8K 3Q14 Earnings release Ex 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

First Financial Bancorp Reports Third Quarter 2014
Financial Results and Announces Dividend Increase

Cincinnati, Ohio - October 30, 2014 - First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC) (“First Financial” or the “Company”) announced today financial and operational results for the third quarter 2014.

Third quarter net income was $15.3 million and earnings per diluted common share were $0.26. This compares with second quarter net income of $16.0 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.28 and third quarter 2013 net income of $14.9 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.26.

Continued solid quarterly performance
Quarterly results included several acquisition-related items and other items not expected to recur which reduced pre-tax income by $5.1 million or approximately $0.05 per diluted share after taxes
Return on average assets of 0.88%; 1.07% as adjusted for acquisition-related and other items
Return on average tangible common equity of 10.15%; 12.39% as adjusted for acquisition-related and other items

Board of directors announces 6.7% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.16 per share
Earnings consistency provides capacity to support higher payout
Robust capital levels still allow ability to take advantage of strategic opportunities
Begins with next regularly scheduled dividend, payable on January 2, 2015 to shareholders of record as of November 28, 2014

Entered the attractive Columbus, Ohio market
Completed acquisitions of The First Bexley Bank, Insight Bank and The Guernsey Bank
5 acquired banking centers
Total acquired loans of $606.3 million, net of estimated fair value marks
Total acquired deposits of $568.6 million, net of estimated fair value marks

Annualized total loan growth, excluding loans acquired during the quarter, of 14.6% on a period-end basis
Strong performance in specialty finance, traditional C&I / owner occupied CRE and franchise lending

Quarterly net interest margin of 3.66%, a decline of 4 bps compared to the linked quarter
Negative impact of covered loan balance decline partially offset by the positive impact from acquired loans, improved loan yields and fee income
 
Claude Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “It was an exciting quarter for First Financial as we expanded into the attractive Columbus, Ohio market through the completion of The First

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Bexley Bank, Insight Bank and The Guernsey Bank acquisitions, adding $606.3 million of loans and $568.6 million of deposits to our balance sheet. We were pleased to welcome our new associates and new clients from those institutions during the quarter and we continue to be extremely excited about the opportunity to introduce the First Financial brand of community banking to Central Ohio.

"Our financial results for the third quarter reflect continued solid organic loan growth during the period as well as the benefits of our expansion into the Columbus market. While reported earnings were impacted by acquisition-related expenses as well as costs associated with our ongoing efficiency plans and other items not expected to recur, we continued to execute on our community bank business model and leverage our diversified credit suite to generate consistent earning asset growth.

"We were very pleased with our asset generation this quarter as period-end loans, excluding loans acquired during the period, increased $147.7 million, or 14.6% on an annualized basis, compared to the linked quarter. Almost all lending areas of the Company contributed to the quarterly growth, led by strong performance in our specialty finance and traditional C&I / owner occupied CRE portfolios.

“And finally, the close of the third quarter brought about the expiration of the five-year loss sharing coverage period on commercial assets acquired in our 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions. While loss sharing coverage has certainly provided us with an added layer of loss protection over the past five years, we remain pleased with our covered asset resolution efforts and feel we are well-positioned to manage the risk associated with the remaining commercial assets post loss sharing protection."

NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN
Net interest income for the third quarter was $58.4 million as compared to $54.3 million for the second quarter 2014 and $55.8 million for the third quarter 2013. Compared to the linked quarter, total interest income increased $4.7 million, or 7.9%, while total interest expense increased $0.6 million, or 13.7%. Net interest margin was 3.66% for the third quarter, compared to 3.70% for the second quarter 2014 and 3.91% for the third quarter 2013.

Interest income earned on loans increased $4.8 million, or 9.9%, compared to the prior quarter. The increase in interest income earned on loans was driven by a $408.3 million, or 11.3%, increase in average uncovered loan balances as a result of the Columbus acquisitions as well as strong, organic loan growth during the period. Additionally, the yield on the uncovered portfolio during the quarter was approximately 4.35%, a 9 bp increase compared to the linked quarter. The impact on net interest income from the growth in average uncovered loans, as well as modestly higher loan fees, was partially offset by a $36.7 million, or 9.5%, decline in average covered loan balances during the quarter.

Interest income earned from investment securities was essentially unchanged compared to the prior quarter as an increase in average balances of $54.1 million, or 3.0%, was offset by a 10 bp decline in the yield earned on the portfolio to 2.37%.

The increase in total interest expense was due to a $209.0 million, or 5.5%, increase in average interest-bearing deposits as well as a 3 bp increase in the related cost of funds on interest-bearing deposits to 41 bps as a result of funding strategies and the Columbus acquisitions during the quarter. Average borrowed funds increased $150.3 million, or 20.2%, compared to the linked quarter and the related cost of funds was 36 bps.

NONINTEREST INCOME
The following table presents noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and for the trailing four quarters, adjusted to exclude the impact of covered loan activity and other select items on the Company's reported balance.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table I
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total noninterest income
$
16,511

 
$
16,337

 
$
14,175

 
$
13,043

 
$
22,291

 
 
Selected components of noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Accelerated discount on covered loans 1
789

 
621

 
1,015

 
1,572

 
1,711

 
 
       FDIC loss sharing income
(192
)
 
1,108

 
(508
)
 
(3,385
)
 
5,555

 
 
       Gain on sale of investment securities

 

 
50

 

 

 
 
       Other items not expected to recur
97

 

 

 

 

 
 
Total noninterest income excluding items noted above
$
15,817

 
$
14,608

 
$
13,618

 
$
14,856

 
$
15,025

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1  Net of the related valuation adjustment on the FDIC indemnification asset
 
 
 
 
 

Excluding the items highlighted in Table I, noninterest income earned in the third quarter was $15.8 million compared to $14.6 million in the second quarter 2014 and $15.0 million in the third quarter 2013. The $1.2 million increase compared to the linked quarter was driven by a $0.9 million, or 125.2%, increase in net gains on sales of loans as well as a $0.2 million increase in other noninterest income during the period. The increase in net gains on sales of loans during the third quarter was driven by a 119.4% increase in the amount of residential mortgage loans sold as compared to the linked quarter, reflecting strong mortgage origination activity as well as the impact of Columbus loan origination and sale

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activity during the period. The increase in other noninterest income during the third quarter was driven primarily by an increase in fee income related to the Company's client derivative program.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE
The following table presents noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and for the trailing four quarters, adjusted to exclude the impact of covered asset activity and other select items on the Company's reported balance.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table II
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total noninterest expense
$
51,419

 
$
47,111

 
$
47,842

 
$
70,285

 
$
48,801

 
 
   Selected components of noninterest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Loss (gain) - covered real estate owned
(1,433
)
 
398

 
33

 
946

 
204

 
 
      Loss sharing expense
1,002

 
1,465

 
1,569

 
1,495

 
1,724

 
 
      Pension settlement charges

 

 

 
462

 
1,396

 
 
      Expenses associated with efficiency initiative
309

 
(59
)
 
350

 
1,450

 
1,051

 
 
      FDIC indemnification asset valuation adjustment

 

 

 
22,417

 

 
 
      Acquisition-related expenses
4,182

 
517

 
620

 
284

 

 
 
      Other items not expected to recur
728

 

 
465

 

 

 
 
Total noninterest expense excluding items noted above
$
46,631

 
$
44,790

 
$
44,805

 
$
43,231

 
$
44,426

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FDIC loss share support 1
$
662

 
$
630

 
$
862

 
$
844

 
$
841

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1  Represents direct expenses associated with credit management and loan administration related to covered assets as well as compliance with FDIC loss sharing agreements; included in total noninterest expense excluding the items noted above and comprised of several noninterest expense line items
 

Excluding the items highlighted in Table II, noninterest expense was $46.6 million in the third quarter of 2014, $44.8 million in the second quarter of 2014 and $44.4 million in the third quarter 2013. The $1.8 million increase compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to the addition of the Columbus, Ohio operations during the quarter. Higher compensation and employee benefit costs, as well as OREO-related expenses, were partially offset by lower occupancy costs during the third quarter. OREO-related costs primarily resulted from valuation adjustments during the period. Lower occupancy costs are a result of the Company's ongoing efficiency efforts.

Acquisition-related expenses during the period included $1.8 million of personnel costs, $1.6 million of data processing related expenses, $0.5 million of professional services expenses, $0.2 million of equipment and other miscellaneous expenses. Other items not expected to recur from the third quarter 2014 consist of $0.4 million of office relocation expenses as well as a $0.4 million wealth management settlement.

INCOME TAXES
For the third quarter, income tax expense was $7.2 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 32.0%, compared with income tax expense of $8.0 million and an effective tax rate of 33.3% during the second quarter 2014 and income tax expense of $7.6 million and an effective tax rate of 33.9% during the third quarter 2013. While the effective tax rate may fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to tax jurisdiction changes and the level of tax-enhanced assets, the overall effective tax rate for the full year is expected to be in the range of approximately 32.0% - 34.0%.



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CREDIT QUALITY - EXCLUDING COVERED ASSETS
The following table presents certain credit quality metrics related to the Company's uncovered loan portfolio as of September 30, 2014 and the trailing four quarters.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table III
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of or for the Three Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total nonaccrual loans 1
$
41,646

 
$
32,418

 
$
35,334

 
$
37,605

 
$
57,926

 
 
Troubled debt restructurings - accruing
13,369

 
12,607

 
13,400

 
15,094

 
16,278

 
 
Total nonperforming loans
55,015

 
45,025

 
48,734

 
52,699

 
74,204

 
 
Total nonperforming assets
66,331

 
58,395

 
61,477

 
72,505

 
86,008

 
 
Nonperforming assets as a % of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Period-end loans plus OREO
1.49
%
 
1.59
%
 
1.70
%
 
2.06
%
 
2.50
%
 
 
   Total assets
0.90
%
 
0.89
%
 
0.95
%
 
1.13
%
 
1.38
%
 
 
Nonperforming assets ex. accruing TDRs as a % of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Period-end loans plus OREO
1.19
%
 
1.25
%
 
1.33
%
 
1.63
%
 
2.03
%
 
 
   Total assets
0.72
%
 
0.70
%
 
0.74
%
 
0.89
%
 
1.12
%
 
 
Nonperforming loans as a % of total loans
1.24
%
 
1.23
%
 
1.35
%
 
1.50
%
 
2.16
%
 
 
Provision for loan and lease losses - uncovered
$
1,093

 
$
29

 
$
1,159

 
$
1,851

 
$
1,413

 
 
Allowance for uncovered loan & lease losses
$
42,454

 
$
42,027

 
$
43,023

 
$
43,829

 
$
45,514

 
 
Allowance for loan & lease losses as a % of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Total loans
0.95
%
 
1.15
%
 
1.19
%
 
1.25
%
 
1.33
%
 
 
   Nonaccrual loans
101.9
%
 
129.6
%
 
121.8
%
 
116.6
%
 
78.6
%
 
 
   Nonperforming loans
77.2
%
 
93.3
%
 
88.3
%
 
83.2
%
 
61.3
%
 
 
Total net charge-offs
$
666

 
$
1,025

 
$
1,965

 
$
3,536

 
$
2,946

 
 
Annualized net-charge-offs as a % of average
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   loans & leases
0.07
%
 
0.11
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.41
%
 
0.34
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Includes nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Net Charge-offs
For the third quarter, net charge-offs totaled $0.7 million, a decline of $0.4 million, or 35.0%, compared to the linked quarter.

