v3.25.3
LOANS AND LEASES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Receivables [Abstract]  
LOANS AND LEASES LOANS AND LEASES
First Financial offers clients a variety of commercial and consumer loan and lease products with diverse interest rates and payment terms. Commercial loan categories include C&I, CRE, construction real estate and lease financing. Consumer loan categories include residential real estate, home equity, installment and credit card.

Lending activities are primarily concentrated in states where the Bank operates banking centers (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois). First Financial also has certain specialty lending platforms that extend beyond the geographic banking center footprint. These specialty finance businesses provide insurance premium financing, equipment lease financing and financing to franchise owners and clients within the financial services industry.

Credit Quality. To facilitate the monitoring of credit quality for commercial loans, First Financial utilizes the following categories of credit grades:
Pass - Higher quality loans that do not fit any of the other categories described below.

Special Mention - First Financial assigns a special mention rating to loans and leases with potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan, lease or First Financial's credit position at some future date.

Substandard - First Financial assigns a substandard rating to loans or leases that are inadequately protected by the current sound financial worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard loans and leases have well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize repayment of the debt. Substandard loans and leases are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not addressed.

Doubtful - First Financial assigns a doubtful rating to loans and leases with all the attributes of a substandard rating with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values. The possibility of loss is extremely high, but because of certain important and reasonably specific pending factors that may work to the advantage and strengthening of the credit quality of the loan or lease, its classification as an estimated loss is deferred until its more exact status may be determined. Pending factors include proposed merger, acquisition or liquidation procedures, capital injection, perfecting liens on additional collateral and refinancing plans.

The credit grades previously described are derived from standard regulatory rating definitions and are assigned upon initial approval of credit to borrowers and updated periodically thereafter.

First Financial considers repayment performance to be the best indicator of credit quality for consumer loans. Consumer loans that have principal and interest payments that are past due by 90 days or more are generally classified as nonperforming.

