COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies [Table Text Block]

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

	June 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
(dollars in thousands)	Unfunded commitment		Loan balance		Unfunded commitment		Loan balance
Commercial & industrial	$	1,690,430	$	2,927,175	$	1,545,995	$	2,720,028
Lease financing	9,466		146,639		18,037		109,624
Construction real estate	579,079		449,734		484,038		455,894
Commercial real estate-investor	84,744		3,030,588		65,660		3,154,755
Commercial real estate-owner	32,059		976,449		29,824		1,071,859
Residential real estate	62,330		965,387		50,043		896,069
Home equity	860,941		725,700		822,343		708,399
Installment	16,472		146,680		15,985		119,454
Credit card	223,101		52,065		217,006		52,217
Total	$	3,558,622	$	9,420,417	$	3,248,931	$	9,288,299

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)		June 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
Investment	Accounting Method	Investment		Unfunded commitment		Investment		Unfunded commitment
LIHTC	Proportional amortization	$	126,866	$	72,935	$	108,974	$	57,341
HTC	Equity	2,319		56		2,581		56
NMTC	Equity	3,423		0		3,895		0
Renewable energy	Equity	18,550		4,956		18,585		15,114
Total		$	151,158	$	77,947	$	134,035	$	72,511

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

	Three months ended
	June 30, 2022				June 30, 2021
(Dollars in thousands)	Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)		Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)
LIHTC	$	3,051	$	(2,835)	$	2,423	$	(2,154)
HTC	0		(80)		64		(80)
NMTC	104		(53)		52		(53)
Renewable energy	0		0		1,040		(1,047)
Total	$	3,155	$	(2,968)	$	3,579	$	(3,334)
	Six months ended
	June 30, 2022				June 30, 2021
(Dollars in thousands)	Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)		Amortization expense (1)		Tax expense (benefit) recognized (2)
LIHTC	$	6,100	$	(5,794)	$	4,460	$	(4,338)
HTC	0		(159)		219		(159)
NMTC	208		(105)		105		(105)
Renewable energy	0		0		1,040		(1,047)
Total	$	6,308	$	(6,058)	$	5,824	$	(5,649)
(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).