2025.1
1 Non-GAAP financial measure that Management believes is useful for investors and management to understand pre-tax profitability before giving effect to credit loss expense and to provide additional perspective on the Corporation’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Corporation’s peers and evaluating the financial results of the Corporation – please refer to the Non-GAAP reconciliations contained in this release.
Acquisitions
On March 1, 2026, First Financial Corporation completed the acquisition of CedarStone Financial, Inc. As a result of the acquisition, loans acquired were $292 million, and deposits acquired were $313 million. Although we initially recognized a bargain purchase gain of $716 thousand in the first quarter 2026, measurement period adjustments recorded in the second quarter revised the preliminary purchase accounting. The cumulative resulting year-to-date bargain purchase gain was $33 thousand.
On August 26, 2026, First Financial Corporation, Terre Haute, Indiana (“FFC” or the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with First Illinois Corporation, Decatur, Illinois (“First Illinois”). Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, subject to the allocation and election procedures set forth therein, each outstanding share of First Illinois common stock will be converted into the right to receive either 0.5727 shares of FFC common stock or $44.35 in cash, with 70% of First Illinois common stock to be exchanged for FFC common stock and 30% to be exchanged for cash, in each case subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement. Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares. The merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.
Norman D. Lowery, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented “We are pleased with our third quarter results. The quarter marked another quarter of record net income and record net interest income. Our net interest margin and profitability remain strong with a 4.36% net interest margin and a 1.54% return on assets year-to-date. Loan pipelines remain strong and credit quality remains stable.”
Average Total Loans
Average total loans for the third quarter of 2026 were $4.45 billion versus $3.93 billion for the comparable period in 2025, an increase of $520 million or 13.23%. On a linked quarter basis, average loans decreased $3.5 million or 0.08% from $4.45 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Total Loans Outstanding
Total loans outstanding as of September 30, 2026, were $4.41 billion compared to $3.97 billion as of September 30, 2025, an increase of $444 million or 11.20%. On a linked quarter basis, total loans decreased $56.1 million or 1.26% from $4.47 billion as of June 30, 2026. Organic growth of $191 million year-over-year was primarily driven by increases in Commercial Construction and Development, Commercial Real Estate, and Consumer Auto loans.
Average Total Deposits
Average total deposits for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, were $4.85 billion versus $4.59 billion as of September 30, 2025, an increase of $260 million, or 5.66%. On a linked quarter basis, average deposits decreased $17 million or 0.36% from $4.87 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Total Deposits
Total deposits were $4.87 billion as of September 30, 2026, compared to $4.62 billion as of September 30, 2025. On a linked quarter basis, total deposits increased $31.9 million or 0.66% from $4.83 billion as of June 30, 2026. Non-interest bearing deposits were $991 million, and time deposits were $824 million as of September 30, 2026, compared to $850 million and $703 million, respectively for the same period of 2025.
Shareholders’ Equity
Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2026, was $660.4 million compared to $622.2 million on September 30, 2025. During the last twelve months, the Corporation has not repurchased any shares of its common stock. 518,860 shares remain available for repurchase under the current repurchase authorization. The Corporation paid a $0.56 per share quarterly dividend in July and declared a $0.56 quarterly dividend, which was paid on October 15, 2026.
Book Value Per Share
Book Value per share was $55.54 as of September 30, 2026, compared to $52.50 as of September 30, 2025, an increase of $3.04 per share, or 5.79%. Tangible Book Value per share was $45.79 as of September 30, 2026, compared to $42.75 as of September 30, 2025, an increase of $3.04 per share or 7.11%.
Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Asset Ratio
The Corporation’s tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 9.16% at September 30, 2026, compared to 9.12% at September 30, 2025.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income for the third quarter of 2026 was a record $63.5 million, compared to $54.6 million reported for the same period of 2025, an increase of $8.9 million, or 16.3%. Interest income increased $10.3 million and interest expense increased $1.4 million year over year.
Net Interest Margin
The net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, was 4.51% compared to the 4.25% reported at September 30, 2025.
Nonperforming Loans
Nonperforming loans as of September 30, 2026, were $21.1 million versus $19.3 million as of September 30, 2025. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.48% as of September 30, 2026, versus 0.49% as of September 30, 2025. On a linked quarter basis, nonperforming loans were $27.1 million, and the ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.61% as of June 30, 2026.
Credit Loss Provision
Benefit from credit losses for the three months ended September 30, 2026, was $750 thousand, compared to a provision expense of $2.0 million for the same period 2025. The benefit from credit losses was primarily due to an individually evaluated loan from a prior acquisition that was fully recovered during the current quarter.
