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.(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.
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