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First Financial Bancorp: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $74.4 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, against $62.4 million, or $0.64, in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EPS was $0.77. Source
  • Margin held as funding costs fell: Net interest margin was 3.97% (3.99% fully tax-equivalent), up 1 basis point from the fourth quarter, as funding costs fell 13 basis points and asset yields fell 12 basis points. Source
  • Adjusted fee income near fourth-quarter level: Noninterest income was $81.9 million reported and $75.6 million adjusted. Adjustments included an $8.9 million bargain purchase gain and a $1.3 million securities loss. Source
  • Loans rose slightly on acquisition: End-of-period loans rose $70.8 million, including $227.7 million acquired with BankFinancial, offset by a $151.9 million decrease in ICRE. Source
  • Expenses rose on acquisitions: Noninterest expenses were $169.4 million reported and $154.8 million adjusted, up 9.1% from the fourth quarter, driven by the BankFinancial and Westfield acquisitions. Source
  • Net charge-offs at 35 basis points: Annualized net charge-offs were 35 basis points of total loans, impacted by one large commercial relationship. Source
  • BankFinancial closed January 1: The BankFinancial purchase closed on January 1, 2026, and the BankFinancial multi-family loan portfolio sale was completed in the quarter. Source

“I am very pleased with our overall performance in the first quarter.”

Archie Brown, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchases Sourcethrough December 2027up to 5 million sharesNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Westfield Bank conversion was completed during the quarter. Source
  • New: The sale of the BankFinancial multi-family loan portfolio was completed in the quarter. Source
  • New: Subordinated debt of $150 million was redeemed, following $300 million of 6.375% subordinated debt issued in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: A new share repurchase program replaces the previously authorized program. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management said the 2026 loan growth expectation has not materially changed. Source

Earnings and revenue

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $74.4 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, against $62.4 million, or $0.64, in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EPS was $0.77. Source
  • Returns on assets and tangible equity: Return on average assets was 1.34% (1.45% adjusted), up from 1.22%. Return on average tangible common equity was 17.78% (19.2% adjusted), up from 16.27%. Source
  • Record adjusted quarterly revenue: Adjusted revenue for the quarter was $265.3 million, a record quarterly figure on the adjusted basis. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 22% year on year: Adjusted EPS rose 22% against the first quarter of 2025, which management attributed to the net interest margin and fee income. Source

Net interest margin and funding

  • Margin held as funding costs fell: Net interest margin was 3.97% (3.99% fully tax-equivalent), up 1 basis point from the fourth quarter, as funding costs fell 13 basis points and asset yields fell 12 basis points. Source
  • Net interest income increased: Net interest income was $189.6 million, compared with $174.0 million in the fourth quarter and $149.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Interest-bearing deposit costs eased: The annualized cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.33%, down from 2.50% in the fourth quarter. Source

“Our net interest margin was resilient, despite the fed funds rate cut in December, as the expected decline in loan yields was offset by a similar decline in deposits costs.”

Archie Brown, President and CEO

Fee income and leasing

  • Adjusted fee income near fourth-quarter level: Noninterest income was $81.9 million reported and $75.6 million adjusted. Adjustments included an $8.9 million bargain purchase gain and a $1.3 million securities loss. Source
  • Leasing and wealth income grew: Leasing business income was $21.6 million, up 10.7% from the fourth quarter. Wealth management fees were a record $10.5 million, up 12.9%. Source
  • Foreign exchange income lower than fourth quarter: Foreign exchange income was $16.3 million, against $22.7 million in the fourth quarter. Client derivative fees were $4.0 million, against $2.7 million. Source

Loans and deposits

  • Loans rose slightly on acquisition: End-of-period loans rose $70.8 million, including $227.7 million acquired with BankFinancial, offset by a $151.9 million decrease in ICRE. Source
  • Legacy loans fell on payoffs: Excluding BankFinancial, loans declined as seasonal production was offset by ICRE payoffs. Originations were up about 45% year on year, and over 25% excluding Westfield and BankFinancial. Source
  • Average deposits rose $1.7 billion: Total average deposits increased $1.7 billion, including $1.2 billion from BankFinancial and the full-quarter effect of Westfield. Public funds declined seasonally. Source
  • Loan pipelines grew since January: Management described loan pipelines as very healthy and expects strong second-quarter production. Source

“We are happy with the quality of the bank we acquired and with the talented team that has joined us.”

Archie Brown, President and CEO

Expenses and efficiency

  • Expenses rose on acquisitions: Noninterest expenses were $169.4 million reported and $154.8 million adjusted, up 9.1% from the fourth quarter, driven by the BankFinancial and Westfield acquisitions. Source
  • Acquisition costs excluded from adjusted figures: Adjustments included $14.3 million of acquisition-related expenses, $0.7 million of tax credit investment writedowns and $0.4 million of efficiency and other expenses. Source
  • Efficiency ratio stated both ways: The efficiency ratio was 62.4%, or 58.4% on the adjusted basis. Source

Asset quality and provisions

  • Total provision of $8.5 million: Total allowance for credit losses was $206.7 million, and total quarterly provision expense was $8.5 million. The loan-related provision was $6.0 million. Source
  • Loan allowance includes acquired reserve: The loan allowance was $183.7 million, including a $2.8 million initial allowance on BankFinancial loans. The allowance was 1.36% of total loans. Source
  • Net charge-offs at 35 basis points: Annualized net charge-offs were 35 basis points of total loans, impacted by one large commercial relationship. Source
  • Nonperforming and classified assets lower: Nonperforming assets declined slightly to 0.44% of total assets, and classified assets declined to 1.02% of total assets. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Capital ratios increased: Common equity tier 1 ratio rose to 12.23% and total capital ratio rose to 15.71%. Tangible common equity was 7.88%, or 8.89% excluding AOCI. Source
  • Tangible book value per share up: Tangible book value per share was $16.15, up 2.6% from the fourth quarter and 9% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Buybacks under evaluation: Management said it is evaluating buybacks as part of overall capital planning. No shares were repurchased in the quarter. Source

Acquisitions and integration

  • BankFinancial closed January 1: The BankFinancial purchase closed on January 1, 2026, and the BankFinancial multi-family loan portfolio sale was completed in the quarter. Source
  • Westfield results as expected: Management said Westfield deposit and loan balances were stable, associate retention was high, and transaction results met expectations. Source
  • BankFinancial team and market: Management said it is happy with the quality of the acquired bank and the team that joined First Financial. Source

People and recognition

  • Second consecutive Gallup award: First Financial received its second consecutive Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for associate engagement, given to 4% of the companies Gallup works with worldwide. Source
  • Thanks for Westfield integration: Management thanked associates for integrating Westfield and for preparing for the BankFinancial conversion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • BankFinancial systems conversion: Management plans to convert BankFinancial systems in early June 2026. Source
  • Second-quarter loan growth: Management expects solid loan growth in the second quarter as ICRE payoffs move toward more normal levels. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited more economic uncertainty from the war in Iran, while expecting asset quality to gradually improve. Source
  • Financial: One large commercial relationship drove net charge-offs in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Elevated ICRE payoffs reduced legacy loan balances, offsetting seasonal production. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Acquisition-related cost savings exceeded initial estimates, and noninterest expenses came in below management's expectations. Source
  • Met: Management said the Westfield transaction has achieved the financial results expected to date. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.