Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2018 totaled $47.51 million compared to $43.96 million in the third quarter of 2017. The Company’s efficiency ratio in the third quarter of 2018 was 48.12 percent compared with 48.71 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in noninterest expense in the third quarter of 2018 was primarily a result of an increase in salary and employee benefit costs to $26.38 million compared to $24.14 million in the same quarter a year ago, primarily driven by the acquisition of Commercial State Bank, annual merit based pay increases and an increase in profit sharing expenses.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net income increased to $112.20 million from $84.23 million for the same period a year ago. Basic earnings per share rose to $1.66 from $1.27 in the same period of 2017. Net interest income increased 15.18 percent to $202.49 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $175.79 million in the same period a year ago. The provision for loan losses totaled $3.87 million compared with $5.09 million in the same period a year ago. Noninterest income was $76.97 million for the first nine months 2018 compared with $68.72 million in the same period a year ago. Noninterest expense rose to $142.45 million compared with $129.89 million during the same period a year ago.
As of September 30, 2018, consolidated assets for the Company totaled $7.57 billion compared to $7.69 billion at June 30, 2018, and $7.01 billion at September 30, 2017. Loans grew to $3.89 billion at September 30, 2018, compared with loans of $3.86 billion at June 30, 2018 and $3.49 billion at September 30, 2017. Deposits totaled $6.15 billion at September 30, 2018, compared to $6.21 billion at June 30, 2018, and $5.70 billion at September 30, 2017. Shareholders’ equity rose to $995.74 million as of September 30, 2018, compared with $985.63 million at June 30, 2018, and $906.56 million at September 30, 2017.
“We are pleased to report another quarter of strong earnings growth,” said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO. “We continue to work diligently to grow loans and deposits and reduce expenses while looking for acquisition opportunities to utilize our strong capital position and increase returns to our shareholders. In light of the continued increases in interest rates by the Federal Reserve, we are focused on increasing loan and deposit rates to better align with our competitive environment,” added Dueser.
About First Financial Bankshares
Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial is a financial holding company that through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 72 locations in Texas, following the close of this acquisition, including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Burleson, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, El Campo, Fort Worth, Fulshear, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Kingwood, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with seven locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.
The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website athttp://www.ffin.com.
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