TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Oct. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) today announced results for the third quarter of 2019. Net income for the three months ending September 30, 2019 was $12.3 million compared to $11.3 million for the same period of 2018. Diluted net income per common share of $0.93 compared to $0.92 for the same period of 2018. Return on assets for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was 1.33% compared to 1.53% for the three months ended September 30, 2018. These quarterly comparisons include the Corporation's acquisition of HopFed Bancorp, Hopkinsville, Kentucky on July 27, 2019. Total assets acquired were $926 million, including $675 million in loans. The acquisition also included $736 million in deposits. Acquisition related expenses from the transaction are also included in the expenses in each quarterly comparison.

The Corporation further reported net income of $34.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 versus $35.5 million for the comparable period of 2018. The Corporation's 2018 results included a recovery of a security previously written down for other than temporary impairment which contributed $6.9 million to pre-tax income. Diluted net income per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $2.74 versus $2.90 for the comparable period of 2018. Return on assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 1.42% compared to 1.59% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Average total loans for the third quarter of 2019 were $2.47 billion versus $1.93 billion for the comparable period in 2018, an increase of $545.3 million or 28.3%, primarily due to the acquisition. Total loans outstanding increased $726.7 million, or 37.42%, from $1.94 billion as of September 30, 2018 to $2.67 billion as of September 30, 2019. On a linked quarter basis, average total loans increased $492.4 million from $1.98 billion for the quarter ending June 30, 2019.

Average total deposits for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 were $3.02 billion versus $2.44 billion as of September 30, 2018, primarily due to the acquisition. Total deposits were $3.22 billion as of September 30, 2019 compared to $2.41 billion as of September 30, 2018. On a linked quarter basis, average total deposits increased $552.9 million from $2.46 billion for the quarter ending June 30, 2019.

Book Value per share was $40.59 at September 30, 2019 compared to $34.91 at September 30, 2018. Shareholders equity at September 30, 2019 was $556.6 million compared to $427.8 million on September 30, 2018. The corporation’s tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 12.08% at September 30, 2019, compared to 13.31% at September 30, 2018.

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2019 was $34.0 million compared to $28.8 million reported for the same period of 2018. The net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 was 4.04% compared to 4.29% reported at September 30, 2018.

Nonperforming loans as of September 30, 2019 were $14.4 million versus $16.2 million as of September 30, 2018. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.54% as of September 30, 2019 versus 0.83% as of September 30, 2018.

Net charge-offs were $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to $1.2 million in the same period of 2018. The Corporation’s allowance for loan losses as of September 30, 2019 was $19.8 million compared to $20.3 million as of September 30, 2018. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans was 0.74% as of September 30, 2019 compared to 1.05% at September 30, 2018. Loans acquired from HopFed are recorded at fair value and therefore do not have an allowance recorded.

Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was $9.7 million and $8.9 million, respectively. This included a $268 thousand increase in service charges on deposits, a $318 thousand increase in other service fees, and a $247 thousand increase in gains on the sale of mortgages.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $27.4 million compared to $22.3 million in 2018, which includes $1.6 million of expenses related to the acquisition of HopFed Bancorp. Also included is a $1.9 million increase in salaries, which is primarily attributed to the acquisition. The Corporation’s efficiency ratio was 61.18% for the quarter ending September 30, 2019 versus 57.54% for the same period in 2018.

Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $2.6 million versus $2.7 million for the same period in 2018. The effective tax rate for 2019 was 18.82% compared to 20.11% for 2018.
               
Norman L. Lowery, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “During the third quarter, we completed our acquisition of HopFed Bancorp and Heritage Bank. We are extremely excited about the potential growth opportunities provided by these new markets.”

First Financial Corporation is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A. in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute in Indiana.

