Exhibit 99.1

News Release

FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

One First Financial Plaza, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807 (812) 238-6000

First Financial Corporation Reports 2022 Results

Terre Haute, Indiana, February 2, 2023 – First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) today announced results for the fourth quarter of 2022.

Net income was $16.5 million compared to $7.4 million for the same period of 2021;
Diluted net income per common share of $1.37 compared to $0.58 for the same period of 2021;
Return on average assets was 1.34% compared to 0.58% for the three months ended December 31, 2021;
Credit loss provision was $2.7 million compared to $5.7 million for the fourth quarter 2021; and
Pre-tax, pre-provision net income was $21.7 million compared to $14.3 million for the same period in 2021.1

The Corporation further reported results for the year ended December 31, 2022:

Net income was $71.1 million compared to $53.0 million for the same period of 2021;
Diluted net income per common share of $5.82 compared to $4.02 for the same period of 2021;
Return on average assets was 1.41% compared to 1.10% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021;
Negative provision for credit losses was $2.0 million compared to provision for credit losses of $2.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021; and
Pre-tax, pre-provision net income was $84.9 million compared to $68.1 million for the same period in 2021.1

1 Non-GAAP financial measure that Management believes is useful for investors and management to understand pre-tax profitability before giving effect to credit loss expense and to provide additional perspective on the Corporation’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Corporation’s peers and evaluating the financial results of the Corporation – please refer to the Non GAAP reconciliations contained in this release.

“We are pleased with our fourth quarter and full year results” said Norman L. Lowery, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “2022 was a record year for net income. Loan growth continues to be strong which contributed to our seventh straight quarter of net interest income growth.”

Average Total Loans

Average total loans for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $3.02 billion versus $2.63 billion for the comparable period in 2021, an increase of $382 million or 14.5%.

Total Loans Outstanding

Total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2022, were $3.07 billion compared to $2.82 billion as of December 31, 2021, an increase of $252 million or 8.93%. On a linked quarter basis, total loans increased $97.0 million or 3.26% from $2.97 billion as of September 30, 2022.

Average Total Deposits

Average total deposits for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, were $4.38 billion versus $4.31 billion as of December 31, 2021, an increase of $71 million or 1.7%.


Total Deposits

Total deposits were $4.37 billion as of December 31, 2022, compared to $4.41 billion as of December 31, 2021.

Book Value Per Share

Book Value per share was $39.44 at December 31, 2022, compared to $46.13 at December 31, 2021. The decrease was partially driven by the repurchase of 618,263 shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

Shareholder Equity

Shareholder equity at December 31, 2022, was $475.3 million compared to $582.6 million on December 31, 2021. The decrease in shareholder’s equity is reflective of the downturn in the markets which affected the accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) (“AOCI”) on investments available for sale. AOCI has decreased $138 million in comparison to December 31, 2021.

Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Asset Ratio

The Corporation’s tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 7.79% at December 31, 2022, compared to 9.62% at December 31, 2021. The decrease was partially driven by the aforementioned share repurchases.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $43.7 million, compared to $36.8 million reported for the same period of 2021, an increase of $6.8 million or 18.53%.

Net Interest Margin

The net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was 3.81% compared to the 3.08% reported at December 31, 2021. On a linked quarter basis, the net interest margin increased 10 basis points from 3.71% as of September 30, 2022.

Nonperforming Loans

Nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2022, were $13.4 million versus $14.9 million as of December 31, 2021. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.44% as of December 31, 2022, versus 0.53% as of December 31, 2021.

Credit Loss Provision

The provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2022 was $2.73 million, compared to $5.71 million for the fouth quarter 2021.

Net Charge-Offs

In the fourth quarter of 2022 net charge-offs were $2.4 million compared to $1.8 million in the same period of 2021.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Corporation’s allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2022, was $39.8 million compared to $48.3 million as of December 31, 2021. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was 1.30% as of December 31, 2022, compared to 1.72% as of December 31, 2021.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $10.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2022, was $32.5 million compared to $33.3 million in 2021.

