Earnings Releases·Oct 27, 2026, 4:17 PM ET

First Financial Bancorp — Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Summary

Reported net income of $81.2 million ($0.77 diluted EPS) for Q3 2026, up from $76.5 million ($0.73 diluted EPS) in Q2 2026, with nine-month diluted EPS rising to $2.21 from $2.02 in the prior year period.
Net interest margin increased 9 basis points to 4.07% and total noninterest income grew 8% to $77.7 million, driven by strong performance in wealth management, bankcard income, and foreign exchange; however, tangible book value per share declined 5.9% to $15.65 due to rising interest rates.
Management expects low to mid-single-digit loan growth for the remainder of 2026 and anticipates expense moderation in Q4 following elevated incentive, healthcare, and credit collection costs.
Received Federal regulatory approval for the acquisition of Finward Bancorp, expected to close on January 1, 2027, subject to remaining state regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per common share payable December 15, 2026, while total capital ratio increased 8 basis points to 15.83% and classified assets rose to 1.26% of total assets due to a single ICRE relationship.