COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies [Table Text Block]

The following table presents by type First Financial's loan balances and contractual obligations to extend credit:

	December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
(dollars in thousands)	Unfunded commitment		Loan balance		Unfunded commitment		Loan balance
Commercial & industrial	$	1,545,995	$	2,720,028	$	1,270,765	$	3,007,509
Lease financing	18,037		109,624		0		72,987
Construction real estate	484,038		455,894		374,008		636,096
Commercial real estate-investor	65,660		3,154,755		139,754		3,244,540
Commercial real estate-owner	29,824		1,071,859		51,637		1,063,318
Residential real estate	50,043		896,069		28,895		1,003,086
Home equity	822,343		708,399		762,406		743,099
Installment	15,985		119,454		18,229		81,850
Credit card	217,006		52,217		207,365		48,485
Total	$	3,248,931	$	9,288,299	$	2,853,059	$	9,900,970

Investment Holdings, Schedule of Investments

The following table summarizes First Financial's investments in affordable housing projects and other tax credit investments.

(Dollars in thousands)		December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
Investment	Accounting Method	Investment		Unfunded commitment		Investment		Unfunded commitment
LIHTC	Proportional amortization	$	108,974	$	57,341	$	90,401	$	47,531
HTC	Equity	2,581		56		3,607		364
NMTC	Equity	3,895		0		1,165		0
Renewable energy	Equity	18,585		15,114		5,244		7,661
Total		$	134,035	$	72,511	$	100,417	$	55,556

The following tables summarize First Financial's amortization expense and tax benefit recognized in affordable housing projects and other tax credit investments.

	Twelve months ended
	December 31, 2021				December 31, 2020				December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)	Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)		Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)		Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)
LIHTC	$	8,894	$	(8,581)	$	8,076	$	(7,629)	$	6,931	$	(6,397)
HTC	1,116		(263)		474		(563)		2,862		(3,342)
NMTC	210		(210)		175		(175)		350		(350)
Renewable energy	11,467		(12,216)		4,756		(4,777)		0		0
Total	$	21,687	$	(21,270)	$	13,481	$	(13,144)	$	10,143	$	(10,089)
(1) The amortization expense for the LIHTC investments is included in income tax expense. The amortization expense for the HTC, NMTC, and Renewable energy tax credits is included in other noninterest expense.
(2) All of the tax benefits recognized are included in Income tax expense. The tax benefit recognized for the HTC, NMTC, and Renewable energy investments primarily reflects the tax credits generated from the investments and excludes the net tax expense (benefit) and deferred tax liability of the investments’ income (loss).