Nonperforming Assets
Nonaccrual loans, including nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings, increased $9.2 million, or 28.5%, to $41.6 million as of September 30, 2014 from $32.4 million as of June 30, 2014. Contributing to the increase was a single commercial real estate relationship totaling $6.6 million as well as $4.3 million of nonperforming loans, net of estimated fair value marks, from the Columbus acquisitions during the period.

Accruing troubled debt restructurings increased $0.8 million, or 6.0%, to $13.4 million as of September 30, 2014 from $12.6 million as of June 30, 2014. The increase in accruing troubled debt restructurings during the third quarter was primarily related to the addition of five commercial credits totaling $0.8 million.

OREO declined $2.1 million, or 15.4%, to $11.3 million during the third quarter as $2.3 million of sales and $0.8 million of valuation adjustments were partially offset by $1.1 million of additions during the period, including $0.5 million of additions from the Columbus acquisitions.

Classified assets increased $2.1 million, or 2.0%, to $105.9 million as of September 30, 2014 from $103.8 million as of June 30, 2014 due to $7.8 million of additions from the Columbus acquisitions during

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the period, net of estimated fair value marks. Classified assets are defined by the Company as nonperforming assets plus performing loans internally rated substandard or worse.

Delinquent Loans
As of September 30, 2014, loans 30-to-89 days past due totaled $12.1 million, or 0.27% of period-end loans, compared to $5.7 million, or 0.16%, as of June 30, 2014 and $10.4 million, or 0.30%, as of September 30, 2013. The $6.3 million, or 110.2%, increase during the third quarter was driven primarily by a $5.4 million increase in delinquent commercial and commercial real estate loans during the period, including $0.7 million from the Columbus acquisitions.

Provision for Loan & Lease Losses
Third quarter provision expense related to uncovered loans and leases was $1.1 million as compared to $29 thousand for the linked quarter and $1.4 million for the third quarter 2013. Provision expense is a result of the Company’s modeling efforts to estimate the period-end allowance for loan and lease losses. The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of period-end loans was 0.95% as of September 30, 2014, compared to 1.15% as of June 30, 2014. Excluding loans acquired during the period, as those loans are recorded at their estimated fair value through purchase accounting and have no associated allowance, the allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of period-end loans would have been more consistent with the linked quarter.

LOANS
The following table presents the loan portfolio as of September 30, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table IV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of
 
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance
 
of Total
 
Balance
 
of Total
 
Balance
 
of Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
$
1,304,782

 
29.3
%
 
$
1,143,693

 
31.2
%
 
$
960,016

 
28.0
%
 
 
Real estate - construction
193,776

 
4.4
%
 
113,682

 
3.1
%
 
90,089

 
2.6
%
 
 
Real estate - commercial
1,952,055

 
43.9
%
 
1,491,731

 
40.7
%
 
1,493,969

 
43.5
%
 
 
Real estate - residential
426,558

 
9.6
%
 
372,601

 
10.2
%
 
352,830

 
10.3
%
 
 
Installment
47,561

 
1.1
%
 
43,338

 
1.2
%
 
49,273

 
1.4
%
 
 
Home equity
416,099

 
9.4
%
 
380,746

 
10.4
%
 
373,839

 
10.9
%
 
 
Credit card
35,925

 
0.8
%
 
35,656

 
1.0
%
 
34,285

 
1.0
%
 
 
Lease financing
73,216

 
1.6
%
 
81,212

 
2.2
%
 
76,615

 
2.2
%
 
 
     Total loans, excluding covered loans
$
4,449,972

 
100.0
%
 
$
3,662,659

 
100.0
%
 
$
3,430,916

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Covered Loans
$
332,265

 
 
 
$
365,603

 
 
 
$
518,524

 
 
 
 
     Total loans
$
4,782,237

 
 
 
$
4,028,262

 
 
 
$
3,949,440

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Total loans were $4.8 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $754.0 million, or 18.7%, compared to the linked quarter and $832.8 million, or 21.1%, compared to September 30, 2013. The increase relative to the linked quarter was driven by the addition of $606.3 million of loan balances, net of estimated fair value marks, from the Columbus acquisitions that closed in August as well as strong loan origination activity during the third quarter. Excluding loans acquired during the quarter, loans balances increased $147.7 million, or 14.6% on an annualized basis, compared to the linked quarter.

Covered loans totaled $332.3 million as of September 30, 2014, declining $33.3 million, or 9.1%, compared to the linked quarter and $186.3 million, or 35.9%, compared to September 30, 2013. The

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Company’s loss sharing indemnification from the FDIC related to non-single-family loans expired effective October 1, 2014 and, as a result, approximately $190.3 million, or 57.3%, of the Company's $332.3 million covered loan portfolio were no longer covered by FDIC loss sharing effective that date. The loss sharing protection related to the remaining single-family portfolio of approximately $142.0 million will expire in the third quarter 2019.

INVESTMENTS
The following table presents a summary of the total investment portfolio at September 30, 2014.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table V
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
Held-to-
 
Available-for-
 
 
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Maturity
 
Sale
 
Other
 
Total
 
of Portfolio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt obligations of the U.S. Government
 
$

 
$
20,207

 
$

 
$
20,207

 
1.1
%
 
 
Debt obligations of U.S. Government Agency
 
17,917

 
12,270

 

 
30,187

 
1.6
%
 
 
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 


 
 
   Pass-through securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 


 
 
        Agency fixed rate
 
77,000

 
95,964

 

 
172,964

 
9.2
%
 
 
        Agency adjustable rate
 
146,845

 
38,186

 

 
185,031

 
9.8
%
 
 
        Non-Agency fixed rate
 
 
 
8,917

 

 
8,917

 
0.5
%
 
 
   Collateralized mortgage obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 


 
 
        Agency fixed rate
 
334,700

 
256,862

 

 
591,562

 
31.4
%
 
 
        Agency variable rate
 
 
 
110,378

 

 
110,378

 
5.9
%
 
 
Agency collateralized and insured municipal securities
 
84,986

 
108,513

 

 
193,499

 
10.3
%
 
 
Commercial mortgage backed securities
 
231,810

 
121,655

 

 
353,465

 
18.8
%
 
 
Municipal bond securities
 
2,467

 
21,677

 

 
24,144

 
1.3
%
 
 
Corporate securities
 
4,796

 
69,809

 

 
74,605

 
4.0
%
 
 
Asset-backed securities
 

 
56,882

 

 
56,882

 
3.0
%
 
 
Regulatory stock
 

 
 
 
45,025

 
45,025

 
2.4
%
 
 
Other
 

 
8,274

 
4,961

 
13,235

 
0.7
%
 
 
 
 
$
900,521

 
$
929,594

 
$
49,986

 
$
1,880,101

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
The investment portfolio increased $35.2 million, or 1.9%, to $1.9 billion during the third quarter as $61.0 million of purchases and $30.8 million of securities acquired in the Columbus acquisitions were partially offset by amortizations and other portfolio reductions. As of September 30, 2014, the overall duration of the investment portfolio decreased to 3.7 years compared to 3.9 years as of June 30, 2014. The yield earned on the portfolio during the quarter decreased 10 bps to 2.37% from 2.47% for the linked quarter, driven by lower reinvestment rates, higher prepayment speeds on mortgage-related assets and other duration management actions. The net unrealized loss included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the investment portfolio was relatively unchanged during the quarter, increasing from $6.0 million as of June 30, 2014 to $6.2 million as of September 30, 2014.

DEPOSITS
Total deposits were $5.5 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $657.9 million, or 13.5%, compared to the linked quarter. Average total deposits were $5.2 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $277.5 million, or 5.6%, compared to the linked quarter. The increases in period-end and average deposits were driven by $568.6 million of deposits, net of estimated fair value marks, from the Columbus acquisitions as well as strong growth in interest-bearing demand deposits during the quarter.

Non-time deposit balances totaled $4.3 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $383.7 million, or 9.8%, compared to the linked quarter. The average balance of non-time deposits totaled $4.1 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $114.2 million, or 2.9%, compared to the linked quarter.

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Time deposit balances increased $274.2 million, or 28.2%, to $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2014. Average time deposit balances totaled $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2014, increasing $163.2 million, or 17.0%, compared to the linked quarter.

The Company’s total cost of deposit funding, inclusive of noninterest-bearing balances, was 32 bps for the quarter, representing an increase of 3 bps compared to the prior quarter and 8 bps compared to the third quarter 2013.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The following table presents First Financial's regulatory and other capital ratios as of September 30, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table VI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of
 
 
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leverage Ratio
9.70
%
 
9.99
%
 
10.29
%
 
 
Tier 1 Capital Ratio
12.74
%
 
14.34
%
 
15.26
%
 
 
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio
13.80
%
 
15.59
%
 
16.53
%
 
 
Ending tangible shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   to ending tangible assets
8.71
%
 
9.39
%
 
9.60
%
 
 
Ending tangible common shareholders'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   equity to ending tangible assets
8.71
%
 
9.39
%
 
9.60
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value per share
$
10.23

 
$
10.49

 
$
10.24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shareholders’ equity increased $68.1 million during the quarter as a result of stock issued in conjunction with the Columbus acquisitions and net income for the quarter, partially offset by declared dividends. The Company’s Tier I and total risk-based capital ratios declined during the quarter due primarily to an increase in risk-weighted assets resulting from the acquisitions during the period as well as uncovered loan growth. The Company’s tangible common equity ratio declined during the quarter due to the impact from acquisitions as the increase in tangible assets outweighed the increase in tangible common equity from the common shares issued in conjunction with the acquisitions. The Company's leverage ratio decreased primarily as a result of the overall growth in the balance sheet during the quarter. Regulatory capital ratios as of September 30, 2014 are considered preliminary pending the filing of the Company’s regulatory reports.