Net Charge-Offs
In the third quarter of 2026 net charge-offs were $1.0 million compared to $1.6 million in the same period of 2025.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Corporation’s allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2026, was $49.7 million compared to $47.4 million as of September 30, 2025. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was 1.13% as of September 30, 2026, compared to 1.20% as of September 30, 2025. On a linked quarter basis, the allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans decreased one basis point from 1.14% as of June 30, 2026.
Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2026, and 2025 was $11.4 million and $11.1 million, respectively.
Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2026, was $41.3 million compared to $38.0 million in 2025.
Efficiency Ratio
The Corporation’s efficiency ratio was 53.96% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, versus 56.63% for the same period in 2025.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2026, was $7.0 million versus $5.0 million for the same period in 2025. The effective tax rate for 2026 was 19.73% compared to 20.18% for 2025.
About First Financial Corporation
First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A., which is the fifth oldest national bank in the United States, operating 81 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Additional information is available at www.first-online.bank.
Investor Contact:
Rodger A. McHargue
Chief Financial Officer
P: 812-238-6334
E: rmchargue@first-online.com
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||
2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
END OF PERIOD BALANCES | ||||||||||||
Assets | $ | 6,060,947 | $ | 6,178,309 | $ | 5,669,686 | $ | 6,060,947 | $ | 5,669,686 | ||
Deposits | $ | 4,865,297 | $ | 4,833,399 | $ | 4,615,305 | $ | 4,865,297 | $ | 4,615,305 | ||
Loans, including net deferred loan costs | $ | 4,411,800 | $ | 4,467,897 | $ | 3,967,401 | $ | 4,411,800 | $ | 3,967,401 | ||
Allowance for Credit Losses | $ | 49,717 | $ | 50,938 | $ | 47,411 | $ | 49,717 | $ | 47,411 | ||
Total Equity | $ | 660,446 | $ | 675,785 | $ | 622,218 | $ | 660,446 | $ | 622,218 | ||
Tangible Common Equity (a) | $ | 544,588 | $ | 558,687 | $ | 506,604 | $ | 544,588 | $ | 506,604 | ||
AVERAGE BALANCES | ||||||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 6,117,294 | $ | 6,126,618 | $ | 5,593,870 | $ | 6,031,334 | $ | 5,543,954 | ||
Earning Assets | $ | 5,778,756 | $ | 5,799,062 | $ | 5,270,173 | $ | 5,700,596 | $ | 5,225,957 | ||
Investments | $ | 1,234,919 | $ | 1,256,470 | $ | 1,248,519 | $ | 1,251,701 | $ | 1,253,009 | ||
Loans | $ | 4,448,907 | $ | 4,452,394 | $ | 3,928,817 | $ | 4,353,889 | $ | 3,882,605 | ||
Total Deposits | $ | 4,851,598 | $ | 4,868,890 | $ | 4,591,531 | $ | 4,794,756 | $ | 4,631,155 | ||
Interest-Bearing Deposits | $ | 3,893,407 | $ | 3,987,492 | $ | 3,783,393 | $ | 3,866,323 | $ | 3,821,405 | ||
Interest-Bearing Liabilities | $ | 540,655 | $ | 554,935 | $ | 359,579 | $ | 525,221 | $ | 296,667 | ||
Total Equity | $ | 680,345 | $ | 663,602 | $ | 601,034 | $ | 669,281 | $ | 580,688 | ||
INCOME STATEMENT DATA | ||||||||||||
Net Interest Income | $ | 63,526 | $ | 61,222 | $ | 54,603 | $ | 181,681 | $ | 159,249 | ||
Net Interest Income Fully Tax Equivalent (b) | $ | 65,064 | $ | 62,739 | $ | 56,033 | $ | 186,200 | $ | 163,497 | ||
Provision for (Benefit from) Credit Losses | $ | (750) | $ | 1,300 | $ | 1,950 | $ | 3,100 | $ | 5,950 | ||
Non-interest Income | $ | 11,434 | $ | 10,646 | $ | 11,149 | $ | 33,297 | $ | 32,041 | ||
Non-interest Expense | $ | 41,279 | $ | 42,529 | $ | 38,048 | $ | 124,687 | $ | 112,983 | ||
Net Income | $ | 27,441 | $ | 22,743 | $ | 20,762 | $ | 69,988 | $ | 57,754 | ||
PER SHARE DATA | ||||||||||||
Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share | $ | 2.31 | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.75 | $ | 5.89 | $ | 4.87 | ||
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 1.68 | $ | 1.53 | ||
Book Value Per Common Share | $ | 55.54 | $ | 56.83 | $ | 52.50 | $ | 55.54 | $ | 52.50 | ||
Tangible Book Value Per Common Share (c) | $ | 47.47 | $ | 45.96 | $ | 40.96 | $ | 45.79 | $ | 42.75 | ||
Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding | 11,892 | 11,892 | 11,851 | 11,889 | 11,848 | |||||||
(a)Tangible common equity is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible common equity by excluding goodwill and other intangible assets from shareholders’ equity.