Efficiency Ratio

The Corporation’s efficiency ratio was 58.78% for the quarter ending December 31, 2022, versus 68.37% for the same period in 2021.


Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2022, was $2.5 million versus $1.2 million for the same period in 2021. The effective tax rate for 2022 was 19.0% compared to 19.2% for 2021.

About First Financial Corporation

First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A. First Financial Bank N.A., the fifth oldest national bank in the United States, operates 78 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Additional information is available at www.first-online.bank.

Investor Contact:

Rodger A. McHargue

Chief Financial Officer

P: 812-238-6334

E: rmchargue@first-online.com


Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 

September 30,

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

END OF PERIOD BALANCES

Assets

$

4,989,281

$

5,009,339

$

5,175,099

$

4,989,281

$

5,175,099

Deposits

$

4,368,871

$

4,407,506

$

4,409,569

$

4,368,871

$

4,409,569

Loans, including net deferred loan costs

$

3,067,438

$

2,970,475

$

2,815,895

$

3,067,438

$

2,815,895

Allowance for Credit Losses

$

39,779

$

39,495

$

48,305

$

39,779

$

48,305

Total Equity

$

475,284

$

438,626

$

582,576

$

475,284

$

582,576

Tangible Common Equity (a)

$

381,585

$

344,617

$

488,417

$

381,585

$

488,417

AVERAGE BALANCES

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Total Assets

$

4,930,611

$

5,048,849

$

5,086,702

$

5,043,987

$

4,814,350

Earning Assets

$

4,690,594

$

4,774,080

$

4,875,039

$

4,800,481

$

4,611,741

Investments

$

1,393,753

$

1,436,179

$

1,410,351

$

1,432,681

$

1,278,498

Loans

$

3,015,903

$

2,917,457

$

2,633,559

$

2,884,053

$

2,602,344

Total Deposits

$

4,383,505

$

4,406,187

$

4,312,115

$

4,408,510

$

4,037,876

Interest-Bearing Deposits

$

3,509,416

$

3,515,568

$

3,823,428

$

3,517,468

$

3,320,112

Interest-Bearing Liabilities

$

84,210

$

95,098

$

110,490

$

97,134

$

107,367

Total Equity

$

438,767

$

481,225

$

589,197

$

494,837

$

597,369

INCOME STATEMENT DATA

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net Interest Income

$

43,658

$

43,104

$

36,832

$

165,042

$

143,401

Net Interest Income Fully Tax Equivalent (b)

$

44,724

$

44,402

$

37,953

$

169,699

$

147,765

Provision for Credit Losses

$

2,725

$

1,050

$

5,710

$

(2,025)

$

2,466

Non-interest Income

$

10,568

$

12,140

$

10,767

$

46,716

$

42,084

Non-interest Expense

$

32,501

$

31,504

$

33,312

$

126,023

$

117,406

Net Income

$

16,521

$

18,051

$

7,398

$

71,109

$

52,987

PER SHARE DATA

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share

$

1.37

$

1.50

$

0.58

$

5.82

$

4.02

Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share

$

0.74

$

$

0.63

$

1.28

$

1.16

Book Value Per Common Share

$

39.44

$

36.49

$

46.13

$

39.44

$

46.13

Tangible Book Value Per Common Share (c)

$

28.67

$

33.27

$

38.66

$

31.66

$

38.67

Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

 

12,037

 

12,029

 

12,804

 

12,211

 

13,190


(a)Tangible common equity is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible common equity by excluding goodwill and other intangible assets from shareholder’s equity.
(b)Net interest income fully tax equivalent is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate net interest income fully tax equivalent by adding back the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income to net interest income. We calculate the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income by dividing tax exempt income by the net of tax rate of 75%.
(c)Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate the factor by dividing average tangible common equity by average shares outstanding. We calculate average tangible common equity by excluding average intangible assets from average shareholder’s equity.


