TERRE HAUTE, IN--(Marketwire - January 26, 2011) - First Financial Corporation (
Net interest income for 2010 of $96.6 million is an increase of 11.1% over the $87.0 million reported for 2009. Net interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $24.6 million compared to $23.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, a 6.6% increase. The net interest margin of 4.35% for 2010 is an increase of 5.3% over the 4.13% reported for 2009 as the Corporation continued to realize the benefits of reduced funding costs.
Non-interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $9.6 and $7.4 million, respectively. For 2010, non-interest income was $29.8 million compared to the $28.5 million reported for 2009. Improvements in trust and financial services income as well as electronic banking income were the primary contributors to the improvement in non-interest income for the year.
Non-interest expense for 2010 was $77.2 million compared to $73.4 million in 2009. During 2010, the Corporation recognized a full year of expenses related to the acquisition of The First National Bank of Danville, which occurred in July of 2009. This accounts for approximately $1.5 million of the increase in non-interest expense for the year. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, non-interest expenses were reduced $530 thousand to $19.6 million from the $20.2 million reported for the same period of 2009. The 4th quarter improvement in non-interest expense is largely related to lower personnel and occupancy costs as efficiencies related to the Danville acquisition in 2009 were realized.
Total deposits at December 31, 2010 increased by $113.3 million or 6.3% to $1.90 billion compared to $1.79 billion reported the same time a year ago. This increase was used to reduce higher-cost borrowings, which contributed to the improved net interest margin. There was less overall loan demand in 2010; however, the Corporation was able to increase loans by $8.3 million to $1.64 billion. Shareholders' equity and book value per share increased 5.0% and 4.8%, respectively, to $321.7 million and $24.46 per share for 2010. This improvement allowed the Corporation to increase the dividends it paid to shareholders in 2010, something it has done for each of the past 22 years.
First Financial Corporation is the holding company for First Financial Bank NA in Indiana and Illinois, The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute and Forrest Sherer Inc. in Indiana.
First Financial Corporation
For the Quarter Ending December 31, 2010
(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)
12/31/10 12/31/09 Change % Change
Year to Date Information:
Net Income $ 28,044 $ 22,720 $ 5,324 23.43%
Earnings Per Average
Share $ 2.14 $ 1.73 $ 0.41 23.70%
Return on Assets 1.11% 0.95% 0.16% 16.84%
Return on Equity 8.73% 7.54% 1.19% 15.78%
Net Interest Margin 4.35% 4.13% 0.22% 5.33%
Net Interest Income $ 96,616 $ 86,994 $ 9,622 11.06%
Non-Interest Income $ 29,797 $ 28,532 $ 1,265 4.43%
Non-Interest Expense $ 77,203 $ 73,381 $ 3,822 5.21%
Loss Provision $ 9,200 $ 11,870 $ (2,670) -22.49%
Net Charge Offs $ 7,963 $ 8,713 $ (750) -8.61%
Efficiency Ratio 58.63% 60.64% -2.01% -3.32%
Quarter to Date Information:
Net Income $ 8,352 $ 5,850 $ 2,502 42.77%
Earnings Per Average
Share $ 0.64 $ 0.45 $ 0.19 42.22%
Return on Assets 1.32% 0.93% 0.39% 41.94%
Return on Equity 10.10% 7.50% 2.60% 34.67%
Net Interest Margin 4.41% 4.19% 0.22% 5.25%
Net Interest Income $ 24,601 $ 23,088 $ 1,513 6.55%
Non-Interest Income $ 9,615 $ 7,358 $ 2,257 30.67%
Non-Interest Expense $ 19,642 $ 20,171 $ (529) -2.62%
Loss Provision $ 2,190 $ 2,490 $ (300) -12.05%
Net Charge Offs $ 1,431 $ 1,881 $ (450) -23.92%
Efficiency Ratio 55.25% 63.38% -8.13% -12.83%
Balance Sheet:
Assets $ 2,451,095 $ 2,518,722 $ (67,627) -2.68%
Deposits $ 1,903,043 $ 1,789,701 $ 113,342 6.33%
Loans $ 1,640,146 $ 1,631,764 $ 8,382 0.51%
Shareholders' Equity $ 321,717 $ 306,483 $ 15,234 4.97%
Book Value Per Share $ 24.46 $ 23.34 $ 1.12 4.79%
Average Assets $ 2,516,782 $ 2,400,100 $ 116,682 4.86%
Contact Information: For more information contact: Rodger A. McHargue (812) 238-6334