First Financial Bancorp Reports Record Third Quarter 2026 Earnings
First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) has announced record third-quarter financial results for 2026, reporting diluted earnings per share of $0.77, an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The company's net income reached $81.2 million, driven by a robust net interest margin of 4.07% and significant growth in noninterest income from wealth management and bankcard services. The company also achieved solid loan growth of $170 million on an annualized basis and received federal regulatory approval for its acquisition of Finward, which is expected to close on January 1, 2027. Despite a slight increase in classified assets due to a single relationship downgrade, the firm maintains strong capital ratios and has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share.
Topics: earnings report financial results mergers and acquisitions net income