FIRST FINANCIAL CORP /IN/ (THFF) SEC Filings, Mar-Jul 2026

First Financial Corporation entered into new employment agreements with three senior executives of the company and its bank subsidiary, effective July 1, 2026. The agreements cover Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Rodger A. McHargue, Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Stephen P. Panagouleas, and Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Mark A. Franklin.

Each executive is employed for an initial 24‑month term, with potential one‑year extensions at the board compensation committee’s discretion. Effective January 1, 2026, McHargue’s annual base salary is $387,131, Panagouleas’s is $317,228, and Franklin’s is $319,307, with eligibility for bonuses and standard senior management benefits.

The agreements include severance payment provisions upon certain terminations, as well as confidentiality, non‑solicitation, and non‑compete clauses. The non‑compete applies during employment and for one year afterward within a 75‑mile radius of Terre Haute for McHargue and Panagouleas and Bloomington for Franklin, reduced to 50 miles if separation is without just cause or for good reason.

First Financial Corporation entered into a new employment agreement with Norman D. Lowery as President and CEO of the Corporation and First Financial Bank, effective July 1, 2026, with an initial term of 24 months. The agreement provides an annual base salary of $698,987, with eligibility for bonuses and standard executive benefits.

The contract details severance protections if his employment is terminated without just cause or for good reason, including enhanced benefits if such termination occurs within 12 months after a change in control, potentially up to 2.99 times his base salary and prior-year bonus plus benefit reimbursements. It also includes provisions addressing potential excise taxes under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, delayed payment rules for key employees, and confidentiality, non-solicitation, and non-compete restrictions, with a non-compete radius of up to 75 miles around Terre Haute, Indiana.

First Financial Corporation announced that its directors have declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share. The dividend will be paid on July 15, 2026 to shareholders who are on the company’s books as of the close of business on July 1, 2026. This continues the bank holding company’s practice of returning cash to shareholders alongside its operations in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.

First Financial Corporation reported solid Q1 2026 growth while integrating its March 1 acquisition of CedarStone Financial, Inc. Total assets reached $6.13 billion, up from $5.76 billion at December 31, 2025, driven mainly by loan expansion and a larger securities portfolio.

Loans increased to $4.42 billion from $4.05 billion, with notable growth in residential balances. Deposits rose to $4.84 billion from $4.55 billion. Shareholders’ equity edged up to $655.3 million, reflecting retained earnings partially offset by accumulated other comprehensive loss from higher unrealized losses on securities.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, net interest income was $56.9 million versus $52.0 million a year earlier, and net income was $19.8 million compared with $18.4 million. Basic and diluted EPS were $1.67 versus $1.55. The allowance for credit losses increased to $52.3 million, supported by portfolio growth and the CedarStone acquisition, while nonperforming loans remained manageable. The company also maintained a large available-for-sale securities portfolio with $123.2 million in gross unrealized losses, which management attributes primarily to interest rate movements.

First Financial Corporation reported solid first quarter 2026 results driven by strong loan growth and stable margins. Net income was $19.8 million, or $1.67 per share, up from $18.4 million, or $1.55 per share, a year earlier. Net interest income reached a record $56.9 million, and net interest margin improved to 4.23%.

Total loans rose to $4.42 billion as of March 31, 2026, up 14.79% year over year, helped by the March 1 acquisition of CedarStone Financial, which added $292 million of loans and $313 million of deposits and generated a $716 thousand bargain purchase gain. Assets surpassed $6.13 billion and deposits were $4.84 billion.

Credit quality remained manageable but weaker than a year ago. Nonperforming loans increased to $28.5 million, or 0.64% of loans and leases, compared to $10.2 million, or 0.26%, a year earlier. The allowance for credit losses was $52.3 million, or 1.18% of total loans. The efficiency ratio was 58.72%, and return on average assets was 1.35%.

First Financial Corporation reported the results of its 2026 annual shareholder meeting. Shareholders elected five directors—Mark J. Blade, Gregory L. Gibson, Norman D. Lowery, Paul J. Pierson, and Richard J. Shagley—to three-year terms expiring at the 2029 annual meeting.

Shareholders also approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the 2025 compensation of the company’s named executive officers. In addition, they ratified the appointment of Crowe LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.

First Financial Corp /IN/ (manager) filed a Form 13F reporting 413 portfolio entries with a total reported market value of $254,547,240. The report was signed by Jennifer L. Hanley, Trust Operations Manager, on 04-02-2026.

The Vanguard Group amended its Schedule 13G/A to report 0 shares of First Financial Corp (Common Stock) and 0% ownership. The filing states that, following an internal realignment January 12, 2026, certain Vanguard subsidiaries will report beneficial ownership separately.

First Financial Corporation filed a current report to share an investor presentation under Regulation FD. President and CEO Norman D. Lowery, CFO Rodger A. McHargue, and Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Steve Panagouleas will participate in the Raymond James Virtual Roadshow on March 24, 2026.

The materials to be used at this event are included as Exhibit 99.1, a presentation dated March 20, 2026, which is furnished, not filed, and therefore is not subject to certain Securities Act and Exchange Act liability provisions.