	Three Months Ended									Six Months Ended
	September 30,			June 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
	2019			2019			2018			2019			2018
END OF PERIOD BALANCES
Assets	$	3,988,119		$	3,064,212		$	2,980,935		$	3,988,119		$	2,980,935
Deposits	$	3,220,122		$	2,463,018		$	2,407,061		$	3,220,122		$	2,407,061
Loans, including net deferred loan costs	$	2,668,476		$	2,010,198		$	1,941,780		$	2,668,476		$	1,941,780
Allowance for Loan Losses	$	19,799		$	20,250		$	20,301		$	19,799		$	20,301
Total Equity	$	556,582		$	477,820		$	427,774		$	556,582		$	427,774
Tangible Common Equity (a)	$	469,904		$	442,496		$	392,109		$	469,904		$	392,109
AVERAGE BALANCES
Total Assets	$	3,680,041		$	3,033,788		$	2,965,825		$	3,239,295		$	2,972,907
Earning Assets	$	3,468,396		$	2,836,110		$	2,785,582		$	3,043,010		$	2,786,588
Investments	$	995,092		$	851,723		$	857,624		$	899,188		$	866,694
Loans	$	2,471,346		$	1,978,991		$	1,926,051		$	2,140,890		$	1,916,567
Total Deposits	$	3,017,085		$	2,464,212		$	2,435,281		$	2,636,487		$	2,450,865
Interest-Bearing Deposits	$	2,914,816		$	2,032,886		$	2,010,467		$	2,315,658		$	2,026,813
Interest-Bearing Liabilities	$	113,019		$	39,269		$	49,808		$	74,737		$	46,274
Total Equity	$	491,586		$	471,156		$	427,530		$	471,136		$	420,654
INCOME STATEMENT DATA
Net Interest Income	$	33,999		$	29,752		$	28,827		$	93,177		$	86,984
Net Interest Income Fully Tax Equivalent (b)	$	35,054		$	30,721		$	29,841		$	96,176		$	89,988
Provision for Loan Losses	$	1,500		$	230		$	1,470		$	3,200		$	4,298
Non-interest Income	$	9,746		$	9,743		$	8,909		$	27,125		$	29,973
Non-interest Expense	$	27,409		$	23,492		$	22,297		$	74,594		$	68,191
Net Income	$	12,257		$	12,569		$	11,313		$	34,508		$	35,527
PER SHARE DATA
Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share	$	0.93		$	1.02		$	0.92		$	2.74		$	2.9
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$	—		$	0.52		$	—		$	0.52		$	0.51
Book Value Per Common Share	$	40.59		$	38.88		$	34.91		$	40.59		$	34.91
Tangible Book Value Per Common Share (c)	$	30.81		$	35.46		$	31.98		$	34.27		$	32.00
Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding	13,141			12,290			12,255			12,574			12,253

(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 shareholder's 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 shareholder's equity.

Key Ratios	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	September 30,		June 30,		September 30,		September 30,		September 30,
	2019		2019		2018		2019		2018
Return on average assets	1.33	%	1.66	%	1.53	%	1.42	%	1.59	%
Return on average common shareholder's equity	9.97	%	10.67	%	10.58	%	9.74	%	11.23	%
Efficiency ratio	61.18	%	58.06	%	57.54	%	60.50	%	56.84	%
Average equity to average assets	13.36	%	15.53	%	14.42	%	14.54	%	14.15	%
Net interest margin (a)	4.04	%	4.33	%	4.29	%	4.21	%	4.31	%
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases	0.32	%	0.49	%	0.26	%	0.24	%	0.27	%
Loan and lease loss reserve to loans and leases	0.74	%	1.01	%	1.05	%	0.74	%	1.05	%
Loan and lease loss reserve to nonperforming loans	137.45	%	133.14	%	125.35	%	137.45	%	125.35	%
Nonperforming loans to loans and leases	0.54	%	0.76	%	0.83	%	0.54	%	0.83	%
Tier 1 leverage	13.07	%	14.83	%	14.45	%	13.07	%	14.45	%
Risk-based capital - Tier 1	15.09	%	18.65	%	18.36	%	15.09	%	18.36	%
(a) Net interest margin is calculated on a tax equivalent basis.

Asset Quality	Three Months Ended									Six Months Ended
	September 30,			June 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
	2019			2019			2018			2019			2018
Accruing loans and leases past due 30-89 days	$	10,462		$	8,296		$	8,413		$	10,462		$	8,413
Accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more	$	744		$	683		$	1,314		$	744		$	1,314
Nonaccrual loans and leases	$	9,533		$	9,985		$	10,035		$	9,533		$	10,035
Total troubled debt restructuring	$	4,127		$	4,541		$	4,847		$	4,127		$	4,847
Other real estate owned	$	3,717		$	498		$	520		$	3,717		$	520
Nonperforming loans and other real estate owned	$	18,121		$	15,707		$	16,716		$	18,121		$	16,716
Total nonperforming assets	$	21,725		$	19,040		$	20,139		$	21,725		$	20,139
Gross charge-offs	$	2,926		$	1,906		$	2,348		$	6,941		$	6,692
Recoveries	$	975		$	966		$	1,108		$	3,104		$	2,786
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)	$	1,951		$	940		$	1,240		$	3,837		$	3,906