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Teleconference / Webcast Information
First Financial’s executive management will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial and operating results on Friday, October 31, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Members of the public who would like to listen to the conference call should dial (877) 506-6873 (U.S. toll free), (855) 669-9657 (Canada toll free) or +1 (412) 380-2003 (International) (no passcode required). The number should be dialed five to ten minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The conference call will also be accessible as an audio webcast via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.bankatfirst.com. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning one hour after the completion of the live call through November 17, 2014 at (877) 344-7529 (U.S. toll free), (855) 669-9658 (Canada toll free) and +1 (412) 317-0088 (International); conference number 10045038. The webcast will be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website through October 31, 2015.

Press Release and Additional Information on Website
This press release as well as supplemental information and any non-GAAP reconciliations related to this release is available to the public through the Investor Relations section of First Financial's website at www.bankatfirst.com/investor.

About First Financial Bancorp
First Financial Bancorp is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had $7.4 billion in assets, $4.8 billion in loans, $5.5 billion in deposits and $774 million in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its four lines of business: commercial, consumer, wealth management and mortgage. The commercial, consumer and mortgage units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. First Financial Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $2.4 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2014. The Company’s strategic operating markets are located in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky where it operates 106 banking centers. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations is available at www.bankatfirst.com.



8



Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements contained in this release which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items, statements of plans and objectives of First Financial or its management or board of directors and statements of future economic performances and statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as ‘‘believes,’’ ‘‘anticipates,’’ “likely,” “expected,” ‘‘intends,’’ and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Management’s analysis contains forward-looking statements that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. However, such performance involves risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, but are not limited to: economic, market, liquidity, credit, interest rate, operational and technological risks associated with the Company’s business; the effect of and changes in policies and laws or regulatory agencies (notably the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act); management’s ability to effectively execute its business plan; mergers and acquisitions, including costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquired companies; the Company’s ability to comply with the terms of loss sharing agreements with the FDIC; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices; and the costs and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation. Please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as well as its other filings with the SEC, for a more detailed discussion of these risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are meaningful only on the date when such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such a statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


Contact Information
Investors/Analysts                    Media
John Gavigan                        Jenny Keighley
Corporate Controller and Investor Relations        Assistant Vice President, Media Relations Manager
(513) 979-5813                        (513) 979-5582
john.gavigan@bankatfirst.com                jennifer.keighley@bankatfirst.com



9



Selected Financial Information
September 30, 2014
(unaudited)


Contents
Page
Consolidated Financial Highlights
2
Consolidated Statements of Income
3
Consolidated Quarterly Statements of Income
4 - 5
Consolidated Statements of Condition
6
Average Consolidated Statements of Condition
7
Net Interest Margin Rate / Volume Analysis
8 - 9
Credit Quality
10
Capital Adequacy
11
Supplemental Information on Covered Assets
12 - 14





FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended,
 
Nine months ended,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Jun. 30,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
15,344

 
$
15,953

 
$
15,104

 
$
3,785

 
$
14,911

 
$
46,401

 
$
44,564

Net earnings per share - basic
$
0.26

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.80

 
$
0.78

Net earnings per share - diluted
$
0.26

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.79

 
$
0.77

Dividends declared per share
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.27

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
0.88
%
 
0.99
%
 
0.96
%
 
0.24
%
 
0.96
%
 
0.94
%
 
0.95
%
Return on average shareholders' equity
8.16
%
 
9.19
%
 
8.95
%
 
2.15
%
 
8.53
%
 
8.75
%
 
8.49
%
Return on average tangible shareholders' equity
10.15
%
 
10.73
%
 
10.49
%
 
2.51
%
 
10.00
%
 
11.02
%
 
9.92
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
3.66
%
 
3.70
%
 
3.82
%
 
3.90
%
 
3.91
%
 
3.73
%
 
3.99
%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)
3.71
%
 
3.76
%
 
3.87
%
 
3.94
%
 
3.95
%
 
3.78
%
 
4.03
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending shareholders' equity as a percent of ending assets
10.52
%
 
10.78
%
 
10.64
%
 
10.63
%
 
11.07
%
 
10.52
%
 
11.07
%
Ending tangible shareholders' equity as a percent of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending tangible assets
8.71
%
 
9.39
%
 
9.23
%
 
9.20
%
 
9.60
%
 
8.71
%
 
9.60
%
Risk-weighted assets
12.07
%
 
13.56
%
 
13.50
%
 
13.59
%
 
14.27
%
 
12.06
%
 
14.27
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average shareholders' equity as a percent of average assets
10.75
%
 
10.79
%
 
10.69
%
 
11.23
%
 
11.19
%
 
10.75
%
 
11.15
%
Average tangible shareholders' equity as a percent of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    average tangible assets
8.83
%
 
9.38
%
 
9.27
%
 
9.77
%
 
9.71
%
 
8.73
%
 
9.69
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book value per share
$
12.61

 
$
12.23

 
$
11.98

 
$
11.86

 
$
11.99

 
$
12.61

 
$
11.99

Tangible book value per share
$
10.23

 
$
10.49

 
$
10.24

 
$
10.10

 
$
10.24

 
$
10.23

 
$
10.24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 Ratio (2)
12.74
%
 
14.34
%
 
14.42
%
 
14.61
%
 
15.26
%
 
12.74
%
 
15.26
%
Total Capital Ratio (2)
13.80
%
 
15.59
%
 
15.67
%
 
15.88
%
 
16.53
%
 
13.80
%
 
16.53
%
Leverage Ratio (2)
9.70
%
 
9.99
%
 
9.94
%
 
10.11
%
 
10.29
%
 
9.70
%
 
10.29
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans (3)
$
4,052,697

 
$
3,637,458

 
$
3,532,311

 
$
3,450,069

 
$
3,410,102

 
$
3,742,728

 
$
3,310,619

Covered loans and FDIC indemnification asset
378,944

 
421,603

 
478,326

 
568,385

 
655,654

 
425,927

 
750,897

Investment securities
1,865,241

 
1,811,175

 
1,807,571

 
1,654,374

 
1,589,666

 
1,828,207

 
1,710,310

Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
29,433

 
10,697

 
2,922

 
4,906

 
4,010

 
14,448

 
6,989

  Total earning assets
$
6,326,315

 
$
5,880,933

 
$
5,821,130

 
$
5,677,734

 
$
5,659,432

 
$
6,011,310

 
$
5,778,815

Total assets
$
6,937,283

 
$
6,454,252

 
$
6,399,235

 
$
6,232,971

 
$
6,193,722

 
$
6,598,894

 
$
6,297,735

Noninterest-bearing deposits
$
1,179,207

 
$
1,110,697

 
$
1,096,509

 
$
1,129,097

 
$
1,072,259

 
$
1,129,107

 
$
1,061,850

Interest-bearing deposits
4,041,255

 
3,832,295

 
3,695,177

 
3,720,809

 
3,654,311

 
3,857,510

 
3,743,721

  Total deposits
$
5,220,462

 
$
4,942,992

 
$
4,791,686

 
$
4,849,906

 
$
4,726,570

 
$
4,986,617

 
$
4,805,571

Borrowings
$
896,328

 
$
745,990

 
$
842,479

 
$
583,522

 
$
667,706

 
$
828,463

 
$
682,116

Shareholders' equity
$
745,729

 
$
696,609

 
$
684,332

 
$
700,063

 
$
693,158

 
$
709,115

 
$
701,884

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS (excluding covered assets)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance to ending loans
0.95
%
 
1.15
%
 
1.19
%
 
1.25
%
 
1.33
%
 
0.95
%
 
1.33
%
Allowance to nonaccrual loans
101.94
%
 
129.64
%
 
121.76
%
 
116.55
%
 
78.57
%
 
101.94
%
 
78.57
%
Allowance to nonperforming loans
77.17
%
 
93.34
%
 
88.28
%
 
83.17
%
 
61.34
%
 
77.17
%
 
61.34
%
Nonperforming loans to total loans
1.24
%
 
1.23
%
 
1.35
%
 
1.50
%
 
2.16
%
 
1.24
%
 
2.16
%
Nonperforming assets to ending loans, plus OREO
1.49
%
 
1.59
%
 
1.70
%
 
2.06
%
 
2.50
%
 
1.49
%
 
2.50
%
Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.90
%
 
0.89
%
 
0.95
%
 
1.13
%
 
1.38
%
 
0.90
%
 
1.38
%
Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized)
0.07
%
 
0.11
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.41
%
 
0.34
%
 
0.13
%
 
0.37
%

(1) The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest margin and net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provide useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.
(2) September 30, 2014 regulatory capital ratios are preliminary.
(3) Includes loans held for sale.



2


FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended,
 
Nine months ended,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Loans, including fees
$
53,725

 
$
52,908

 
1.5
 %
 
$
151,749

 
$
163,955

 
(7.4
)%
  Investment securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Taxable
10,227

 
8,267

 
23.7
 %
 
31,019

 
24,938

 
24.4
 %
     Tax-exempt
894

 
541

 
65.2
 %
 
2,500

 
1,681

 
48.7
 %
        Total investment securities interest
11,121

 
8,808

 
26.3
 %
 
33,519

 
26,619

 
25.9
 %
  Other earning assets
(1,455
)
 
(2,185
)
 
(33.4
)%
 
(4,162
)
 
(5,213
)
 
(20.2
)%
       Total interest income
63,391

 
59,531

 
6.5
 %
 
181,106

 
185,361

 
(2.3
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Deposits
4,218

 
2,856

 
47.7
 %
 
11,140

 
10,000

 
11.4
 %
  Short-term borrowings
354

 
286

 
23.8
 %
 
975

 
920

 
6.0
 %
  Long-term borrowings
456

 
617

 
(26.1
)%
 
1,505

 
1,925

 
(21.8
)%
      Total interest expense
5,028

 
3,759

 
33.8
 %
 
13,620

 
12,845

 
6.0
 %
      Net interest income
58,363

 
55,772

 
4.6
 %
 
167,486

 
172,516

 
(2.9
)%
  Provision for loan and lease losses - uncovered
1,093

 
1,413

 
(22.6
)%
 
2,281

 
6,863

 
(66.8
)%
  Provision for loan and lease losses - covered
(200
)
 
5,293

 
(103.8
)%
 
(2,805
)
 
6,052

 
(146.3
)%
      Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses
57,470

 
49,066

 
17.1
 %
 
168,010

 
159,601

 
5.3
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Service charges on deposit accounts
5,263

