First Financial Bancorp. reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014. For the quarter, total interest income was $66.753 million against $59.847 million for the same period of last year. Net interest income was $61.139 million against $65.804 million for the same period of last year. Income before income taxes was $26.367 million against $2.568 million for the same period of last year. Net income was $18.599 million or $0.30 per diluted share against $3.758 million or $0.07 per basic and diluted share for the same period of last year. Return on average assets was 1.02% against 0.24% for the same period of last year. Return on average shareholders equity was 9.46% against 2.15% for the same period of last year. Return on average tangible shareholders equity was 11.63% against 2.51% for the same period of last year. Adjusted per-tax, prevision income was $28.777 million against $27.429 million for the same period of last year.

For the year, total interest income was $247.859 million against $245.208 million for the same period of last year. Net interest income was $228.625 million against $228.320 million for the same period of last year. Income before income taxes was $95.028 million against $67.583 million for the same period of last year. Net income was $65 million against $48.349 million for the same period of last year. Diluted net income per share was $1.09 against $0.83 a year ago. Return on average assets was 0.96% against 0.77% for the same period of last year. Return on average shareholders equity was 8.94% against 6.89% for the same period of last year. Tangible book value per share was $10.38 at December 31, 2014 against $10.10 at December 31, 2013. Return on average tangible shareholders equity was 11.18% against 8.05% for the same period of last year. Book value per share was $12.76 at December 31, 2014 against $11.86 at December 31, 2013.

For the fourth quarter, net charge-offs totaled $3.2 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 377.9% compared to the linked quarter. excluding the impact from covered /formerly covered loans during the period, net charge-offs increased $0.1 million during the quarter to $0.7 million, or 6 bps as a percentage of loans on an annualized basis, as a $0.4 million decline in charge-offs was largely offset by a similar decline in recoveries during the period.