The following table sets forth the Company's loan portfolio at September 30, 2025 by risk attribute and origination date as well as current period gross chargeoffs:
(Dollars in thousands)20252024202320222021PriorTerm TotalRevolvingTotal
Commercial & industrial
Pass$705,067 $610,382 $547,227 $425,493 $190,647 $296,574 $2,775,390 $932,271 $3,707,661 
Special mention3,723 847 1,747 2,242 15,324 10,788 34,671 24,159 58,830 
Substandard6,783 4,579 11,473 13,610 4,312 2,969 43,726 28,413 72,139 
Doubtful
Total$715,573 $615,808 $560,447 $441,345 $210,283 $310,331 $2,853,787 $984,843 $3,838,630 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$793 $979 $8,329 $3,551 $1,040 $455 $15,147 $192 $15,339 
Lease financing
Pass$139,425 $207,362 $170,506 $50,928 $8,678 $3,740 $580,639 $$580,639 
Special mention046000046046
Substandard7443945,4608,80452911816,049016,049
Doubtful00000000
Total$140,169 $207,802 $175,966 $59,732 $9,207 $3,858 $596,734 $$596,734 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$491 $1,220 $601 $32 $14 $2,358 $$2,358 
Construction real estate
Pass$115,620 $174,493 $118,014 $153,895 $12,461 $7,530 $582,013 $$582,013 
Special mention13,856 16,299 30,155 30,155 
Substandard14,672 1,120 15,792 15,792 
Doubtful
Total$115,620 $174,493 $118,014 $182,423 $12,461 $24,949 $627,960 $$627,960 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$245 $245 $$245 
Commercial real estate - investor
Pass$341,205 $406,178 $425,077 $448,992 $301,040 $1,012,714 $2,935,206 $31,081 $2,966,287 
Special mention103 592 16,950 13,243 13,615 44,503 44,503 
Substandard550 10,600 30,194 41,344 41,344 
(Dollars in thousands)20252024202320222021PriorTerm TotalRevolvingTotal
Doubtful
Total$341,858 $406,770 $442,027 $472,835 $301,040 $1,056,523 $3,021,053 $31,081 $3,052,134 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$3,105 $3,105 $$3,105 
Commercial real estate - owner
Pass$146,543 $189,777 $132,193 $140,089 $81,133 $252,317 $942,052 $22,076 $964,128 
Special mention2,214 2,881 514 1,928 8,943 16,480 16,480 
Substandard250 2,618 983 2,396 9,381 15,628 15,628 
Doubtful
Total$149,007 $195,276 $132,193 $141,586 $85,457 $270,641 $974,160 $22,076 $996,236 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$$$$
Residential real estate
Performing$76,150 $150,186 $316,486 $309,147 $221,731 $401,156 $1,474,856 $$1,474,856 
Nonperforming571 1,172 2,073 4,535 11,257 19,608 19,608 
Total$76,150 $150,757 $317,658 $311,220 $226,266 $412,413 $1,494,464 $$1,494,464 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$16 $16 $$16 
Home equity
Performing$29,603 $28,108 $20,668 $17,879 $22,303 $41,525 $160,086 $769,840 $929,926 
Nonperforming35 110 165 241 239 395 1,185 4,864 6,049 
Total$29,638 $28,218 $20,833 $18,120 $22,542 $41,920 $161,271 $774,704 $935,975 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$19 $$$158 $185 $93 $278 
Installment
Performing$11,087 $8,242 $4,856 $12,822 $5,819 $4,124 $46,950 $60,742 $107,692 
Nonperforming207 81 25 460 221 152 1,146 926 2,072 
Total$11,294 $8,323 $4,881 $13,282 $6,040 $4,276 $48,096 $61,668 $109,764 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$51 $832 $929 $1,308 $494 $11 $3,625 $10 $3,635 
Credit cards
Performing$$$$$$$$62,062 $62,062 
Nonperforming592 592 
Total$$$$$$$$62,654 $62,654 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$$$1,540 $1,540 
Total Loans$1,579,309 $1,787,447 $1,772,019 $1,640,543 $873,296 $2,124,911 $9,777,525 $1,937,026 $11,714,551 
Total YTD Gross Chargeoffs$844 $2,302 $10,497 $5,460 $1,574 $4,004 $24,681 $1,835 $26,516 
The following table sets forth the Company's loan portfolio at December 31, 2024 by risk attribute and origination date:
(Dollars in thousands)20242023202220212020PriorTerm TotalRevolvingTotal
Commercial & industrial
Pass$819,600 $710,857 $592,046 $298,770 $162,136 $241,857 $2,825,266 $890,880 $3,716,146 
Special mention5,594 1,964 1,971 620 2,859 71 13,079 16,211 29,290 
Substandard4,873 3,433 22,508 8,533 347 4,309 44,003 26,419 70,422 
Doubtful
Total$830,067 $716,254 $616,525 $307,923 $165,342 $246,237 $2,882,348 $933,510 $3,815,858 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$318 $1,264 $5,293 $4,106 $147 $3,295 $14,423 $225 $14,648 
Lease financing
Pass$228,132 $253,776 $70,608 $11,480 $5,309 $1,137 $570,442 $$570,442 
Special mention064410,1715500011,365011,365 
Substandard29210,2254,893129869116,238016,238
Doubtful00000000
Total$228,424 $264,645 $85,672 $12,159 $5,317 $1,828 $598,045 $$598,045 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$1,008 $451 $66 $$1,867 $3,392 $$3,392 
Construction real estate
Pass$139,377 $213,300 $322,493 $40,740 $1,590 $17,352 $734,852 $$734,852 
Special mention3,525 12,737 17,832 34,094 34,094 
Substandard10,500 10,500 10,500 
Doubtful
Total$142,902 $213,300 $335,230 $51,240 $19,422 $17,352 $779,446 $$779,446 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$$$$
Commercial real estate - investor
Pass$515,950 $376,740 $497,047 $340,115 $231,922 $949,772 $2,911,546 $36,716 $2,948,262 
Special mention13,738 30,454 18,423 4,282 106 27,144 94,147 94,147 
Substandard10,600 4,950 35,425 50,975 50,975 
Doubtful
Total$529,688 $407,194 $526,070 $344,397 $236,978 $1,012,341 $3,056,668 $36,716 $3,093,384 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$788 $9,837 $10,625 $$10,625 
Commercial real estate - owner
Pass$202,580 $126,550 $161,401 $94,052 $128,068 $215,902 $928,553 $17,268 $945,821 
Special mention1,839 134 213 2,210 504 1,173 6,073 6,073 
Substandard858 3,159 1,249 11,200 16,466 16,466 
Doubtful
Total$204,419 $126,684 $162,472 $99,421 $129,821 $228,275 $951,092 $17,268 $968,360 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$$$$
Residential real estate
Performing$129,008 $321,232 $324,180 $233,355 $169,901 $264,312 $1,441,988 $$1,441,988 
Nonperforming198 541 1,323 4,412 4,300 9,522 20,296 20,296 
Total$129,206 $321,773 $325,503 $237,767 $174,201 $273,834 $1,462,284 $$1,462,284 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$25 $16 $$102 $143 $$143 
Home equity
Performing$30,799 $23,969 $20,280 $24,878 $28,882 $21,160 $149,968 $692,993 $842,961 
Nonperforming61 328 124 144 354 1,018 5,060 6,078 
Total$30,860 $24,297 $20,404 $25,022 $28,889 $21,514 $150,986 $698,053 $849,039 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$37 $37 $$186 $$182 $447 $$447 
Installment
Performing$12,356 $9,997 $22,244 $11,500 $2,004 $3,759 $61,860 $69,153 $131,013 
(Dollars in thousands)20242023202220212020PriorTerm TotalRevolvingTotal
Nonperforming190 116 607 268 20 16 1,217 821 2,038 
Total$12,546 $10,113 $22,851 $11,768 $2,024 $3,775 $63,077 $69,974 $133,051 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$382 $1,120 $4,066 $1,779 $71 $42 $7,460 $$7,460 
Credit cards
Performing$$$$$$$$61,969 $61,969 
Nonperforming342 342 
Total$$$$$$$$62,311 $62,311 
YTD Gross chargeoffs$$$$$$$$2,586 $2,586 
Total Loans$2,108,112 $2,084,260 $2,094,727 $1,089,697 $761,994 $1,805,156 $9,943,946 $1,817,832 $11,761,778 
Total YTD Gross Chargeoffs$737 $3,429 $9,835 $6,153 $1,011 $15,333 $36,498 $2,811 $39,309 