(b)Net interest income fully tax equivalent is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate net interest income fully tax equivalent by adding back the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income to net interest income. We calculate the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income by dividing tax exempt income by the net of tax rate of 75%.
(c)Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate the factor by dividing average tangible common equity by average shares outstanding. We calculate average tangible common equity by excluding average intangible assets from average shareholders’ equity.
Key Ratios | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||
2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
Return on average assets | 1.79 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.54 | % | 1.39 | % |
Return on average common shareholders' equity | 16.13 | % | 13.71 | % | 13.82 | % | 13.91 | % | 13.23 | % |
Efficiency ratio | 53.96 | % | 57.95 | % | 56.63 | % | 56.81 | % | 57.83 | % |
Average equity to average assets | 11.12 | % | 10.83 | % | 10.74 | % | 11.10 | % | 10.47 | % |
Net interest margin (a) | 4.51 | % | 4.33 | % | 4.25 | % | 4.36 | % | 4.17 | % |
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases | 0.09 | % | 0.24 | % | 0.17 | % | 0.16 | % | 0.18 | % |
Credit loss reserve to loans and leases | 1.13 | % | 1.14 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.13 | % | 1.20 | % |
Credit loss reserve to nonperforming loans | 235.97 | % | 188.21 | % | 246.14 | % | 235.97 | % | 246.14 | % |
Nonperforming loans to loans and leases | 0.48 | % | 0.61 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.49 | % |
Tier 1 leverage | 11.20 | % | 10.81 | % | 11.05 | % | 11.20 | % | 11.05 | % |
Risk-based capital - Tier 1 | 13.34 | % | 12.78 | % | 13.12 | % | 13.34 | % | 13.12 | % |
- Net interest margin is calculated on a tax equivalent basis.
Asset Quality | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||
2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||
Accruing loans and leases past due 30-89 days | $ | 15,299 | $ | 12,726 | $ | 14,388 | $ | 15,299 | $ | 14,388 | |||
Accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more | $ | 1,294 | $ | 3,030 | $ | 1,792 | $ | 1,294 | $ | 1,792 | |||
Nonaccrual loans and leases | $ | 19,775 | $ | 24,035 | $ | 17,470 | $ | 19,775 | $ | 17,470 | |||
Other real estate owned | $ | 1,418 | $ | 1,039 | $ | $ | 1,418 | $ | |||||
Nonperforming loans and other real estate owned | $ | 22,487 | $ | 28,104 | $ | 19,400 | $ | 22,487 | $ | 19,400 | |||
Total nonperforming assets | $ | 25,148 | $ | 30,755 | $ | 22,243 | $ | 25,148 | $ | 22,243 | |||
Gross charge-offs | $ | 3,049 | $ | 4,084 | $ | 3,226 | $ | 10,078 | $ | 9,395 | |||
Recoveries | $ | 2,078 | $ | 1,384 | $ | 1,600 | $ | 4,880 | $ | 4,224 | |||
Net charge-offs/(recoveries) | $ | $ | 2,700 | $ | 1,626 | $ | 5,198 | $ | 5,171 | ||||
Non-GAAP Reconciliations | Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||
($in thousands, except EPS) | |||||
Income before Income Taxes | $ | 34,431 | $ | 25,754 | |
Provision for (benefit from) credit losses | (250) | 1,950 | |||
Provision for (benefit from) unfunded commitments | (500) | — | |||
Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income | $ | 33,681 | $ | 27,704 | |
Non-GAAP Reconciliations | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||
($ in thousands, except EPS) | |||||
Income before Income Taxes | $ | 87,191 | $ | 72,357 | |
Provision for (benefit from) credit losses | 3,600 | 5,850 | |||
Provision for (benefit from) unfunded commitments | (500) | ||||
Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income | $ | 90,291 | $ | 78,307 | |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
September 30, | December 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | |||
(unaudited) | ||||
ASSETS | ||||
Cash and due from banks | $ | 92,497 | $ | 130,369 |
Federal funds sold | ||||
Securities available-for-sale | 1,104,628 | 1,149,526 | ||
Loans: | ||||
Commercial | 2,371,255 | 2,375,344 | ||
Residential | 1,308,869 | 986,955 | ||
Consumer | 725,268 | 688,135 | ||
4,405,392 | 4,050,434 | |||
(Less) plus: | ||||
Net deferred loan costs | 6,408 | 4,869 | ||
Allowance for credit losses | (49,717) | (47,995) | ||
4,362,083 | 4,007,308 | |||
Restricted stock | 23,579 | 18,536 | ||
Accrued interest receivable | 28,797 | 27,762 | ||
Premises and equipment, net | 87,697 | 78,582 | ||
Bank-owned life insurance | 137,867 | 131,286 | ||