 
5,447

 
(3.4
)%
 
15,172

 
15,369

 
(1.3
)%
  Trust and wealth management fees
3,207

 
3,366

 
(4.7
)%
 
10,258

 
10,813

 
(5.1
)%
  Bankcard income
2,859

 
2,637

 
8.4
 %
 
8,101

 
8,215

 
(1.4
)%
  Net gains from sales of loans
1,660

 
751

 
121.0
 %
 
2,793

 
2,546

 
9.7
 %
  Gain on sale of investment securities
0

 
0

 
N/M

 
50

 
1,724

 
(97.1
)%
  FDIC loss sharing income
(192
)
 
5,555

 
103.5
 %
 
408

 
7,105

 
(94.3
)%
  Accelerated discount on covered loans
789

 
1,711

 
(53.9
)%
 
2,425

 
5,581

 
(56.5
)%
  Other
2,925

 
2,824

 
3.6
 %
 
7,816

 
9,251

 
(15.5
)%
      Total noninterest income
16,511

 
22,291

 
(25.9
)%
 
47,023

 
60,604

 
(22.4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Salaries and employee benefits
28,686

 
23,834

 
20.4
 %
 
79,562

 
77,379

 
2.8
 %
  Pension settlement charges
0

 
1,396

 
(100.0
)%
 
0

 
5,712

 
(100.0
)%
  Net occupancy
4,577

 
5,101

 
(10.3
)%
 
14,381

 
16,650

 
(13.6
)%
  Furniture and equipment
2,265

 
2,213

 
2.3
 %
 
6,325

 
6,834

 
(7.4
)%
  Data processing
4,393

 
2,584

 
70.0
 %
 
10,021

 
7,612

 
31.6
 %
  Marketing
939

 
1,192

 
(21.2
)%
 
2,555

 
3,271

 
(21.9
)%
  Communication
541

 
865

 
(37.5
)%
 
1,726

 
2,479

 
(30.4
)%
  Professional services
1,568

 
1,528

 
2.6
 %
 
4,741

 
5,095

 
(6.9
)%
  State intangible tax
648

 
1,010

 
(35.8
)%
 
1,936

 
3,028

 
(36.1
)%
  FDIC assessments
1,126

 
1,107

 
1.7
 %
 
3,334

 
3,380

 
(1.4
)%
  Loss (gain) - other real estate owned
844

 
184

 
358.7
 %
 
1,575

 
902

 
74.6
 %
  Loss (gain) - covered other real estate owned
(1,433
)
 
204

 
(802.5
)%
 
(1,002
)
 
(2,165
)
 
(53.7
)%
  Loss sharing expense
1,002

 
1,724

 
(41.9
)%
 
4,036

 
5,588

 
(27.8
)%
  Other
6,263

 
5,859

 
6.9
 %
 
17,182

 
19,425

 
(11.5
)%
      Total noninterest expenses
51,419

 
48,801

 
5.4
 %
 
146,372

 
155,190

 
(5.7
)%
Income before income taxes
22,562

 
22,556

 
0.0
 %
 
68,661

 
65,015

 
5.6
 %
Income tax expense
7,218

 
7,645

 
(5.6
)%
 
22,260

 
20,451

 
8.8
 %
      Net income
$
15,344

 
$
14,911

 
2.9
 %
 
$
46,401

 
$
44,564

 
4.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings per share - basic
$
0.26

 
$
0.26

 
 
 
$
0.80

 
$
0.78

 
 
Net earnings per share - diluted
$
0.26

 
$
0.26

 
 
 
$
0.79

 
$
0.77

 
 
Dividends declared per share
$
0.15

 
$
0.27

 
 
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
0.88
%
 
0.96
%
 
 
 
0.94
%
 
0.95
%
 
 
Return on average shareholders' equity
8.16
%
 
8.53
%
 
 
 
8.75
%
 
8.49
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
63,391

 
$
59,531

 
6.5
 %
 
$
181,106

 
$
185,361

 
(2.3
)%
Tax equivalent adjustment
818

 
516

 
58.5
 %
 
2,278

 
1,507

 
51.2
 %
   Interest income - tax equivalent
64,209

 
60,047

 
6.9
 %
 
183,384

 
186,868

 
(1.9
)%
Interest expense
5,028

 
3,759

 
33.8
 %
 
13,620

 
12,845

 
6.0
 %
   Net interest income - tax equivalent
$
59,181

 
$
56,288

 
5.1
 %
 
$
169,764

 
$
174,023

 
(2.4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
3.66
%
 
3.91
%
 
 
 
3.73
%
 
3.99
%
 
 
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)
3.71
%
 
3.95
%
 
 
 
3.78
%
 
4.03
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full-time equivalent employees
1,395

 
1,292

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.
N/M = Not meaningful.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3


FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
 
Third
 
Second
 
First
 
 
 
% Change
 
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
YTD
 
Linked Qtr.
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Loans, including fees
 
$
53,725

 
$
48,877

 
$
49,147

 
$
151,749

 
9.9
 %
  Investment securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Taxable
 
10,227

 
10,355

 
10,437

 
31,019

 
(1.2
)%
     Tax-exempt
 
894

 
796

 
810

 
2,500

 
12.3
 %
        Total investment securities interest
 
11,121

 
11,151

 
11,247

 
33,519

 
(0.3
)%
  Other earning assets
 
(1,455
)
 
(1,301
)
 
(1,406
)
 
(4,162
)
 
11.8
 %
       Total interest income
 
63,391

 
58,727

 
58,988

 
181,106

 
7.9
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Deposits
 
4,218

 
3,606

 
3,316

 
11,140

 
17.0
 %
  Short-term borrowings
 
354

 
292

 
329

 
975

 
21.2
 %
  Long-term borrowings
 
456

 
525

 
524

 
1,505

 
(13.1
)%
      Total interest expense
 
5,028

 
4,423

 
4,169

 
13,620

 
13.7
 %
      Net interest income
 
58,363

 
54,304

 
54,819

 
167,486

 
7.5
 %
  Provision for loan and lease losses - uncovered
 
1,093

 
29

 
1,159

 
2,281

 
3,669.0
 %
  Provision for loan and lease losses - covered
 
(200
)
 
(413
)
 
(2,192
)
 
(2,805
)
 
(51.6
)%
      Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses
 
57,470

 
54,688

 
55,852

 
168,010

 
5.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Service charges on deposit accounts
 
5,263

 
5,137

 
4,772

 
15,172

 
2.5
 %
  Trust and wealth management fees
 
3,207

 
3,305

 
3,746

 
10,258

 
(3.0
)%
  Bankcard income
 
2,859

 
2,809

 
2,433

 
8,101

 
1.8
 %
  Net gains from sales of loans
 
1,660

 
737

 
396

 
2,793

 
125.2
 %
  Gain on sale of investment securities
 
0

 
0

 
50

 
50

 
N/M

  FDIC loss sharing income
 
(192
)
 
1,108

 
(508
)
 
408

 
(117.3
)%
  Accelerated discount on covered loans
 
789

 
621

 
1,015

 
2,425

 
27.1
 %
  Other
 
2,925

 
2,620

 
2,271

 
7,816

 
11.6
 %
      Total noninterest income
 
16,511

 
16,337

 
14,175

 
47,023

 
1.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Salaries and employee benefits
 
28,686

 
25,615

 
25,261

 
79,562

 
12.0
 %
  Net occupancy
 
4,577

 
4,505

 
5,299

 
14,381

 
1.6
 %
  Furniture and equipment
 
2,265

 
1,983

 
2,077

 
6,325

 
14.2
 %
  Data processing
 
4,393

 
2,770

 
2,858

 
10,021

 
58.6
 %
  Marketing
 
939

 
830

 
786

 
2,555

 
13.1
 %
  Communication
 
541

 
562

 
623

 
1,726

 
(3.7
)%
  Professional services
 
1,568

 
1,449

 
1,724

 
4,741

 
8.2
 %
  State intangible tax
 
648

 
644

 
644

 
1,936

 
0.6
 %
  FDIC assessments
 
1,126

 
1,074

 
1,134

 
3,334

 
4.8
 %
  Loss (gain) - other real estate owned
 
844

 
313

 
418

 
1,575

 
169.6
 %
  Loss (gain) - covered other real estate owned
 
(1,433
)
 
398

 
33

 
(1,002
)
 
(460.1
)%
  Loss sharing expense
 
1,002

 
1,465

 
1,569

 
4,036

 
(31.6
)%
  Other
 
6,263

 
5,503

 
5,416

 
17,182

 
13.8
 %
      Total noninterest expenses
 
51,419

 
47,111

 
47,842

 
146,372

 
9.1
 %
Income before income taxes
 
22,562

 
23,914

 
22,185

 
68,661

 
(5.7
)%
Income tax expense
 
7,218

 
7,961

 
7,081

 
22,260

 
(9.3
)%
      Net income
 
$
15,344

 
$
15,953

 
$
15,104

 
$
46,401

 
(3.8
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings per share - basic
 
$
0.26

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.80

 
 
Net earnings per share - diluted
 
$
0.26

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.79

 
 
Dividends declared per share
 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
 
0.88
%
 
0.99
%
 
0.96
%
 
0.94
%
 
 
Return on average shareholders' equity
 
8.16
%
 
9.19
%
 
8.95
%
 
8.75
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
$
63,391

 
$
58,727

 
$
58,988

 
$
181,106

 
7.9
 %
Tax equivalent adjustment
 
818

 
758

 
702

 
2,278

 
7.9
 %
   Interest income - tax equivalent
 
64,209

 
59,485

 
59,690

 
183,384

 
7.9
 %
Interest expense
 
5,028

 
4,423

 
4,169

 
13,620

 
13.7
 %
   Net interest income - tax equivalent
 
$
59,181

 
$
55,062

 
$
55,521

 
$
169,764

 
7.5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
 
3.66
%
 
3.70
%
 
3.82
%
 
3.73
%
 
 
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)
 
3.71
%
 
3.76
%
 
3.87
%
 
3.78
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full-time equivalent employees
 
1,395

 
1,296

 
1,286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.
N/M = Not meaningful.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4


FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013
 
 
Fourth
 
Third
 
Second
 
First
 
Full
 
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Year
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Loans, including fees
 
$
52,351

 
$
52,908

 
$
55,022

 
$
56,025

 
$
216,306

  Investment securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Taxable
 
9,209

 
8,267

 
8,295

 
8,376

 
34,147

     Tax-exempt
 
719

 
541

 
560

 
580

 
2,400

        Total investment securities interest
 
9,928

 
8,808

 
8,855

 
8,956

 
36,547

  Other earning assets
 
(2,432
)
 
(2,185
)
 
(1,556
)
 