Delinquency. Loans are considered past due or delinquent when the contractual principal or interest due in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement remains unpaid after the date of the scheduled payment.

Loan delinquency, including loans classified as nonaccrual, was as follows:
 As of September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)30 – 59
days
past due
60 – 89
days
past due
> 89 days
past due
Total
past
due
CurrentTotal> 89 days
past due
and still
accruing
Loans       
Commercial & industrial$6,892 $989 $1,655 $9,536 $3,829,094 $3,838,630 $
Lease financing4,299 595 4,754 9,648 587,086 596,734 
Construction real estate1,120 1,120 626,840 627,960 
Commercial real estate-investor10,600 12,521 23,121 3,029,013 3,052,134 
Commercial real estate-owner1,453 379 7,477 9,309 986,927 996,236 
Residential real estate5,151 5,575 10,726 1,483,738 1,494,464 
Home equity2,408 518 1,941 4,867 931,108 935,975 
Installment1,019 471 499 1,989 107,775 109,764 
Credit card418 223 595 1,236 61,418 62,654 592 
Total$21,640 $13,775 $36,137 $71,552 $11,642,999 $11,714,551 $592 

 As of December 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)30 – 59
days
past due
60 – 89
days
past due
> 89 days
past due
Total
past
due
CurrentTotal> 89 days
past due
and still
accruing
Loans       
Commercial & industrial$4,521 $1,598 $2,470 $8,589 $3,807,269 $3,815,858 $
Lease financing3,096 3,085 3,386 9,567 588,478 598,045 19 
Construction real estate10,500 10,500 768,946 779,446 
Commercial real estate-investor17,360 17,360 3,076,024 3,093,384 
Commercial real estate-owner856 6,144 7,000 961,360 968,360 
Residential real estate6,217 154 5,968 12,339 1,449,945 1,462,284 
Home equity1,902 1,102 1,428 4,432 844,607 849,039 
Installment914 569 402 1,885 131,166 133,051 
Credit card450 196 342 988 61,323 62,311 342 
Total$17,956 $17,204 $37,500 $72,660 $11,689,118 $11,761,778 $361 

Financial Difficulty Modifications. FDM might result when a borrower is in financial distress, and may be in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest rate reduction, a term extension or an other-than-insignificant payment delay. In some cases, the Company might provide multiple types of modifications for a single loan. One type of modification, such as payment delay, may be granted initially, however, if the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another modification, such as a term extension and/or interest rate reduction might be granted. Loans included in the "combination" column in the table
that follows have more than one modification made to the same loan within the current reporting period. Additionally, modifications with a term extension or interest rate reduction are intended to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment, while modifications with a payment delay, which typically allow borrowers to make monthly payments or interest only payments for a period of time, are structured to cure the payment defaults by making delinquent payments due at maturity. Payment deferrals may be up to one year and have minimal financial impact since the deferred payments are paid at maturity.

