FIRST FINANCIAL CORP /IN/ Business Summary

First Financial Corp (NASDAQ: THFF) is a regional bank holding company for First Financial Bank N.A., the oldest national bank in Indiana and the fifth oldest in the United States. The company generates revenue primarily through net interest income derived from a diverse loan portfolio, which surpassed $4.06 billion in 2025, and non-interest income from trust services, insurance commissions, and service charges. Its primary business segments include commercial, mortgage, and consumer lending—with a notable concentration in secured auto loans—as well as wealth management and depositor services. Operating 79 banking centers across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, the company recently expanded its footprint into the high-growth Nashville market through the acquisition of CedarStone Financial, Inc. in early 2026. First Financial competes directly with regional peers such as First Merchants Corp (FRME), Old National Bancorp (ONB), and German American Bancorp (GABC), maintaining a dominant market share in its home base of Vigo County, Indiana, and positioning itself as a high-efficiency, conservative lender with a superior net interest margin relative to its peer group. Leadership is characterized by deep institutional stability and a multi-generational executive pedigree. Norman D. Lowery serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, having succeeded his father, Norman L. Lowery (now Non-Executive Chairman), in January 2024. The younger Lowery brings over 30 years of experience within the corporation, previously serving as COO and holding leadership roles in private banking and trust investment. He is supported by Rodger A. McHargue, who has served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer since 2010, and Stephen P. Panagouleas, the Chief Credit Officer, who joined with extensive commercial lending experience from Old National Bancorp. The executive team is overseen by a board with an average tenure exceeding 17 years, reflecting a long-term strategic focus that has sustained the company’s 31-year streak of annual dividend increases as of early 2026.