(1,472
)
 
(7,645
)
       Total interest income
 
59,847

 
59,531

 
62,321

 
63,509

 
245,208

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Deposits
 
3,247

 
2,856

 
3,284

 
3,860

 
13,247

  Short-term borrowings
 
257

 
286

 
305

 
329

 
1,177

  Long-term borrowings
 
539

 
617

 
654

 
654

 
2,464

      Total interest expense
 
4,043

 
3,759

 
4,243

 
4,843

 
16,888

      Net interest income
 
55,804

 
55,772

 
58,078

 
58,666

 
228,320

  Provision for loan and lease losses - uncovered
 
1,851

 
1,413

 
2,409

 
3,041

 
8,714

  Provision for loan and lease losses - covered
 
(5,857
)
 
5,293

 
(8,283
)
 
9,042

 
195

      Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses
 
59,810

 
49,066

 
63,952

 
46,583

 
219,411

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Service charges on deposit accounts
 
5,226

 
5,447

 
5,205

 
4,717

 
20,595

  Trust and wealth management fees
 
3,506

 
3,366

 
3,497

 
3,950

 
14,319

  Bankcard income
 
2,699

 
2,637

 
3,145

 
2,433

 
10,914

  Net gains from sales of loans
 
604

 
751

 
1,089

 
706

 
3,150

  Gain on sale of investment securities
 
0

 
0

 
188

 
1,536

 
1,724

  FDIC loss sharing income
 
(3,385
)
 
5,555

 
(7,384
)
 
8,934

 
3,720

  Accelerated discount on covered loans
 
1,572

 
1,711

 
1,935

 
1,935

 
7,153

  Other
 
2,821

 
2,824

 
3,940

 
2,487

 
12,072

      Total noninterest income
 
13,043

 
22,291

 
11,615

 
26,698

 
73,647

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Salaries and employee benefits
 
24,023

 
23,834

 
26,216

 
27,329

 
101,402

  Pension settlement charges
 
462

 
1,396

 
4,316

 
0

 
6,174

  Net occupancy
 
4,557

 
5,101

 
5,384

 
6,165

 
21,207

  Furniture and equipment
 
2,136

 
2,213

 
2,250

 
2,371

 
8,970

  Data processing
 
2,617

 
2,584

 
2,559

 
2,469

 
10,229

  Marketing
 
999

 
1,192

 
1,182

 
897

 
4,270

  Communication
 
728

 
865

 
781

 
833

 
3,207

  Professional services
 
1,781

 
1,528

 
1,764

 
1,803

 
6,876

  State intangible tax
 
901

 
1,010

 
1,004

 
1,014

 
3,929

  FDIC assessments
 
1,121

 
1,107

 
1,148

 
1,125

 
4,501

  Loss (gain) - other real estate owned
 
348

 
184

 
216

 
502

 
1,250

  Loss (gain) - covered other real estate owned
 
946

 
204

 
(2,212
)
 
(157
)
 
(1,219
)
  Loss sharing expense
 
1,495

 
1,724

 
1,578

 
2,286

 
7,083

  FDIC indemnification impairment
 
22,417

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
22,417

  Other
 
5,754

 
5,859

 
7,097

 
6,469

 
25,179

      Total noninterest expenses
 
70,285

 
48,801

 
53,283

 
53,106

 
225,475

Income before income taxes
 
2,568

 
22,556

 
22,284

 
20,175

 
67,583

Income tax expense
 
(1,217
)
 
7,645

 
6,455

 
6,351

 
19,234

      Net income
 
$
3,785

 
$
14,911

 
$
15,829

 
$
13,824

 
$
48,349

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings per share - basic
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.84

Net earnings per share - diluted
 
$
0.07

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.27

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.83

Dividends declared per share
 
$
0.15

 
$
0.27

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.94

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
 
0.24
%
 
0.96
%
 
1.01
%
 
0.88
%
 
0.77
%
Return on average shareholders' equity
 
2.15
%
 
8.53
%
 
9.02
%
 
7.91
%
 
6.89
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
$
59,847

 
$
59,531

 
$
62,321

 
$
63,509

 
$
245,208

Tax equivalent adjustment
 
635

 
516

 
514

 
477

 
2,142

   Interest income - tax equivalent
 
60,482

 
60,047

 
62,835

 
63,986

 
247,350

Interest expense
 
4,043

 
3,759

 
4,243

 
4,843

 
16,888

   Net interest income - tax equivalent
 
$
56,439

 
$
56,288

 
$
58,592

 
$
59,143

 
$
230,462

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
 
3.90
%
 
3.91
%
 
4.02
%
 
4.04
%
 
3.97
%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)
 
3.94
%
 
3.95
%
 
4.06
%
 
4.07
%
 
4.01
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full-time equivalent employees
 
1,306

 
1,292

 
1,338

 
1,385

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.

5



FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sep. 30,
 
Jun. 30,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Sep. 30,
 
% Change
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
Linked Qtr.
 
Comparable Qtr.
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Cash and due from banks
$
121,360

 
$
123,160

 
$
161,515

 
$
117,620

 
$
177,698

 
(1.5
)%
 
(31.7
)%
     Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
22,365

 
39,237

 
9,681

 
25,830

 
10,414

 
(43.0
)%
 
114.8
 %
     Investment securities available-for-sale
929,594

 
897,715

 
862,526

 
913,601

 
854,747

 
3.6
 %
 
8.8
 %
     Investment securities held-to-maturity
900,521

 
899,502

 
890,806

 
837,272

 
669,093

 
0.1
 %
 
34.6
 %
     Other investments
49,986

 
47,640

 
47,659

 
47,427

 
75,945

 
4.9
 %
 
(34.2
)%
     Loans held for sale
16,816

 
13,108

 
6,171

 
8,114

 
10,704

 
28.3
 %
 
57.1
 %
     Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Commercial
1,304,782

 
1,143,693

 
1,118,057

 
1,035,668

 
960,016

 
14.1
 %
 
35.9
 %
       Real estate - construction
193,776

 
113,682

 
87,996

 
80,741

 
90,089

 
70.5
 %
 
115.1
 %
       Real estate - commercial
1,952,055

 
1,491,731

 
1,513,891

 
1,496,987

 
1,493,969

 
30.9
 %
 
30.7
 %
       Real estate - residential
426,558

 
372,601

 
360,671

 
352,931

 
352,830

 
14.5
 %
 
20.9
 %
       Installment
47,561

 
43,338

 
44,911

 
47,133

 
49,273

 
9.7
 %
 
(3.5
)%
       Home equity
416,099

 
380,746

 
374,427

 
376,454

 
373,839

 
9.3
 %
 
11.3
 %
       Credit card
35,925

 
35,656

 
34,458

 
35,592

 
34,285

 
0.8
 %
 
4.8
 %
       Lease financing
73,216

 
81,212

 
79,792

 
80,135

 
76,615

 
(9.8
)%
 
(4.4
)%
          Total loans, excluding covered loans
4,449,972

 
3,662,659

 
3,614,203

 
3,505,641

 
3,430,916

 
21.5
 %
 
29.7
 %
       Less
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Allowance for loan and lease losses
42,454

 
42,027

 
43,023

 
43,829

 
45,514

 
1.0
 %
 
(6.7
)%
                Net loans - uncovered
4,407,518

 
3,620,632

 
3,571,180

 
3,461,812

 
3,385,402

 
21.7
 %
 
30.2
 %
       Covered loans
332,265

 
365,603

 
409,405

 
457,873

 
518,524

 
(9.1
)%
 
(35.9
)%
       Less
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Allowance for loan and lease losses
11,535

 
12,425

 
10,573

 
18,901

 
23,259

 
(7.2
)%
 
(50.4
)%
             Net loans - covered
320,730

 
353,178

 
398,832

 
438,972

 
495,265

 
(9.2
)%
 
(35.2
)%
                Net loans
4,728,248

 
3,973,810

 
3,970,012

 
3,900,784

 
3,880,667

 
19.0
 %
 
21.8
 %
     Premises and equipment
141,851

 
133,418

 
135,105

 
137,110

 
139,125

 
6.3
 %
 
2.0
 %
     Goodwill
137,458

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
44.6
 %
 
44.6
 %
     Other intangibles
8,542

 
5,344

 
5,566

 
5,924

 
6,249

 
59.8
 %
 
36.7
 %
     FDIC indemnification asset
24,160

 
30,420

 
39,003

 
45,091

 
78,132

 
(20.6
)%
 
(69.1
)%
     Accrued interest and other assets
272,568

 
287,340

 
275,995

 
283,390

 
255,617

 
(5.1
)%
 
6.6
 %
       Total Assets
$
7,353,469

 
$
6,545,744

 
$
6,499,089

 
$
6,417,213

 
$
6,253,441

 
12.3
 %
 
17.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Interest-bearing demand
$
1,214,726

 
$
1,105,031

 
$
1,102,029

 
$
1,125,723

 
$
1,068,067

 
9.9
 %
 
13.7
 %
       Savings
1,827,590

 
1,656,798

 
1,639,495

 
1,612,005

 
1,593,895

 
10.3
 %
 
14.7
 %
       Time
1,247,334

 
973,100

 
956,049

 
952,327

 
926,029

 
28.2
 %
 
34.7
 %
          Total interest-bearing deposits
4,289,650

 
3,734,929

 
3,697,573

 
3,690,055

 
3,587,991

 
14.9
 %
 
19.6
 %
       Noninterest-bearing
1,243,367

 
1,140,198

 
1,122,816

 
1,147,452

 
1,141,016

 
9.0
 %
 
9.0
 %
          Total deposits
5,533,017

 
4,875,127

 
4,820,389

 
4,837,507

 
4,729,007

 
13.5
 %
 
17.0
 %
     Federal funds purchased and securities sold
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         under agreements to repurchase
113,303

 
128,013

 
112,293

 
94,749

 
105,472

 
(11.5
)%
 
7.4
 %
     FHLB short-term borrowings
806,000

 
686,300

 
722,800

 
654,000

 
518,200

 
17.4
 %
 
55.5
 %
          Total short-term borrowings
919,303

 
814,313

 
835,093

 
748,749

 
623,672

 
12.9
 %
 
47.4
 %
     Long-term debt
52,656

 
59,693

 
60,163

 
60,780

 
61,088

 
(11.8
)%
 
(13.8
)%
          Total borrowed funds
971,959

 
874,006

 
895,256

 
809,529

 
684,760

 
11.2
 %
 
41.9
 %
     Accrued interest and other liabilities
74,581

 
90,780

 
92,097

 
88,016

 
147,635

 
(17.8
)%
 
(49.5
)%
       Total Liabilities
6,579,557

 
5,839,913

 
5,807,742

 
5,735,052

 
5,561,402

 
12.7
 %
 
18.3
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Common stock
574,209

 
574,206

 
573,243

 
577,076

 
577,429

 
0.0
 %
 
(0.6
)%
     Retained earnings
344,118

 
337,971

 
330,672

 
324,192

 
328,993

 
1.8
 %
 
4.6
 %
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(20,888
)
 