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data) 

	September 30,  2019						December 31,  2018
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$			80,193			$			74,388
Securities available-for-sale	939,944						784,916
Loans:
Commercial	1,583,002						1,166,352
Residential	708,056						443,670
Consumer	373,747						341,041
	2,664,805						1,951,063
(Less) plus:
Net deferred loan costs	3,671						2,925
Allowance for loan losses	(19,799				)		(20,436				)
	2,648,677						1,933,552
Restricted stock	13,624						10,390
Accrued interest receivable	18,735						13,970
Premises and equipment, net	70,592						46,554
Bank-owned life insurance	97,810						86,186
Goodwill	75,417						34,355
Other intangible assets	11,261						1,197
Other real estate owned	3,717						603
Other assets	28,149						22,607
TOTAL ASSETS	$			3,988,119			$			3,008,718
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Non-interest-bearing	$			560,537			$			431,923
Interest-bearing:
Certificates of deposit exceeding the FDIC insurance limits	130,270						42,284
Other interest-bearing deposits	2,529,315						1,962,520
	3,220,122						2,436,727
Short-term borrowings	90,852						69,656
Other liabilities	74,788						59,634
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,431,537						2,566,017
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, $.125 stated value per share;
Authorized shares-40,000,000
Issued shares-16,055,466 in 2019 and 14,612,540 in 2018
Outstanding shares-13,713,355 in 2019 and 12,278,295 in 2018	2,004						1,824
Additional paid-in capital	139,073						76,774
Retained earnings	484,834						456,716
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	145						(23,454				)
Less: Treasury shares at cost-2,342,111 in 2019 and 2,334,245 in 2018	(69,474				)		(69,159				)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	556,582						442,701
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$			3,988,119			$			3,008,718

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended September 30,																								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019																		2018						2019										2018
	(unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME:
Loans, including related fees	$															33,363			$			25,581			$							87,650			$			73,982
Securities:
Taxable	3,907																		3,601						11,104										13,141
Tax-exempt	1,959																		1,873						5,699										5,573
Other	366																		320						1,017										959
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME	39,595																		31,375						105,470										93,655
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits	5,069																		2,365						11,202										6,254
Short-term borrowings	305																		167						786										354
Other borrowings	222																		16						305										63
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE	5,596																		2,548						12,293										6,671
NET INTEREST INCOME	33,999																		28,827						93,177										86,984
Provision for loan losses	1,500																		1,470						3,200										4,298
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION
FOR LOAN LOSSES	32,499																		27,357						89,977										82,686
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Trust and financial services	1,329																		1,133						3,657										3,888
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts	3,227																		3,002						8,586										8,733
Other service charges and fees	3,720																		3,256						10,242										9,747
Securities gains, net	6																		3						18										5
Gain on sales of mortgage loans	865																		618						1,781										1,458
Other	599																		897						2,841										6,142
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME	9,746																		8,909						27,125										29,973
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits	14,031																		12,485						39,332										38,028
Occupancy expense	1,804																		1,894						5,432										5,308
Equipment expense	2,117																		1,673						5,685										5,016
FDIC Expense	155																		223						494										673
Other	9,302																		6,022						23,651										19,166
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE	27,409																		22,297						74,594										68,191
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	14,836																		13,969						42,508										44,468
Provision for income taxes	2,579																		2,656						8,000										8,941
NET INCOME	12,257																		11,313						34,508										35,527
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on securities, net of reclassifications and taxes	4,124																		(3,702				)		22,689										(15,585				)
Change in funded status of post retirement benefits, net of taxes	303																		281						910										(2,021				)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$															16,684			$			7,892			$							58,107			$			17,921
PER SHARE DATA
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share	$															0.93			$			0.92			$							2.74			$			2.90
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)	13,141																		12,255						12,574										12,253

For more information contact:

Rodger A. McHargue at (812) 238-6334

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