First Financial Corporation Reports 1st Quarter Results


TERRE HAUTE, IN--(Marketwired - Apr 29, 2015) - First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: THFF) today announced results for the first quarter of 2015. Net income for the three months ending March 31, 2015 was $7.76 million compared to $7.83 million for the same period of 2014. Diluted net income per common share increased 1.69% to $0.60 from $0.59 for the comparable period of 2014.

Return on assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was 1.04% compared to 1.03% for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Average total loans for the first quarter of 2015 were $1.76 billion versus the $1.78 billion for the comparable period in 2014, a decrease of $22.3 million or 1.25%. Total loans outstanding decreased $29.5 million, or 1.66%, from $1.78 billion as of March 31, 2014 to $1.76 billion as of March 31, 2015. On a linked quarter basis, average total loans decreased $34.7 million, or 1.93%, from $1.80 billion for the quarter ending December 31, 2014 primarily due to payoffs in the 4th quarter related to the sale of businesses.

Average total deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 were $2.46 billion versus $2.49 billion as of March 31, 2014, a decrease of 1.23%. Non-interest bearing deposits, however, increased 4.98% while interest-bearing deposits decreased 2.87%.

The company's tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 12.39% at March 31, 2015, compared to 11.89% at March 31, 2014.

Due to the prolonged low interest rate environment, net interest income for the first quarter of 2015 was $26.0 million, a decrease of 4.23% over the $27.1 million reported for the same period of 2014. The net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 decreased to 4.01% from the 4.10% reported at March 31, 2014.

Asset quality remains strong with nonperforming loans decreasing 13.59% to $34.7 million as of March 31, 2015 versus $40.1 million as of March 31, 2014. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases also decreased to 1.97% as of March 31, 2015 versus 2.25% as of March 31, 2014.

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $1.45 million compared to the $1.96 million provision for the first quarter of 2014. Net charge-offs were $938 thousand for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $1.39 million in the same period of 2014. The Corporation's allowance for loan losses as of March 31, 2015 was $19.4 million compared to $20.8 million as of March 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans was 1.10% as of March 31, 2015 compared to 1.14% as of March 31, 2014.

Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $10.06 and $10.11 million, respectively. An increase in other non-interest income offset declines in service charges and fees on deposit accounts and insurance commissions.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased $288 thousand to $24.0 million compared to $23.7 million in 2014. On a linked quarter basis, non-interest expense increased $868 thousand from $23.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. On a year-over-year basis, salaries and employee benefits increased $962 thousand driven by normal merit increases and increased pension expense due in part to lower discount rates used in determining the liability as well as the use of the new RP-2014 Mortality Table. The pension plan was frozen for the majority of employees as of December 31, 2013. The Corporation's efficiency ratio was 63.78% for the quarter ending March 31, 2015 versus 62.30% for the same period in 2014.

Book value per share was $31.58 at March 31, 2015, a 5.62% increase from the $29.90 at March 31, 2014. Shareholders' equity increased 2.43% to $409.0 million from $399.3 million on March 31, 2014.

Norman L. Lowery, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter of 2015. The continued improvement in our asset quality is a primary contributor to our success."

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

     
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    2015   2014   2014
END OF PERIOD BALANCES            
  Assets   $ 2,995,836   $ 3,002,485   $ 3,032,542
  Deposits   $ 2,463,949   $ 2,457,197   $ 2,507,014
  Loans   $ 1,756,604   $ 1,781,428   $ 1,783,974
  Allowance for Loan Losses   $ 19,351   $ 18,839   $ 20,408
  Total Equity   $ 409,027   $ 394,214   $ 399,329
  Tangible Common Equity   $ 365,853   $ 350,824   $ 326,493
                   
AVERAGE BALANCES                  
  Total Assets   $ 2,988,154   $ 3,020,068   $ 3,031,289
  Earning Assets   $ 2,748,730   $ 2,793,424   $ 2,794,831
  Investments   $ 969,315   $ 986,606   $ 992,901
  Loans   $ 1,760,524   $ 1,795,235   $ 1,782,838
  Total Deposits   $ 2,461,400   $ 2,461,253   $ 2,492,170
  Interest-Bearing Deposits   $ 1,917,509   $ 1,934,597   $ 1,974,088
  Interest-Bearing Liabilities   $ 44,789   $ 100,512   $ 91,157
  Total Equity   $ 401,423   $ 403,413   $ 396,459
                   
INCOME STATEMENT DATA                  
  Net Interest Income   $ 25,995   $ 26,939   $ 27,142
  Net Interest Income Fully Tax Equivalent   $ 27,559   $ 28,503   $ 28,665
  Provision for Loan Losses   $ 1,450   $ 1,962   $ 1,960
  Non-interest Income   $ 10,061   $ 10,615   $ 10,111
  Non-interest Expense   $ 23,993   $ 23,125   $ 23,705
  Net Income   $ 7,761   $ 9,181   $ 7,831
                   
PER SHARE DATA                  
  Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share   $ 0.60   $ 0.70   $ 0.59
  Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share   $ --   $ 0.49   $ --
  Book Value Per Common Share   $ 31.58   $ 30.46   $ 29.90
  Tangible Book Value Per Common Share   $ 28.27   $ 27.11   $ 26.60
  Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding     12,948     12,932     13,349
                     