(21,569
)
 
(27,648
)
 
(31,281
)
 
(29,294
)
 
(3.2
)%
 
(28.7
)%
     Treasury stock, at cost
(123,527
)
 
(184,777
)
 
(184,920
)
 
(187,826
)
 
(185,089
)
 
(33.1
)%
 
(33.3
)%
       Total Shareholders' Equity
773,912

 
705,831

 
691,347

 
682,161

 
692,039

 
9.6
 %
 
11.8
 %
       Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
$
7,353,469

 
$
6,545,744

 
$
6,499,089

 
$
6,417,213

 
$
6,253,441

 
12.3
 %
 
17.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


6



FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarterly Averages
 
Year-to-Date Averages
 
Sep. 30,
 
Jun. 30,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Cash and due from banks
$
125,528

 
$
118,947

 
$
123,583

 
$
110,246

 
$
120,154

 
$
122,693

 
$
117,252

     Federal funds sold
8,795

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
2,964

 
0

     Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
20,638

 
10,697

 
2,922

 
4,906

 
4,010

 
11,484

 
6,989

     Investment securities
1,865,241

 
1,811,175

 
1,807,571

 
1,654,374

 
1,589,666

 
1,828,207

 
1,710,310

     Loans held for sale
15,357

 
8,464

 
4,924

 
7,990

 
13,349

 
9,620

 
18,027

     Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Commercial
1,196,075

 
1,117,483

 
1,062,225

 
986,438

 
937,939

 
1,125,751

 
902,071

       Real estate - construction
152,359

 
97,052

 
83,095

 
79,194

 
93,103

 
111,089

 
89,406

       Real estate - commercial
1,728,627

 
1,511,769

 
1,491,569

 
1,489,858

 
1,488,047

 
1,578,190

 
1,448,760

       Real estate - residential
401,706

 
365,118

 
355,593

 
351,929

 
347,110

 
374,308

 
335,262

       Installment
46,015

 
43,786

 
45,642

 
47,733

 
50,130

 
45,149

 
52,359

       Home equity
399,922

 
378,010

 
374,503

 
374,919

 
371,072

 
384,238

 
368,036

       Credit card
36,151

 
35,321

 
34,663

 
35,673

 
34,176

 
35,384

 
33,757

       Lease financing
76,485

 
80,455

 
80,097

 
76,335

 
75,176

 
78,999

 
62,941

          Total loans, excluding covered loans
4,037,340

 
3,628,994

 
3,527,387

 
3,442,079

 
3,396,753

 
3,733,108

 
3,292,592

       Less
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Allowance for loan and lease losses
42,611

 
43,559

 
44,273

 
46,531

 
49,451

 
43,475

 
49,677

                Net loans - uncovered
3,994,729

 
3,585,435

 
3,483,114

 
3,395,548

 
3,347,302

 
3,689,633

 
3,242,915

       Covered loans
350,894

 
387,616

 
434,527

 
490,072

 
573,243

 
390,706

 
650,105

       Less
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Allowance for loan and lease losses
13,086

 
11,590

 
17,629

 
21,733

 
31,208

 
14,085

 
39,670

             Net loans - covered
337,808

 
376,026

 
416,898

 
468,339

 
542,035

 
376,621

 
610,435

                Net loans
4,332,537

 
3,961,461

 
3,900,012

 
3,863,887

 
3,889,337

 
4,066,254

 
3,853,350

     Premises and equipment
136,956

 
134,522

 
136,624

 
138,644

 
141,498

 
136,035

 
144,516

     Goodwill
118,756

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
95,050

 
103,039

 
95,050

     Other intangibles
7,138

 
5,445

 
5,723

 
6,075

 
6,428

 
6,107

 
6,865

     FDIC indemnification asset
28,050

 
33,987

 
43,799

 
78,313

 
82,411

 
35,221

 
100,792

     Accrued interest and other assets
278,287

 
274,504

 
279,027

 
273,486

 
251,819

 
277,270

 
244,584

       Total Assets
$
6,937,283

 
$
6,454,252

 
$
6,399,235

 
$
6,232,971

 
$
6,193,722

 
$
6,598,894

 
$
6,297,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Interest-bearing demand
$
1,135,126

 
$
1,169,350

 
$
1,107,844

 
$
1,150,275

 
$
1,098,524

 
$
1,137,540

 
$
1,117,600

       Savings
1,782,472

 
1,702,521

 
1,633,910

 
1,637,657

 
1,608,351

 
1,706,845

 
1,622,105

       Time
1,123,657

 
960,424

 
953,423

 
932,877

 
947,436

 
1,013,125

 
1,004,016

          Total interest-bearing deposits
4,041,255

 
3,832,295

 
3,695,177

 
3,720,809

 
3,654,311

 
3,857,510

 
3,743,721

       Noninterest-bearing
1,179,207

 
1,110,697

 
1,096,509

 
1,129,097

 
1,072,259

 
1,129,107

 
1,061,850

          Total deposits
5,220,462

 
4,942,992

 
4,791,686

 
4,849,906

 
4,726,570

 
4,986,617

 
4,805,571

     Federal funds purchased and securities sold
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          under agreements to repurchase
125,094

 
123,682

 
110,533

 
107,738

 
114,505

 
119,823

 
118,097

     FHLB short-term borrowings
710,879

 
562,466

 
671,579

 
414,892

 
483,937

 
648,452

 
491,328

          Total short-term borrowings
835,973

 
686,148

 
782,112

 
522,630

 
598,442

 
768,275

 
609,425

     Long-term debt
60,355

 
59,842

 
60,367

 
60,892

 
69,264

 
60,188

 
72,691

       Total borrowed funds
896,328

 
745,990

 
842,479

 
583,522

 
667,706

 
828,463

 
682,116

     Accrued interest and other liabilities
74,764

 
68,661

 
80,738

 
99,480

 
106,288

 
74,699

 
108,164

       Total Liabilities
6,191,554

 
5,757,643

 
5,714,903

 
5,532,908

 
5,500,564

 
5,889,779

 
5,595,851

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Common stock
574,187

 
573,716

 
575,828

 
577,851

 
576,953

 
574,572

 
577,260

     Retained earnings
340,680

 
332,944

 
324,875

 
337,034

 
329,518

 
332,891

 
330,059

     Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(20,966
)
 
(25,189
)
 
(29,251
)
 
(28,380
)
 
(28,232
)
 
(25,106
)
 
(22,369
)
     Treasury stock, at cost
(148,172
)
 
(184,862
)
 
(187,120
)
 
(186,442
)
 
(185,081
)
 
(173,242
)
 
(183,066
)
       Total Shareholders' Equity
745,729

 
696,609

 
684,332

 
700,063

 
693,158

 
709,115

 
701,884

       Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
$
6,937,283

 
$
6,454,252

 
$
6,399,235

 
$
6,232,971

 
$
6,193,722

 
$
6,598,894

 
$
6,297,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


7



FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
NET INTEREST MARGIN RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS (1)
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarterly Averages
 
Year-to-Date Averages
 
 
Sep. 30, 2014
 
Jun. 30, 2014
 
Sep. 30, 2013
 
Sep. 30, 2014
 
Sep. 30, 2013
 
 
Balance
 
Yield
 
Balance
 
Yield
 
Balance
 
Yield
 
Balance
 
Yield
 
Balance
 
Yield
Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Investment securities
 
$
1,865,241

 
2.37
%
 
$
1,811,175

 
2.47
%
 
$
1,589,666

 
2.20
%
 
$
1,828,207

 
2.45
%
 
$
1,710,310

 
2.08
%
      Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
 
29,433

 
0.42
%
 
10,697

 
0.45
%
 
4,010

 
0.49
%
 
14,448

 
0.49
%
 
6,989

 
0.38
%
    Gross loans (2)
 
4,431,641

 
4.68
%
 
4,059,061

 
4.70
%
 
4,065,756

 
4.95
%
 
4,168,655

 
4.73
%
 
4,061,516

 
5.22
%
       Total earning assets
 
6,326,315

 
3.98
%
 
5,880,933

 
4.01
%
 
5,659,432

 
4.17
%
 
6,011,310

 
4.03
%
 
5,778,815

 
4.29
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonearning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Allowance for loan and lease losses
 
(55,697
)
 
 
 
(55,149
)
 
 
 
(80,659
)
 
 
 
(57,560
)
 
 
 
(89,347
)
 
 
    Cash and due from banks
 
125,528

 
 
 
118,947

 
 
 
120,154

 
 
 
122,693

 
 
 
117,252

 
 
    Accrued interest and other assets
 
541,137

 
 
 
509,521

 
 
 
494,795

 
 
 
522,451

 
 
 
491,015

 
 
       Total assets
 
$
6,937,283

 
 
 
$
6,454,252

 
 
 
$
6,193,722

 
 
 
$
6,598,894

 
 
 
$
6,297,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Interest-bearing demand
 
$
1,135,126

 
0.11
%
 
$
1,169,350

 
0.11
%
 
$
1,098,524

 
0.12
%
 
$
1,137,540

 
0.11
%
 
$
1,117,600

 
0.11
%
      Savings
 
1,782,472

 
0.26
%
 
1,702,521

 
0.23
%
 
1,608,351

 
0.09
%
 
1,706,845

 
0.23
%
 
1,622,105

 
0.10
%
      Time
 
1,123,657

 
0.97
%
 
960,424

 
0.98
%
 
947,436

 
0.90
%
 
1,013,125

 
0.96
%
 
1,004,016

 
1.05
%
    Total interest-bearing deposits
 
4,041,255

 
0.41
%
 
3,832,295

 
0.38
%
 
3,654,311

 
0.31
%
 
3,857,510

 
0.39
%
 
3,743,721

 
0.36
%
    Borrowed funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Short-term borrowings
 
835,973

 
0.17
%
 
686,148

 
0.17
%
 
598,442

 
0.19
%
 
768,275

 
0.17
%
 
609,425

 
0.20
%
      Long-term debt
 
60,355

 
3.00
%
 
59,842

 
3.52
%
 
69,264

 
3.53
%
 
60,188

 
3.34
%
 
72,691

 
3.54
%
        Total borrowed funds
 
896,328

 
0.36
%
 
745,990

 
0.44
%
 
667,706

 
0.54
%
 
828,463

 
0.40
%
 
682,116

 
0.56
%
       Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
4,937,583

 
0.40
%
 
4,578,285

 
0.39
%
 
4,322,017

 
0.35
%
 
4,685,973

 
0.39
%
 
4,425,837

 
0.39
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Noninterest-bearing demand deposits
 