The following tables provide the amortized cost basis of FDMs that were granted modifications during the respective periods:

Three months ended September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessPayment delayTerm extensionInterest rate reductionCombination: Term extension and interest rate reductionTotalPercent of total class of loans
Commercial & industrial$$9,974 $$$$9,974 0.26 %
Residential real estate827 279 1,106 0.07 %
Home equity17 170.00 %
Total$$10,818 $279 $$$11,097 0.09 %

Three months ended September 30, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessPayment delayTerm extensionInterest rate reductionCombination: Term extension and interest rate reductionTotalPercent of total class of loans
Commercial & industrial$$$$$$0.00 %
Construction real estate10,500 10,500 1.31 %
Residential real estate921 925 0.07 %
Home equity48 480.01 %
Total$$969 $10,504 $$$11,473 0.10 %

Nine months ended September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessPayment delayTerm extensionInterest rate reductionCombination: Term extension and interest rate reductionTotalPercent of total class of loans
Commercial & industrial$$11,674 $190 $$$11,864 0.31 %
Commercial real estate-investor474 474 0.02 %
Residential real estate2,971 509 3,480 0.23 %
Home equity861 8610.09 %
Total$$15,980 $699 $$$16,679 0.14 %
Nine months ended September 30, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessPayment delayTerm extensionInterest rate reductionCombination: Term extension and interest rate reductionTotalPercent of total class of loans
Commercial & industrial$$383 $15,860 $$$16,243 0.44 %
Construction real estate10,500 10,500 1.31 %
Residential real estate1,955 1,959 0.14 %
Home equity285 2850.03 %
Total$$2,623 $26,364 $$$28,987 0.25 %

The following table provides the financial effect of FDMs granted during the respective periods:
Three months ended September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessWeighted average interest rate reductionWeighted average term extension
Residential real estate$0.00 %10.6 years
Total$0.00 %10.6 years
Three months ended September 30, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessWeighted average interest rate reductionWeighted average term extension
Construction real estate$0.00 %0.3 years
Residential real estate0.00 %3.0 years
Total$0.00 %0.3 years

Nine months ended September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessWeighted average interest rate reductionWeighted average term extension
Commercial & industrial$0.00 %0.5 years
Residential real estate0.00 %7.4 years
Total$0.00 %5.5 years
Nine months ended September 30, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Principal forgivenessWeighted average interest rate reductionWeighted average term extension
Commercial & industrial$0.00 %0.4 years
Construction real estate0.00 %0.3 years
Residential real estate0.00 %3.0 years
Total$0.00 %0.4 years

The Company has committed to lend no additional amounts to the borrowers who have been classified as FDM as of either September 30, 2025 or September 30, 2024. Additionally, there were six FDMs totaling $0.6 million that defaulted during the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 19 FDMs totaling $1.8 million that defaulted during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, that were classified as FDMs during the twelve months preceding the default date. There was one FDM with a balance of $0.1 million that defaulted during the three months ended September 30, 2024, and six FDMs with a balance of $0.5 million that defaulted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, that were classified as FDMs during the twelve months preceding the default date.
The Company closely monitors the performance of loans that are modified for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. The following table provides the performance of loans that have been modified during the twelve months preceding September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Twelve months ended September 30, 2025
(Dollars in thousands)Current30 – 59 days past due60 – 89 days past due> 89 days past dueTotal
Commercial & industrial$12,227 $$$367 $12,594 
Commercial real estate-investor474 474 
Residential real estate3,037 97 337 350 3,821 
Home equity955 17 98 1,070 
Total$16,693 $114 $337 $815 $17,959 

Twelve months ended September 30, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Current30 – 59 days past due60 – 89 days past due> 89 days past dueTotal
Commercial & industrial$16,184 $$$$16,184 
Construction real estate10,500 10,500 
Residential real estate1,949 86 75 125 2,235 
Home equity299 299 
Total$28,932 $86 $75 $125 $29,218 

Nonaccrual loans. Loans are classified as nonaccrual when, in the opinion of management, collection of principal or interest is doubtful or when principal or interest payments are 90 days or more past due. Generally, loans are classified as nonaccrual due to the continued failure to adhere to contractual payment terms by the borrower, coupled with other pertinent factors. When a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest income is discontinued and previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed. Any payments received while a loan is on nonaccrual status are applied as a reduction to the carrying value of the loan. A loan classified as nonaccrual may return to accrual status if none of the principal and interest is due and unpaid, and the Bank expects repayment of the remaining contractual principal and interest.

