First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) 10-Q 7 Nov 17 2017 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information Document - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Nov. 03, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	FFBC
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
Entity Central Index Key	708,955
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		62,060,022

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 117,840,000	$ 121,598,000
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks	34,787,000	82,450,000
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $1,281,320 at September 30, 2017 and $1,045,337 at December 31, 2016)	1,286,770,000	1,039,870,000
Investment securities held-to-maturity (fair value $672,236 at September 30, 2017 and $763,575 at December 31, 2016)	669,816,000	763,254,000
Other investments	53,198,000	51,077,000
Loans held for sale	16,466,000	13,135,000
Loans
Commercial	1,886,093,000	1,781,948,000
Lease financing	86,014,000	93,108,000
Real estate - construction	420,941,000	399,434,000
Real estate-commercial	2,523,387,000	2,427,577,000
Real estate-residential	477,964,000	500,980,000
Home equity	494,342,000	460,388,000
Installment	43,650,000	50,639,000
Credit card	44,646,000	43,408,000
Total loans and leases	5,977,037,000	5,757,482,000
Allowance for loan and lease losses	54,534,000	57,961,000
Net loans and leases	5,922,503,000	5,699,521,000
Premises and equipment	126,790,000	131,579,000
Goodwill and other intangibles	209,730,000	210,625,000
Accrued interest and other assets	323,789,000	324,858,000
Total assets	8,761,689,000	8,437,967,000
Deposits
Interest-bearing	1,518,011,000	1,513,771,000
Savings	2,434,086,000	2,142,189,000
Time	1,188,597,000	1,321,843,000
Total interest-bearing deposits	5,140,694,000	4,977,803,000
Noninterest-bearing	1,585,396,000	1,547,985,000
Total deposits	6,726,090,000	6,525,788,000
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase	45,532,000	120,212,000
Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowings	818,200,000	687,700,000
Total short-term borrowings	863,732,000	807,912,000
Long-term debt	119,615,000	119,589,000
Total borrowed funds	983,347,000	927,501,000
Accrued interest and other liabilities	137,298,000	119,454,000
Total liabilities	7,846,735,000	7,572,743,000
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock - no par value Authorized - 160,000,000 shares Issued - 68,730,731 shares in 2017 and 2016	571,750,000	570,382,000
Retained earnings	477,588,000	437,188,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(20,379,000)	(28,443,000)
Treasury stock, at cost, 6,669,266 shares in 2017 and 6,751,179 shares in 2016	(114,005,000)	(113,903,000)
Total shareholders' equity	914,954,000	865,224,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 8,761,689,000	$ 8,437,967,000

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS CON

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,281,320	$ 1,045,337
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	$ 672,236	$ 763,575
Common Stock, No Par Value	$ 0	$ 0
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	160,000,000	160,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	68,730,731	68,730,731
Treasury Stock, Shares	6,669,266	6,751,179

