INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
INCOME TAXES	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES For the third quarter of 2020, income tax expense was $9.3 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 18.3% compared with income tax expense of $12.4 million and an effective tax rate of 19.6% for the comparable period in 2019. The decrease in the effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 is due to lower pre-tax income in the third quarter of 2020 as well as higher executive compensation in 2019. For the first nine months of 2020, income tax expense was $23.2 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 17.8% compared with income tax expense of $35.5 million and an effective tax rate of 19.2% for the comparable period in 2019. The decrease in the year-to-date effective tax rate is primarily due to lower pre-tax income in the first nine months of 2020 and the carryback of certain net operating losses as allowed under the CARES Act. These adjustments were partially offset by an unfavorable impact related to stock compensation activity in 2020. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, First Financial had $1.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, as determined under FASB ASC Topic 740-10, Income Taxes, that if recognized would favorably impact the effective income tax rate in future periods. The unrecognized tax benefits relate to state income tax exposures from taking tax positions where the Company believes it is likely that, upon examination, a state may take a position contrary to the position taken by First Financial. The Company believes that resolution regarding our uncertain tax positions is reasonably possible within the next twelve months and could result in full, partial or no recognition of the benefit. First Financial recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had no interest or penalties recorded. First Financial and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as state and local income tax in several jurisdictions. Tax years prior to 2017 have been closed and are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations. Tax years 2017 through 2019 remain open to examination by the federal taxing authority. First Financial is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2012. Tax years 2012 through 2019 remain open to state and local examination in various jurisdictions.

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.