                     
Key Ratios   Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     December 31,     March 31,  
    2015     2014     2014  
Return on average assets   1.04 %   1.21 %   1.03 %
Return on average common shareholder's equity   7.73 %   8.91 %   7.90 %
Efficiency ratio   63.78 %   59.11 %   62.30 %
Average equity to average assets   13.43 %   13.62 %   13.08 %
Net interest margin   4.01 %   3.99 %   4.10 %
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases   0.21 %   0.35 %   0.31 %
Loan and lease loss reserve to loans and leases   1.10 %   1.01 %   1.14 %
Loan and lease loss reserve to nonperforming loans and other real estate   55.82 %   54.55 %   52.42 %
Nonperforming loans to loans   1.97 %   1.94 %   2.25 %
Tier 1 leverage   12.74 %   12.33 %   12.17 %
Risk-based capital - Tier 1   17.64 %   16.99 %   16.63 %
                   
                   
Asset Quality   Three Months Ended
    March 31,   December 31,   March 31,
    2015   2014   2014
Accruing loans and leases past due 30-89 days   $ 7,159   $ 13,444   $ 9,388
Accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more   $ 640   $ 780   $ 1,153
Nonaccrual loans and leases   $ 14,868   $ 15,034   $ 19,798
Nonperforming loans and other real estate   $ 34,666   $ 34,537   $ 40,082
Other real estate owned   $ 3,830   $ 3,965   $ 4,806
Total nonperforming assets   $ 49,353   $ 49,639   $ 52,239
Total troubled debt restructurings   $ 15,028   $ 14,758   $ 14,325
Gross charge-offs   $ 1,823   $ 2,308   $ 2,161
Recoveries   $ 885   $ 1,690   $ 776
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)   $ 938   $ 618   $ 1,385
                   
                   
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data) 
 
    March 31,
 2015
    December 31,
 2014
 
    (unaudited)  
ASSETS            
Cash and due from banks   $ 88,492     $ 78,102  
Federal funds sold     12,688       8,000  
Securities available-for-sale     906,341       897,053  
Loans:                
Commercial     1,041,694       1,044,522  
Residential     448,842       469,172  
Consumer     264,529       266,656  
      1,755,065       1,780,350  
(Less) plus:                
Net deferred loan costs     1,539       1,078  
Allowance for loan losses     (19,351 )     (18,839 )
      1,737,253       1,762,589  
Restricted Stock     16,404       16,404  
Accrued interest receivable     11,381       11,593  
Premises and equipment, net     50,970       51,802  
Bank-owned life insurance     81,149       80,730  
Goodwill     39,489       39,489  
Other intangible assets     3,685       3,901  
Other real estate owned     3,830       3,965  
Other assets     44,154       48,857  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 2,995,836     $ 3,002,485  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                
Deposits:                
Non-interest-bearing   $ 537,686     $ 556,389  
Interest-bearing:                
Certificates of deposit exceeding the FDIC insurance limits     48,074       53,733  
Other interest-bearing deposits     1,878,189       1,847,075  
      2,463,949       2,457,197  
Short-term borrowings     28,462       48,015  
FHLB advances     12,812       12,886  
Other liabilities     81,586       90,173  
TOTAL LIABILITIES     2,586,809       2,608,271  
                 
Shareholders' equity                
Common stock, $.125 stated value per share;                
Authorized shares-40,000,000                
Issued shares-14,557,815 in 2015 and 14,538,132 in 2014                
Outstanding shares-12,952,169 in 2015 and 12,942,175 in 2014     1,815       1,815  
Additional paid-in capital     72,576       72,405  
Retained earnings     385,731       377,970  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (7,303 )     (14,529 )
Less: Treasury shares at cost-1,605,646 in 2015 and 1,595,957 in 2014     (43,792 )     (43,447 )
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY     409,027       394,214  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 2,995,836     $ 3,002,485  
                 
                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
    Three Months Ended
 March 31,
    2015   2014
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME:        
Loans, including related fees   $ 20,807   $ 22,218
Securities:            
Taxable     4,061     4,444
Tax-exempt     1,779     1,746
Other     431     416
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME     27,078     28,824
INTEREST EXPENSE:            
Deposits     1,020     1,290
Short-term borrowings     13     14
Other borrowings     50     378
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE     1,083     1,682
NET INTEREST INCOME     25,995     27,142
Provision for loan losses     1,450     1,960
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES     24,545     25,182
NON-INTEREST INCOME:            
Trust and financial services     1,492     1,489
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts     2,326     2,484
Other service charges and fees     2,838     2,839
Securities gains/(losses), net     4     --
Insurance commissions     1,553     1,913
Gain on sales of mortgage loans     359     376
Other     1,489     1,010
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME     10,061     10,111
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:            
Salaries and employee benefits     15,058     14,096
Occupancy expense     1,864     1,925
Equipment expense     1,772     1,658
FDIC Expense     430     487
Other     4,869     5,539
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE     23,993     23,705
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES     10,613     11,588
Provision for income taxes     2,852     3,757
NET INCOME     7,761     7,831
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME            
Change in unrealized gains/losses on securities, net of reclassifications and taxes     4,762     5,303
Change in funded status of post retirement benefits, net of taxes     2,464     115
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME   $ 14,987   $ 13,249
PER SHARE DATA            
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share   $ 0.60   $ 0.59
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)     12,948     13,349
             

Contact Information:

For more information contact:
Rodger A. McHargue
(812) 238-6334