First Financial Bancorp Reports Record Q4 and Full Year Earnings for 2025

First Financial Bancorp, a prominent financial institution based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has recently announced its record financial results for the fourth quarter and the entire year of 2025. These results highlight the company's robust performance, marked by multiple financial achievements and a commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Quarterly Highlights

In the fourth quarter of 2025, First Financial Bancorp recorded a net income of $62.4 million, translating to earnings of $0.64 per diluted share. This marked a strong performance compared to the previous quarter’s earnings of $0.75 per share. Importantly, adjusted earnings for the quarter were even higher at $0.80 per share, showcasing the strength of the company in a challenging economic environment.

The company achieved a return on average assets of 1.22%, while the return on tangible common equity was 16.27%. This is a slight decline compared to the third quarter of 2025, where they reported returns of 1.54% and 19.11% respectively. These metrics reaffirm First Financial's ability to generate returns for its investors while efficiently managing its asset base.

The net interest margin stood at a robust 3.96%, though it experienced a slight decrease from the previous quarter due to a drop in asset yields. The bank managed to mitigate this effect with lower funding costs, demonstrating its adaptive financial strategies.

Full Year Performance

For the year ending December 31, 2025, the financial results were equally impressive. The company achieved a net income of $281.1 million, or $2.92 per share, marking a notable increase from $2.40 per share for the previous year. This resulted in an adjusted return on assets of 1.49%, and an adjusted return on tangible common equity of 19.3% for the full year.

During the year, First Financial Bancorp's total revenue hit an astounding $921.8 million, reflecting an 8% growth compared to 2024. This growth was primarily attributed to a significant increase in noninterest income, which surged by 16%, reaching a record $279.8 million bolstered by the bank's wealth management, foreign exchange, leasing, and mortgage services.

Growth and Expansion

2025 was also marked by significant growth through acquisitions. The completion of the Westfield acquisition on November 1, 2025, contributed to First Financial's expansion, providing additional avenues for growth in the commercial banking sector. Furthermore, the company secured regulatory approval for the acquisition of BankFinancial, successfully closing the deal on January 1, 2026.

With a total asset base reaching $21.1 billion by year-end 2025, the company demonstrated its capability to grow its footprint through strategic acquisitions and organic growth in loan and deposit balances. Notably, the company reported a 4% annualized increase in loan balances, even after accounting for the Westfield acquisition.

Dividend and Future Outlook

As a testament to its financial strength, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, affirming First Financial Bancorp's dedication to returning value to its shareholders. This dividend is scheduled to be paid on March 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 2, 2026.

Archie Brown, the President and CEO, expressed pride in the company’s achievements, emphasizing the robust performance in earnings and returns. He highlighted that despite fluctuations in the market, the bank's strategic focus and operational execution have kept it on a solid growth trajectory.

As First Financial Bancorp looks ahead, it aims to build on its successes while remaining committed to serving its customers and community, enhancing shareholder value and pursuing strategic opportunities for continued growth in 2026 and beyond.