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Interest income
Loans, including fees	$ 71,148,000	$ 66,997,000	$ 205,764,000	$ 194,820,000
Investment securities
Taxable	13,150,000	10,326,000	37,356,000	32,405,000
Tax-exempt	1,537,000	1,083,000	4,347,000	3,401,000
Total interest on investment securities	14,687,000	11,409,000	41,703,000	35,806,000
Other earning assets	(917,000)	(1,081,000)	(2,932,000)	(3,323,000)
Total interest income	84,918,000	77,325,000	244,535,000	227,303,000
Interest expense
Deposits	10,335,000	5,600,000	25,939,000	16,587,000
Short-term borrowings	2,566,000	1,368,000	6,049,000	3,591,000
Long-term borrowings	1,538,000	1,539,000	4,616,000	4,620,000
Total interest expense	14,439,000	8,507,000	36,604,000	24,798,000
Net interest income	70,479,000	68,818,000	207,931,000	202,505,000
Provision for loan and lease losses	2,953,000	1,687,000	3,787,000	7,379,000
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses	67,526,000	67,131,000	204,144,000	195,126,000
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts	5,169,000	5,056,000	14,585,000	13,892,000
Trust and wealth management fees	3,324,000	3,236,000	10,476,000	9,959,000
Bankcard income	3,272,000	2,984,000	9,908,000	8,996,000
Client derivative fees	1,779,000	1,210,000	4,371,000	4,104,000
Net gains from sales of loans	1,455,000	2,066,000	3,998,000	5,093,000
Net gains (losses) on sales of investment securities	276,000	398,000	1,630,000	234,000
Other	7,667,000	1,999,000	12,792,000	10,377,000
Total noninterest income	22,942,000	16,949,000	57,760,000	52,655,000
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	33,827,000	32,093,000	97,121,000	91,234,000
Net occupancy	4,328,000	4,543,000	13,145,000	13,991,000
Furniture and equipment	2,161,000	2,139,000	6,474,000	6,482,000
Data processing	3,455,000	2,828,000	10,254,000	8,311,000
Marketing	649,000	641,000	2,141,000	2,507,000
Communication	430,000	527,000	1,345,000	1,485,000
Professional services	2,030,000	1,460,000	5,257,000	4,572,000
State intangible tax	721,000	639,000	2,163,000	1,917,000
FDIC assessments	1,051,000	1,048,000	3,001,000	3,292,000
Loss (gain) - other real estate owned	237,000	(112,000)	423,000	(259,000)
Other	5,554,000	5,299,000	15,720,000	17,706,000
Total noninterest expenses	54,443,000	51,105,000	157,044,000	151,238,000
Income before income taxes	36,025,000	32,975,000	104,860,000	96,543,000
Income tax expense	11,199,000	10,125,000	32,884,000	31,311,000
Net income	$ 24,826,000	$ 22,850,000	$ 71,976,000	$ 65,232,000
Earnings per common share
Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.37	$ 1.17	$ 1.07
Diluted	0.40	0.37	1.16	1.05
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.17	$ 0.16	$ 0.51	$ 0.48
Average common shares outstanding - basic	61,577,619	61,280,283	61,507,160	61,170,845
Average common shares outstanding - diluted	62,189,637	62,086,067	62,185,874	61,962,961

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 24,826	$ 22,850	$ 71,976	$ 65,232
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities arising during the period	1,501	(162)	7,064	12,073
Change in retirement obligation	213	200	615	601
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	129	128	385	384
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,843	166	8,064	13,058
Comprehensive income	$ 26,669	$ 23,016	$ 80,040	$ 78,290

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHAN

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Treasury stock
Beginning Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		68,730,731			(7,089,051)
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 809,376,000	$ 571,155,000	$ 388,240,000	$ (30,580,000)	$ (119,439,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	65,232,000		65,232,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	13,058,000			13,058,000
Cash dividends declared :
Common stock at $0.51 per share in 2017 and $0.48 per share in 2016	(29,672,000)		(29,672,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other					74,079
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	0	(1,249,000)			$ 1,249,000
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation	225,000	225,000
Exercise of stock options, net of shares purchased (in shares)					53,715
Exercise of stock options, net of shares purchased	578,000	(328,000)			$ 906,000
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)					183,399
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	(1,562,000)	(4,506,000)			$ 2,944,000
Share-based compensation expense	3,902,000	$ 3,902,000
Ending Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		68,730,731			(6,777,858)
Ending Balances at Sep. 30, 2016	861,137,000	$ 569,199,000	423,800,000	(17,522,000)	$ (114,340,000)
Beginning Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		68,730,731			(6,751,179)
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2016	865,224,000	$ 570,382,000	437,188,000	(28,443,000)	$ (113,903,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	71,976,000		71,976,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	8,064,000			8,064,000
Cash dividends declared :
Common stock at $0.51 per share in 2017 and $0.48 per share in 2016	(31,576,000)		(31,576,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other					4,848
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	0	(82,000)			$ 82,000
Exercise of stock options, net of shares purchased (in shares)					53,303
Exercise of stock options, net of shares purchased	18,000	(885,000)			$ 903,000
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)					23,762
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	(2,783,000)	(1,696,000)			$ (1,087,000)
Share-based compensation expense	4,031,000	$ 4,031,000
Ending Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		68,730,731			(6,669,266)
Ending Balances at Sep. 30, 2017	914,954,000	$ 571,750,000	477,588,000	(20,379,000)	$ (114,005,000)
Beginning Balances at Jun. 30, 2017	1,913,682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	24,826,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,843,000
Ending Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		68,730,731			(6,669,266)
Ending Balances at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 914,954,000	$ 571,750,000	$ 477,588,000	$ (20,379,000)	$ (114,005,000)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHA7