First Financial individually reviews all nonaccrual loan relationships greater than $250,000 to determine if a reserve is required based on the borrower’s overall financial condition, resources and payment record, support from guarantors and the realizable value of any collateral. These reserves are based on discounted cash flows using the loan's initial effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral for certain collateral dependent loans.

The following table provides information on nonaccrual loans and leases:

September 30, 2025December 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)Nonaccrual loans with a related ACLNonaccrual loans with no related ACLTotal nonaccrualNonaccrual loans with a related ACLNonaccrual loans with no related ACLTotal nonaccrual
Nonaccrual loans  
Commercial & industrial$16,977 $6,855 $23,832 $1,939 $4,702 $6,641 
Lease financing4,542 1,343 5,885 1,982 4,245 6,227 
Construction real estate1,120 1,120 
Commercial real estate2,393 22,050 24,443 32,303 32,303 
Residential real estate16,452 16,452 16,700 16,700 
Home equity3,567 3,567 3,418 3,418 
Installment652 652 684 684 
Total nonaccrual loans$23,912 $52,039 $75,951 $3,921 $62,052 $65,973 
Interest income recognized on loans and leases while on nonaccrual was insignificant for the both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and was $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

A loan is considered to be collateral dependent when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of collateral. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral dependent loans by class of loan.
September 30, 2025
Type of Collateral
(Dollar in thousands)Business
assets
Commercial real estateEquipmentLandResidential real estateOtherTotal
Class of loan
Commercial & industrial$7,973 $$8,275 $$$7,584 $23,832 
Lease financing05,885 5,885 
Construction real estate01,120 1,120 
Commercial real estate-investor013,168 47 13,215 
Commercial real estate-owner09,334 1,894 11,228 
Residential real estate016,452 16,452 
Home equity00003,567 3,567 
Installment0000652 652 
Total$7,973 $23,622 $16,054 $$20,066 $8,236 $75,951 

December 31, 2024
Type of Collateral
(Dollar in thousands)Business
assets
Commercial real estateEquipmentLandResidential real estateOtherTotal
Class of loan
Commercial & industrial$2,527 $$1,434 $$$2,680 $6,641 
Lease financing06,227 6,227 
Commercial real estate-investor026,132 27 26,159 
Commercial real estate-owner04,250 1,894 6,144 
Residential real estate016,700 16,700 
Home equity00003,418 3,418 
Installment0000684 684 
Total$2,527 $30,382 $9,555 $$20,145 $3,364 $65,973 

Lease financing - Lessor. First Financial originates both sales-type and direct financing leases, and the Company manages and reviews lease residuals in accordance with its credit policies. Payments are generally fixed, however, in some agreements, lease payments are based on a rate or index plus a spread. Sales-type lease contracts contain the ability to purchase the underlying equipment at lease maturity and profit or loss is recognized at lease commencement.  Direct financing leases are generally three to five years in length and may be extended at maturity, however, early cancellation may result in a fee to the borrower.  For direct financing leases, the net unearned income is deferred and amortized over the life of the lease.
The components of the Company's net investments in direct financing and sales-type leases, which are included in Lease financing on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

(Dollar in thousands)September 30, 2025December 31, 2024
Direct financing and sales-type leases
Lease receivables$585,978 $581,651 
Unguaranteed residual values10,756 16,394 
Total net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases$596,734 $598,045 

Interest income for direct financing and sales-type leases was $9.7 million and $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024, respectively. Interest income for direct financing and sales-type leases was $28.5 million and $26.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024, respectively.

The remaining maturities of lease receivables were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)Direct financing and Sales-type
Remainder of 2025$58,584 
2026201,815 
2027173,578 
2028112,015 
202969,106 
Thereafter48,770 
Total lease payments663,868 
Less: unearned income(77,890)
Net lease receivables$585,978 

OREO. OREO consists of properties acquired by the Company primarily through the loan foreclosure or repossession process, that results in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans.

Changes in OREO were as follows:
Three months endedNine months ended
 September 30,September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)2025202420252024
Balance at beginning of period$204 $30 $64 $106 
Additions
Commercial real estate
Residential real estate149 55 
Total additions149 55 
Disposals  
Commercial real estate
Residential real estate(55)(55)(106)
Total disposals(55)(55)(106)
Valuation adjustment  
Commercial real estate
Residential real estate(38)(47)(25)
Total valuation adjustment(38)(47)(25)
Balance at end of period$111 $30 $111 $30