First Financial stock: Q3 profit climbs as merger advances

First Financial Corporation reported stronger third-quarter results on October 27, 2026, as net income increased year over year and net interest income reached a quarterly record. The release was carried by Morningstar-hosted GlobeNewswire.

Record interest income lifts results

Net income reached 27.4 million US dollars, compared with 20.8 million US dollars in the third quarter of 2025. Diluted earnings per share rose to 2.31 US dollars from 1.75 US dollars.

Net interest income increased 16.3 percent to a record 63.5 million US dollars from 54.6 million US dollars. The net interest margin widened to 4.51 percent from 4.25 percent, while the efficiency ratio improved to 53.96 percent from 56.63 percent.

The quarter also benefited from a 750,000 US dollar credit-loss benefit, compared with a 2.0 million US dollar provision a year earlier. The company said the benefit was primarily linked to the full recovery of an individually evaluated loan from a prior acquisition, making the item relevant when assessing underlying earnings quality.

Loan growth meets merger execution

Total loans outstanding reached 4.41 billion US dollars at September 30, up 11.20 percent from a year earlier, while total deposits stood at 4.87 billion US dollars. Average loans were broadly unchanged from the linked quarter, indicating that the year-over-year expansion remains the stronger growth reference.

First Financial completed its CedarStone Financial acquisition on March 1, 2026. The company also agreed in August to acquire First Illinois, with each First Illinois share eligible for either 0.5727 First Financial shares or 44.35 US dollars in cash, subject to the merger agreement's allocation procedures. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2027.

First Financial's banking footprint

First Financial Corporation is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A. The bank operates 81 banking centers across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Its business is centered on commercial, residential, and consumer lending, deposit services, trust and financial services, and other banking products. The regional footprint gives the company a concentrated presence across parts of the Midwest and Southeast rather than a nationwide branch network.