1,179,207

 
 
 
1,110,697

 
 
 
1,072,259

 
 
 
1,129,107

 
 
 
1,061,850

 
 
    Other liabilities
 
74,764

 
 
 
68,661

 
 
 
106,288

 
 
 
74,699

 
 
 
108,164

 
 
    Shareholders' equity
 
745,729

 
 
 
696,609

 
 
 
693,158

 
 
 
709,115

 
 
 
701,884

 
 
       Total liabilities & shareholders' equity
 
$
6,937,283

 
 
 
$
6,454,252

 
 
 
$
6,193,722

 
 
 
$
6,598,894

 
 
 
$
6,297,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (1)
 
$
58,363

 
 
 
$
54,304

 
 
 
$
55,772

 
 
 
$
167,486

 

 
$
172,516

 

Net interest spread (1)
 
 
 
3.58
%
 
 
 
3.62
%
 
 
 
3.82
%
 
 
 
3.64
%
 
 
 
3.90
%
Net interest margin (1)
 
 
 
3.66
%
 
 
 
3.70
%
 
 
 
3.91
%
 
 
 
3.73
%
 
 
 
3.99
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Not tax equivalent.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Loans held for sale, nonaccrual loans, covered loans, and indemnification asset are included in gross loans.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8


FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
NET INTEREST MARGIN RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS (1)
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Linked Qtr. Income Variance
 
 Comparable Qtr. Income Variance
 
Year-to-Date Income Variance
 
 
Rate
 
Volume
 
Total
 
Rate
 
Volume
 
Total
 
Rate
 
Volume
 
Total
Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Investment securities
 
$
(470
)
 
$
440

 
$
(30
)
 
$
670

 
$
1,643

 
$
2,313

 
$
4,738

 
$
2,162

 
$
6,900

    Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
 
(1
)
 
20

 
19

 
(1
)
 
27

 
26

 
6

 
27

 
33

    Gross loans (2)
 
(237
)
 
4,912

 
4,675

 
(2,792
)
 
4,313

 
1,521

 
(14,980
)
 
3,792

 
(11,188
)
       Total earning assets
 
(708
)
 
5,372

 
4,664

 
(2,123
)
 
5,983

 
3,860

 
(10,236
)
 
5,981

 
(4,255
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total interest-bearing deposits
 
$
350

 
$
262

 
$
612

 
$
958

 
$
404

 
$
1,362

 
$
811

 
$
329

 
$
1,140

    Borrowed funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Short-term borrowings
 
(5
)
 
67

 
62

 
(33
)
 
101

 
68

 
(147
)
 
202

 
55

    Long-term debt
 
(78
)
 
9

 
(69
)
 
(94
)
 
(67
)
 
(161
)
 
(107
)
 
(313
)
 
(420
)
       Total borrowed funds
 
(83
)
 
76

 
(7
)
 
(127
)
 
34

 
(93
)
 
(254
)
 
(111
)
 
(365
)
       Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
267

 
338

 
605

 
831

 
438

 
1,269

 
557

 
218

 
775

          Net interest income (1)
 
$
(975
)
 
$
5,034

 
$
4,059

 
$
(2,954
)
 
$
5,545

 
$
2,591

 
$
(10,793
)
 
$
5,763

 
$
(5,030
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Not tax equivalent.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Loans held for sale, nonaccrual loans, covered loans, and indemnification asset are included in gross loans.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



9



FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CREDIT QUALITY
(excluding covered assets)
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Jun. 30,
 
Mar 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSS ACTIVITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
42,027

 
$
43,023

 
$
43,829

 
$
45,514

 
$
47,047

 
$
43,829

 
$
47,777

  Provision for uncovered loan and lease losses
1,093

 
29

 
1,159

 
1,851

 
1,413

 
2,281

 
6,863

  Gross charge-offs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Commercial
83

 
571

 
656

 
293

 
1,482

 
1,310

 
3,122

    Real estate - construction
0

 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

    Real estate - commercial
702

 
699

 
543

 
3,113

 
2,174

 
1,944

 
5,213

    Real estate - residential
161

 
283

 
257

 
218

 
249

 
701

 
798

    Installment
63

 
14

 
128

 
39

 
99

 
205

 
296

    Home equity
469

 
383

 
544

 
706

 
411

 
1,396

 
1,703

    Other
338

 
237

 
296

 
398

 
696

 
871

 
1,383

      Total gross charge-offs
1,816

 
2,187

 
2,424

 
4,768

 
5,111

 
6,427

 
12,515

  Recoveries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Commercial
566

 
580

 
39

 
194

 
92

 
1,185

 
478

    Real estate - construction
0

 
0

 
0

 
46

 
490

 
0

 
626

    Real estate - commercial
323

 
334

 
114

 
634

 
1,264

 
771

 
1,360

    Real estate - residential
34

 
100

 
27

 
96

 
98

 
161

 
107

    Installment
46

 
50

 
77

 
66

 
57

 
173

 
244

    Home equity
46

 
37

 
103

 
136

 
95

 
186

 
372

    Other
135

 
61

 
99

 
60

 
69

 
295

 
202

      Total recoveries
1,150

 
1,162

 
459

 
1,232

 
2,165

 
2,771

 
3,389

  Total net charge-offs
666

 
1,025

 
1,965

 
3,536

 
2,946

 
3,656

 
9,126

     Ending allowance for uncovered loan and lease losses
$
42,454

 
$
42,027

 
$
43,023

 
$
43,829

 
$
45,514

 
$
42,454

 
$
45,514

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET CHARGE-OFFS TO AVERAGE LOANS AND LEASES (ANNUALIZED)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Commercial
(0.16
)%
 
0.00
 %
 
0.24
%
 
0.04
 %
 
0.59
 %
 
0.01
%
 
0.39
 %
  Real estate - construction
0.00
 %
 
0.00
 %
 
0.00
%
 
(0.23
)%
 
(2.09
)%
 
0.00
%
 
(0.94
)%
  Real estate - commercial
0.09
 %
 
0.10
 %
 
0.12
%
 
0.66
 %
 
0.24
 %
 
0.10
%
 
0.36
 %
  Real estate - residential
0.13
 %
 
0.20
 %
 
0.26
%
 
0.14
 %
 
0.17
 %
 
0.19
%
 
0.28
 %
  Installment
0.15
 %
 
(0.33
)%
 
0.45
%
 
(0.22
)%
 
0.33
 %
 
0.09
%
 
0.13
 %
  Home equity
0.42
 %
 
0.37
 %
 
0.48
%
 
0.60
 %
 
0.34
 %
 
0.42
%
 
0.48
 %
  Other
0.72
 %
 
0.61
 %
 
0.70
%
 
1.20
 %
 
2.27
 %
 
0.67
%
 
1.63
 %
     Total net charge-offs
0.07
 %
 
0.11
 %
 
0.23
%
 
0.41
 %
 
0.34
 %
 
0.13
%
 
0.37
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPONENTS OF NONPERFORMING LOANS, NONPERFORMING ASSETS, AND UNDERPERFORMING ASSETS
 
 
  Nonaccrual loans (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Commercial
$
6,486

 
$
7,077

 
$
7,097

 
$
7,934

 
$
8,554

 
$
6,486

 
$
8,554

    Real estate - construction
223

 
223

 
223

 
223

 
1,099

 
223

 
1,099

    Real estate - commercial
25,262

 
15,288

 
16,758

 
17,286

 
35,549

 
25,262

 
35,549

    Real estate - residential
6,696

 
6,806

 
8,157

 
8,606

 
9,346

 
6,696

 
9,346

    Installment
398

 
459

 
399

 
574

 
421

 
398

 
421

    Home equity
2,581

 
2,565

 
2,700

 
2,982

 
2,871

 
2,581

 
2,871

    Lease financing
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
86

 
0

 
86

      Nonaccrual loans
41,646

 
32,418

 
35,334

 
37,605

 
57,926

 
41,646

 
57,926

  Accruing troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)
13,369

 
12,607

 
13,400

 
15,094

 
16,278

 
13,369

 
16,278

     Total nonperforming loans
55,015

 
45,025

 
48,734

 
52,699

 
74,204

 
55,015

 
74,204

  Other real estate owned (OREO)
11,316

 
13,370

 
12,743

 
19,806

 
11,804

 
11,316

 
11,804

     Total nonperforming assets
66,331

 
58,395

 
61,477

 
72,505

 
86,008

 
66,331

 
86,008

  Accruing loans past due 90 days or more
249

 
256

 
208

 
218

 
265

 
249

 
265

     Total underperforming assets
$
66,580

 
$
58,651

 
$
61,685

 
$
72,723

 
$
86,273

 
$
66,580

 
$
86,273

Total classified assets
$
105,914

 
$
103,799

 
$
103,471

 
$
110,509

 
$
120,423

 
$
105,914

 
120,423

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS (excluding covered assets)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan and lease losses to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Nonaccrual loans
101.94
 %
 
129.64
 %
 
121.76
%
 
116.55
 %
 
78.57
 %
 
101.94
%
 
78.57
 %
     Nonperforming loans
77.17
 %
 
93.34
 %
 
88.28
%
 
83.17
 %
 
61.34
 %
 
77.17
%
 
61.34
 %
     Total ending loans
0.95
 %
 
1.15
 %
 
1.19
%
 
1.25
 %
 
1.33
 %
 
0.95
%
 
1.33
 %
Nonperforming loans to total loans
1.24
 %
 
1.23
 %
 
1.35
%
 
1.50
 %
 
2.16
 %
 
1.24
%
 
2.16
 %
Nonperforming assets to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Ending loans, plus OREO
1.49
 %
 
1.59
 %
 
1.70
%
 
2.06
 %
 
2.50
 %
 
1.49
%
 
2.50
 %
     Total assets
0.90
 %
 
0.89
 %
 
0.95
%
 
1.13
 %
 
1.38
 %
 
0.90
%
 
1.38
 %
Nonperforming assets, excluding accruing TDRs to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Ending loans, plus OREO
1.19
 %
 
1.25
 %
 
1.33
%
 
1.63
 %
 
2.03
 %
 
1.19
%
 
2.03
 %
     Total assets
0.72
 %
 
0.70
 %
 
0.74
%
 
0.89
 %
 
1.12
 %
 
0.72
%
 
1.12
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Nonaccrual loans include nonaccrual TDRs of $13.2 million, $11.0 million, $14.6 million, $13.0 million, and $13.0 million, as of September 30, 2014, June 30, 2014, March 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013, respectively.
 
