First Financial Bancorp posts record Q3 2026 earnings and declares dividend

First Financial Bancorp reported third‑quarter 2026 net income of $81.2 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings of $0.84 per share. Revenue reached a record $273.9 million and the fully tax‑equivalent net interest margin rose to 4.07%. The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.26 and received federal regulatory approval for its Finward Bancorp acquisition, slated to close on January 1 2027.

The company expects the Finward acquisition to close early 2027, expanding its loan portfolio. The dividend declaration and record earnings may support the stock’s upside, according to the analysts’ coverage.

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