Key Ratios

    

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

 

December 31, 

    

September 30,

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

2022

       

2022

       

2021

       

2022

       

2021

 

Return on average assets

 

1.34

%

1.43

%

0.58

%

1.41

%

1.10

%

Return on average common shareholder's equity

 

15.06

%

15.00

%

5.02

%

14.37

%

8.87

%

Efficiency ratio

 

58.78

%

55.72

%

68.37

%

58.23

%

61.84

%

Average equity to average assets

 

8.90

%

9.53

%

11.58

%

9.81

%

12.41

%

Net interest margin (a)

 

3.81

%

3.71

%

3.08

%

3.54

%

3.20

%

Net charge-offs to average loans and leases

 

0.32

%

0.19

%

0.27

%

0.23

%

0.10

%

Credit loss reserve to loans and leases

 

1.30

%

1.33

%

1.72

%

1.30

%

1.72

%

Credit loss reserve to nonperforming loans

 

289.51

%

276.59

%

321.78

%

296.79

%

324.11

%

Nonperforming loans to loans and leases

 

0.44

%

0.48

%

0.53

%

0.44

%

0.53

%

Tier 1 leverage

 

10.78

%

10.33

%

9.83

%

10.78

%

9.83

%

Risk-based capital - Tier 1

 

13.58

%

13.69

%

14.37

%

13.58

%

14.37

%


(a)Net interest margin is calculated on a tax equivalent basis.

Asset Quality

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

    

December 31, 

    

September 30,

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

2022

2022

2021

2022

2021

Accruing loans and leases past due 30-89 days

$

28,875

$

18,626

$

17,096

$

28,875

$

17,096

Accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more

$

1,119

$

1,185

$

515

$

1,119

$

515

Nonaccrual loans and leases

$

8,481

$

9,147

$

9,590

$

8,481

$

9,590

Total troubled debt restructuring

$

3,803

$

3,947

$

4,799

$

3,803

$

4,799

Other real estate owned

$

337

$

214

$

108

$

337

$

108

Nonperforming loans and other real estate owned

$

13,740

$

14,493

$

15,012

$

13,740

$

15,012

Total nonperforming assets

$

16,726

$

17,604

$

18,371

$

16,726

$

18,371

Gross charge-offs

$

4,388

$

5,653

$

3,113

$

15,706

$

8,216

Recoveries

$

1,947

$

2,630

$

1,312

$

9,205

$

5,569

Net charge-offs/(recoveries)

$

2,441

$

3,023

$

1,801

$

6,501

$

2,647

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Three Months Ended December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

($in thousands, except EPS)

Income before Income Taxes

$

19,000

$

8,577

Provision for credit losses

 

2,725

 

5,710

Provision for unfunded commitments

 

 

Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income

$

21,725

$

14,287

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Year Ended December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

($ in thousands, except EPS)

Income before Income Taxes

$

87,760

$

65,613

Provision for credit losses

(2,025)

2,466

Provision for unfunded commitments

(850)

Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income

$

84,885

$

68,079


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

2022

2021

 

(unaudited)

ASSETS

Cash and due from banks

$

220,039

$

682,807

Federal funds sold

 

9,374

 

308

Securities available-for-sale

 

1,332,947

 

1,364,734

Loans:

 

 

  

Commercial

 

1,798,260

 

1,674,066

Residential

 

673,464

 

664,509

Consumer

 

588,539

 

474,026

 

3,060,263

 

2,812,601

(Less) plus:

 

  

 

  

Net deferred loan costs

 

7,175

 

3,294

Allowance for credit losses

 

(39,779)

 

(48,305)

 

3,027,659

 

2,767,590

Restricted stock

 

15,378

 

16,200

Accrued interest receivable

 

21,288

 

16,946

Premises and equipment, net

 

66,147

 

69,522

Bank-owned life insurance

 

115,704

 