 
 
 


10



FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Jun. 30,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
PER COMMON SHARE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market Price
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  High
$
17.66

 
$
18.43

 
$
18.20

 
$
17.59

 
$
16.47

 
$
18.43

 
$
16.47

  Low
$
15.83

 
$
15.51

 
$
15.98

 
$
14.56

 
$
14.89

 
$
15.51

 
$
14.46

  Close
$
15.83

 
$
17.21

 
$
17.98

 
$
17.43

 
$
15.17

 
$
15.83

 
$
15.17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average shares outstanding - basic
59,403,109

 
57,201,494

 
57,091,604

 
57,152,425

 
57,201,390

 
57,907,203

 
57,309,934

Average shares outstanding - diluted
60,112,932

 
57,951,636

 
57,828,179

 
57,863,433

 
58,012,588

 
58,639,394

 
58,143,372

Ending shares outstanding
61,368,473

 
57,718,317

 
57,709,937

 
57,533,046

 
57,702,444

 
61,368,473

 
57,702,444

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REGULATORY CAPITAL
Preliminary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preliminary
 
 
Tier 1 Capital
$
662,608

 
$
640,237

 
$
631,099

 
$
624,850

 
$
631,846

 
$
662,608

 
$
631,846

Tier 1 Ratio
12.74
%
 
14.34
%
 
14.42
%
 
14.61
%
 
15.26
%
 
12.74
%
 
15.26
%
Total Capital
$
717,823

 
$
696,014

 
$
685,926

 
$
679,074

 
$
684,363

 
$
717,823

 
$
684,363

Total Capital Ratio
13.80
%
 
15.59
%
 
15.67
%
 
15.88
%
 
16.53
%
 
13.80
%
 
16.53
%
Total Capital in excess of minimum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  requirement
$
301,653

 
$
338,848

 
$
335,806

 
$
336,982

 
$
353,118

 
$
301,653

 
$
353,118

Total Risk-Weighted Assets
$
5,202,123

 
$
4,464,578

 
$
4,376,505

 
$
4,276,152

 
$
4,140,561

 
$
5,202,123

 
$
4,140,561

Leverage Ratio
9.70
%
 
9.99
%
 
9.94
%
 
10.11
%
 
10.29
%
 
9.70
%
 
10.29
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER CAPITAL RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending shareholders' equity to ending assets
10.52
%
 
10.78
%
 
10.64
%
 
10.63
%
 
11.07
%
 
10.52
%
 
11.07
%
Ending tangible shareholders' equity to ending tangible assets
8.71
%
 
9.39
%
 
9.23
%
 
9.20
%
 
9.60
%
 
8.71
%
 
9.60
%
Average shareholders' equity to average assets
10.75
%
 
10.79
%
 
10.69
%
 
11.23
%
 
11.19
%
 
10.75
%
 
11.15
%
Average tangible shareholders' equity to average tangible assets
8.83
%
 
9.38
%
 
9.27
%
 
9.77
%
 
9.71
%
 
8.73
%
 
9.69
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPURCHASE PROGRAM (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares repurchased
0

 
0

 
40,255

 
209,745

 
0

 
40,255

 
540,400

Average share repurchase price
N/A

 
N/A

 
$
17.32

 
$
16.39

 
N/A

 
$
17.32

 
$
15.43

Total cost of shares repurchased
N/A

 
N/A

 
$
697

 
$
3,438

 
N/A

 
$
697

 
$
8,339

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Represents share repurchases as part of publicly announced plans.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N/A=Not applicable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

11


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON COVERED ASSETS

ACCELERATED DISCOUNT ON LOAN PREPAYMENTS AND DISPOSITIONS
During the third quarter, First Financial recognized approximately $0.8 million in accelerated discount on covered loans, net of the related adjustment on the FDIC indemnification asset. Accelerated discount is recognized when covered loans, which are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet at an amount less than the unpaid principal balance, prepay at an amount greater than their recorded book value. Prepayments can occur through either customer payments before the maturity date or loan sales. The amount of discount recognized is generally offset by a related reduction in the FDIC indemnification asset.

NET INTEREST MARGIN IMPACT
Net interest margin is affected by certain activity related to the covered loan portfolio. The majority of these loans are accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 310-30 and, as such, the Company is required to periodically update its forecast of expected cash flows from these loans. Impairment, as a result of a decrease in expected cash flows, is recognized as provision expense in the period it is measured and has no impact on net interest margin. Improvements in expected cash flows, in excess of any prior impairment, are recognized on a prospective basis through an upward adjustment to the yield earned on the portfolio. Impairment and improvement are both partially offset by the impact of changes in the value of the FDIC indemnification asset. Impairment is partially offset by an increase to the FDIC indemnification asset as a result of FDIC loss sharing income. Improvement, which is reflected as a higher yield, is partially offset by a lower yield earned on the FDIC indemnification asset until the next periodic valuation of the loans and the indemnification asset. The weighted average yield of the acquired loan portfolio may also be subject to change as loans with higher yields pay down more quickly or slowly than loans with lower yields.

The following table shows the estimated yield earned by the Company on its covered and uncovered loan portfolios and the FDIC indemnification asset for the three months ended September 30, 2014.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table VII
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance
 
Yield
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans, excluding covered loans 1
$
4,052,697

 
4.35%
 
 
Covered loan portfolio accounted for under ASC Topic 310-30 2
298,884

 
10.14%
 
 
Covered loan portfolio accounted for under ASC Topic 310-20 3
52,010

 
12.83%
 
 
FDIC indemnification asset 2
28,050

 
(21.00)%
 
 
Total
$
4,431,641

 
4.68%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yield earned on total covered loans
 
 
10.54%
 
 
Yield earned on total covered loans and FDIC indemnification asset
 
 
8.21%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Includes loans with loss share coverage removed
 
 
 
 
 
2  Future yield adjustments subject to change based on required, periodic valuation procedures
 
 
3  Includes loans with revolving privileges which are scoped out of ASC Topic 310-30 and certain loans which the
 
 
    Company elected to treat under the cost recovery method of accounting
 
 





12


COVERED ASSETS
The following table presents the covered loan portfolio as of September 30, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table VIII
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
Percent
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance
 
of Total
 
Balance
 
of Total
 
Balance
 
of Total
 
 
Commercial
$
23,744

 
7.1
%
 
$
27,488

 
7.5
%
 
$
52,276

 
10.1
%
 
 
Real estate - construction
1,748

 
0.5
%
 
2,021

 
0.6
%
 
8,692

 
1.7
%
 
 
Real estate - commercial
183,912

 
55.4
%
 
208,338

 
57.0
%
 
312,798

 
60.3
%
 
 
Real estate - residential
72,315

 
21.8
%
 
74,960

 
20.5
%
 
84,418

 
16.3
%
 
 
Installment
3,570

 
1.1
%
 
4,415

 
1.2
%
 
6,135

 
1.2
%
 
 
Home equity
44,859

 
13.5
%
 
46,100

 
12.6
%
 
51,692

 
10.0
%
 
 
Other
2,117

 
0.6
%
 
2,281

 
0.6
%
 
2,513

 
0.5
%
 
 
Total
$
332,265

 
100.0
%
 
$
365,603

 
100.0
%
 
$
518,524

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As of September 30, 2014, 6.9% of the Company’s total loans were covered loans. During the third quarter, the total balance of covered loans decreased $33.3 million, or 9.1%, compared to the prior quarter. Included in the decrease in covered loan balances during the third quarter was a $16.4 million, or 25.0%, decline in the balance of covered loans classified as likely to exit resulting from the continued successful execution of resolution strategies.

Covered OREO decreased $8.3 million, or 42.5%, during the third quarter to $11.2 million as of September 30, 2014, as additions of $0.1 million were offset by resolutions and valuation adjustments of $8.4 million. The Company recognized a $1.4 million net gain on sales of covered OREO during the quarter, which was offset by a corresponding decrease in FDIC loss sharing income of approximately 80% of the net gain recognized.

As required under the loss sharing agreements, First Financial must file quarterly certifications with the FDIC on all covered loans. The payment of claims is subject to the FDIC’s review for compliance with the loss sharing agreements and to date, all certifications have been filed in a timely manner and without significant issues.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES - COVERED
Under the applicable accounting guidance, the allowance for loan losses related to covered loans is a result of impairment identified in ongoing valuation procedures and is generally recognized in the current period as provision expense. However, if improvement is noted in a loan pool that had previously experienced impairment, the amount of improvement is recognized as a reduction to the applicable period’s provision expense. Additional improvement beyond previously recorded impairment is reflected as a yield adjustment on a prospective basis. The timing inherent in this accounting treatment may result in earnings volatility in future periods.


13


The following table presents activity in the allowance for loan losses related to covered loans for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and for the trailing three quarters.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table IX
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of or for the Three Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
12,425

 
$
10,573

 
$
18,901

 
$
23,259

 
 
Provision for loan and lease losses - covered
(200
)
 
(413
)
 
(2,192
)
 
(5,857
)
 
 
   Total gross charge-offs
(3,053
)
 
(3,485
)
 
(7,240
)
 
(3,850
)
 
 
   Total recoveries
2,363

 
5,750

 
1,104

 
5,349

 
 
Total net (charge-offs) / recoveries
(690
)
 
2,265

 
(6,136
)
 
1,499

 
 
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses - covered
$
11,535

 
$
12,425

 
$
10,573

 
$
18,901

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As a percentage of total covered loans, the allowance for loan losses totaled 3.47% as of September 30, 2014 compared to 3.40% as of June 30, 2014.

Net charge offs on covered loans during the third quarter were $0.7 million compared to net recoveries of $2.3 million for the second quarter 2014. During the third quarter, the Company recognized negative provision expense related to covered loans of $0.2 million compared to negative provision expense of $0.4 million for the linked quarter. The difference between provision expense and net charge-offs / recoveries primarily relates to the quarterly re-estimation of cash flow expectations required under FASB ASC Topic 310-30.

In addition to negative covered provision expense, the Company also incurred $1.0 million of loss sharing expense and realized $1.4 million of net gains on dispositions of covered OREO during the third quarter. Loss sharing expense consists primarily of credit and collection-related expenses. The related offset to covered provision expense, loss sharing expenses and net gains on covered OREO for reimbursements due to the FDIC under loss sharing agreements was recorded as negative FDIC loss sharing income of $0.2 million for the quarter.




14