BORROWINGS

Short-term borrowings on the Consolidated Balance Sheets include repurchase agreements utilized for corporate sweep accounts with cash management account agreements in place, overnight advances from the Federal Loan Home Bank (FHLB) and a short-term line of credit. All repurchase agreements are subject to terms and conditions of repurchase security agreements between First Financial Bank and the client. To secure the Bank's liability to the client, First Financial Bank is authorized to sell or repurchase U.S. Treasury, government agency and mortgage-backed securities.

First Financial had $701.2 million in short-term borrowings with the FHLB at September 30, 2015 and $558.2 million as of December 31, 2014. These short-term borrowings are used to manage the Company's normal liquidity needs and support the Company's asset and liability management strategies.

First Financial has a $15.0 million short-term credit facility with an unaffiliated bank that matures on May 30, 2016. This facility can have a variable or fixed interest rate and provides First Financial additional liquidity, if needed, for various corporate activities, including the repurchase of First Financial shares and the payment of dividends to shareholders. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there was no outstanding balance. The credit agreement requires First Financial to comply with certain covenants including those related to asset quality and capital levels, and First Financial was in compliance with all covenants associated with this facility as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

During the third quarter of 2015, First Financial issued $120.0 million of subordinated notes. The subordinated notes have a fixed interest rate of 5.125% payable semiannually and mature on August 25, 2025. These notes are not redeemable by the Company or callable by the holders of the notes prior to maturity. The subordinated notes will be treated as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes and are included in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Long-term debt also includes $0.5 million and $22.5 million of FHLB long-term advances as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These instruments are primarily utilized to reduce overnight liquidity risk and to mitigate interest rate sensitivity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014, First Financial also had $25.0 million in repurchase agreements recorded in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets which matured during the third quarter of 2015. Securities pledged as collateral in conjunction with the repurchase agreements were included within Investment securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following is a summary of First Financial's long-term debt:



	September 30, 2015				December 31, 2014
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Average rate		Amount		Average rate
Subordinated debt	$	118,286	5.20	%	$	0	0.00	%
FHLB advances	454		2.36	%	22,466		2.52	%
National market repurchase agreement	0		0.00	%	25,000		3.54	%
Capital loan with municipality	775		0.00	%	775		0.00	%
Total long-term debt	$	119,515	5.15	%	$	48,241	3.01	%