116,997

Goodwill

 

86,985

 

86,135

Other intangible assets

 

6,714

 

8,024

Other real estate owned

 

337

 

108

Other assets

 

86,709

 

45,728

TOTAL ASSETS

$

4,989,281

$

5,175,099

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

  

 

  

Deposits:

 

  

 

  

Non-interest-bearing

$

857,920

$

914,933

Interest-bearing:

 

 

  

Certificates of deposit exceeding the FDIC insurance limits

 

50,608

 

74,015

Other interest-bearing deposits

 

3,460,343

 

3,420,621

 

4,368,871

 

4,409,569

Short-term borrowings

 

70,875

 

93,374

FHLB advances

 

9,589

 

15,937

Other liabilities

 

64,662

 

73,643

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

4,513,997

 

4,592,523

Shareholders’ equity

 

  

 

  

Common stock, $.125 stated value per share;

 

  

 

  

Authorized shares-40,000,000

 

  

 

  

Issued shares-16,114,992 in 2022 and 16,096,313 in 2021

 

  

 

  

Outstanding shares-12,051,964 in 2022 and 12,629,893 in 2021

 

2,012

 

2,009

Additional paid-in capital

 

143,185

 

141,979

Retained earnings

 

614,829

 

559,139

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

(139,983)

 

(2,426)

Less: Treasury shares at cost-4,063,028 in 2022 and 3,466,420 in 2021

 

(144,759)

 

(118,125)

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

475,284

 

582,576

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

4,989,281

$

5,175,099


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 Year Ended December 31,

    

2022

    

2021

 

2020

 

(unaudited)

INTEREST INCOME:

Loans, including related fees

$

146,295

$

128,000

$

137,241

Securities:

 

 

  

 

  

Taxable

 

21,014

 

13,110

 

12,979

Tax-exempt

 

9,974

 

8,762

 

7,952

Other

 

6,018

 

2,326

 

2,313

TOTAL INTEREST INCOME

 

183,301

 

152,198

 

160,485

INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Deposits

 

16,743

 

8,158

 

12,801

Short-term borrowings

 

1,243

 

387

 

568

Other borrowings

 

273

 

252

 

770

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE

 

18,259

 

8,797

 

14,139

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

165,042

 

143,401

 

146,346

Provision for credit losses

 

(2,025)

 

2,466

 

10,528

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION

 

  

 

  

 

  

FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

167,067

 

140,935

 

135,818

NON-INTEREST INCOME:

 

 

  

 

  

Trust and financial services

 

5,155

 

5,255

 

5,423

Service charges and fees on deposit accounts

 

11,842

 

10,089

 

10,256

Other service charges and fees

 

18,604

 

18,212

 

15,644

Securities gains (losses), net

 

3

 

114

 

233

Gain on sales of mortgage loans

 

1,994

 

5,003

 

6,626

Other

 

9,118

 

3,411

 

4,294

TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

46,716

 

42,084

 

42,476

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Salaries and employee benefits

 

65,555

 

64,474

 

61,931

Occupancy expense

 

9,764

 

8,774

 

8,202

Equipment expense

 

12,391

 

10,174

 

10,568

FDIC Expense

 

2,327

 

1,294

 

316

Other

 

35,986

 

32,690

 

31,741

TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

126,023

 

117,406

 

112,758

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

87,760

 

65,613

 

65,536

Provision for income taxes

 

16,651

 

12,626

 

11,692

NET INCOME

 

71,109

 

52,987

 

53,844

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

  

 

  

 

  

Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on securities, net of reclassifications and taxes

 

(144,579)

 

(18,148)

 

19,269

Change in funded status of post retirement benefits, net of taxes

 

7,022

 

6,298

 

(2,004)

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

$

(66,448)

$

41,137

$

71,109

PER SHARE DATA

 

  

 

  

 

  

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

$

5.82

$

4.02

$

3.93

Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)

 

12,211

 

13,190

 

13,716