Goodwill | 98,229 | 98,229 | ||
Other intangible assets | 17,629 | 16,234 | ||
Other real estate owned | 1,418 | |||
Other assets | 105,856 | 97,725 | ||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 6,060,947 | $ | 5,756,126 |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||
Deposits: | ||||
Non-interest-bearing | $ | 990,989 | $ | 916,473 |
Interest-bearing: | ||||
Certificates of deposit exceeding the FDIC insurance limits | 218,702 | 135,605 | ||
Other interest-bearing deposits | 3,655,606 | 3,499,033 | ||
4,865,297 | 4,551,111 | |||
Short-term borrowings | 203,472 | 292,468 | ||
FHLB advances | 262,348 | 188,208 | ||
Other liabilities | 69,384 | 73,470 | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 5,400,501 | 5,105,257 | ||
Shareholders’ equity | ||||
Common stock, $.125 stated value per share; | ||||
Authorized shares-40,000,000 | ||||
Issued shares-16,206,804 in 2026 and 16,190,157 in 2025 | ||||
Outstanding shares-11,891,896 in 2026 and 11,880,759 in 2025 | 2,022 | 2,021 | ||
Additional paid-in capital | 148,046 | 147,442 | ||
Retained earnings | 791,803 | 741,793 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | (127,387) | (86,681) | ||
Less: Treasury shares at cost-4,314,908 in 2026 and 4,309,398 in 2025 | (154,038) | (153,706) | ||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 660,446 | 650,869 | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 6,060,947 | $ | 5,756,126 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||
2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||
INTEREST INCOME: | |||||||||
Loans, including related fees | $ | 76,585 | $ | 67,070 | $ | 218,092 | $ | 195,457 | |
Securities: | |||||||||
Taxable | 6,367 | 5,985 | 19,257 | 17,902 | |||||
Tax-exempt | 3,019 | 2,689 | 8,897 | 7,915 | |||||
Other | 2,848 | 2,579 | |||||||
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME | 86,929 | 76,644 | 249,094 | 223,853 | |||||
INTEREST EXPENSE: | |||||||||
Deposits | 18,117 | 18,002 | 52,496 | 54,696 | |||||
Short-term borrowings | 2,303 | 1,916 | 7,275 | 5,007 | |||||
Other borrowings | 2,983 | 2,123 | 7,642 | 4,901 | |||||
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE | 23,403 | 22,041 | 67,413 | 64,604 | |||||
NET INTEREST INCOME | 63,526 | 54,603 | 181,681 | 159,249 | |||||
Provision for (benefit from) credit losses - loans | (250) | 1,950 | 3,600 | 5,850 | |||||
Provision for (benefit from) credit losses - unfunded commitments | (500) | — | (500) | ||||||
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION | |||||||||
FOR LOAN LOSSES | 64,276 | 52,653 | 178,581 | 153,299 | |||||
NON-INTEREST INCOME: | |||||||||
Trust and financial services | 1,394 | 1,278 | 4,388 | 4,161 | |||||
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts | 8,407 | 8,104 | 24,006 | 23,243 | |||||
Other service charges and fees | |||||||||
Securities gains/(losses), net | — | (109) | |||||||
Interchange income | |||||||||
Loan servicing fees | |||||||||
Gain on sales of mortgage loans | 1,122 | 1,149 | |||||||
Bargain purchase gain | — | — | — | ||||||
Other | 1,250 | 1,244 | |||||||
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME | 11,434 | 11,149 | 33,297 | 32,041 | |||||
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE: | |||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 20,809 | 19,788 | 63,442 | 58,725 | |||||
Occupancy expense | 2,730 | 2,738 | 8,402 | 7,886 | |||||
Equipment expense | 5,836 | 4,811 | 16,473 | 13,903 | |||||
FDIC expense | 2,045 | 2,235 | |||||||
Other | 11,239 | 10,021 | 34,325 | 30,234 | |||||
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE | 41,279 | 38,048 | 124,687 | 112,983 | |||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 34,431 | 25,754 | 87,191 | 72,357 | |||||
Provision for income taxes | 6,990 | 4,992 | 17,203 | 14,603 | |||||
NET INCOME | 27,441 | 20,762 | 69,988 | 57,754 | |||||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | |||||||||
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on securities, net of reclassifications and taxes | (36,401) | 19,596 | (40,943) | 33,642 | |||||
Change in funded status of post retirement benefits, net of taxes | |||||||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (8,881) | $ | 40,361 | $ | 29,282 | $ | 91,404 | |
PER SHARE DATA | |||||||||
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share | $ | 2.31 | $ | 1.75 | $ | 5.89 | $ | 4.87 | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands) | 11,892 | 11,851 | 11,889 | 11,848 | |||||