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.17	$ 0.16	$ 0.51	$ 0.48

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating activities
Net income	$ 71,976	$ 65,232
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan and lease losses	3,787	7,379
Depreciation and amortization	9,504	9,753
Stock-based compensation expense	4,031	3,902
Pension expense (income)	(956)	(675)
Net amortization (accretion) on investment securities	7,916	6,213
Net (gains) losses on sales of investment securities	(1,630)	(234)
Originations of loans held for sale	(123,387)	(172,950)
Net gains from sales of loans held for sale	(3,998)	(5,093)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	123,415	181,263
Deferred income taxes	3,977	271
Decrease (increase) cash surrender value of life insurance	(563)
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned, Change in Value		342
Decrease (increase) in interest receivable	(4,069)	(1,183)
Decrease (increase) in indemnification asset	(3,840)	(4,343)
(Decrease) increase in interest payable	(1,052)	(1,480)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	1,247	(21,301)
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	(1,046)	2,634
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	92,992	77,732
Investing activities
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale	179,517	206,909
Proceeds from calls, paydowns and maturities of securities available-for-sale	158,454	119,437
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(563,172)	(225,117)
Proceeds from Sale of Held-to-maturity Securities	0	4,862
Proceeds from calls, paydowns and maturities of securities held-to-maturity	98,824	89,529
Payments to Acquire Held-to-maturity Securities	15,465	0
Net decrease (increase) in interest-bearing deposits with other banks	47,663	16,969
Net decrease (increase) in loans and leases	(230,174)	(406,005)
Proceeds from disposal of other real estate owned	6,797	6,908
Purchases of premises and equipment	(4,798)	(6,427)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(322,354)	(192,935)
Financing activities
Net (decrease) increase in total deposits	200,302	159,059
Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings	55,820	(12,189)
Payments of long-term debt	94	86
Cash dividends paid on common stock	(30,708)	(29,318)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	284	653
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation	0	225
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	225,604	118,344
Cash and due from banks:
Change in cash and due from banks	(3,758)	3,141
Cash and due from banks at beginning of period	121,598	114,841
Cash and due from banks at end of period	$ 117,840	$ 117,982

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION The Consolidated Financial Statements of First Financial Bancorp., a bank holding company principally serving Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, include the accounts and operations of First Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications of prior periods' amounts have been made to conform to current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net earnings. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are inherently subjective and may be susceptible to significant change. Actual realized amounts could differ materially from these estimates. These interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and serve to update the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 . These interim financial statements may not include all information and notes necessary to constitute a complete set of financial statements under GAAP applicable to annual periods and it is suggested that these interim statements be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K. Management believes these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period. The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements in the Company’s 2016 Form 10-K.

RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED ACC

RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards Disclosure [Text Block]	RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In May 2014, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers) which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. Under the revised standard, an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Certain of the ASU’s provisions also apply to transfers of nonfinancial assets, including in-substance nonfinancial assets that are not an output of an entity’s ordinary activities, such as sales of property, plant, and equipment; real estate; or intangible assets. The ASU also requires significantly expanded disclosures about revenue recognition. The provisions of ASU 2014-09 become effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Management is currently evaluating revenue streams within noninterest income, specifically service charges on deposits and trust and wealth management fees, to assess applicability of this guidance. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements, however additional disclosures will be required. In January 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities) which requires entities to measure many equity investments at fair value and recognize changes in fair value in net income. This update does not apply to equity investments that result in consolidation, those accounted for under the equity method and certain others, and will eliminate use of the available for sale classification for equity securities while providing a new measurement alternative for equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values and do not qualify for the net asset value practical expedient. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-02, Leases) which requires lessees to record most leases on their balance sheet and recognize leasing expenses in the income statement. Operating leases, except for short-term leases that are subject to an accounting policy election, will be recorded on the balance sheet for lessees by establishing a lease liability and corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Given leases outstanding as of September 30, 2017, First Financial does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on the income statement, but does anticipate an increase in the Company's assets and liabilities. Decisions to repurchase, modify or renew leases prior to the implementation date will impact this level of materiality. In March 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging: Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships) which clarifies that the novation of a derivative contract in a hedge accounting relationship does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedge accounting relationship. In the event of a novation, hedge accounting relationships could continue if all other hedge accounting criteria are met, including the expectation that the hedge will be highly effective when the creditworthiness of the new counterparty to the derivative contract is considered. The guidance in this ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2017 and did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging: Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments) which clarifies that an assessment of whether an embedded contingent put or call option is clearly and closely related to the debt host requires only an analysis of the four-step decision sequence in FASB Topic ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Entities are required to apply the guidance to existing debt instruments (or hybrid financial instruments that are determined to have a debt host) using a modified retrospective transition method as of the period of adoption. The guidance in this ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2017 and did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-07, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures: Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting) which eliminates the requirement to retrospectively apply the equity method when an investment that had been accounted for utilizing another method qualifies for use of the equity method. The guidance in this ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2017 and did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting) which requires recognition of the income tax effects of share-based awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled (i.e., Additional Paid-in-Capital pools will be eliminated). The guidance in this ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2017. Adoption of this guidance resulted in a $1.4 million reduction in income tax expense during the first nine months of 2017. In June 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments) which significantly changes how entities are required to measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. This update will replace the current incurred loss approach for estimating credit losses with an expected loss model for instruments measured at amortized cost, including loans and leases. Expected credit losses are required to be based on amortized cost and reflect losses expected over the remaining contractual life of the asset. Management is expected to consider any available information relevant to assessing the collectability of contractual cash flows, such as information about past events, current conditions, voluntary prepayments and reasonable and supportable forecasts, when developing expected credit loss estimates. In addition to the new framework for calculating the ALLL, this update requires allowances for available-for-sale debt securities rather than a reduction of the security's carrying amount under the current other-than-temporary impairment model. This update also simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans and will require new and updated footnote disclosures. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for all entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. First Financial has formed a committee that is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments) which may change how an entity classifies certain cash receipts and cash payments on its statement of cash flows to reduce diversity in practice. The update also provides guidance on when an entity should separate cash flows and classify them into more than one class and when an entity should classify the aggregate of those cash flows into a single class based on the predominance principle. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business) which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update also provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods, and should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date, with early adoption permitted. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment) which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from goodwill impairment testing. This update requires an entity to perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, with any loss recognized not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, the update requires consideration of the income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable, and eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of the Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost) which requires disaggregation of the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. This update also provides explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allows only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements, but will result in updated disclosures. In March 2017, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities) which amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium and shortens the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date rather than as an adjustment of yield over the contractual life of the instrument. This update more closely aligns the amortization period of premiums and discounts to expectations incorporated in market pricing on the underlying securities, as in most cases, market participants price securities to the call date that produces the worst yield when the coupon is above current market rates (that is, the security is trading at a premium) and price securities to maturity when the coupon is below market rates (that is, the security is trading at a discount) in anticipation that the borrower will act in its economic best interest in an attempt to more closely align interest income recorded on bonds held at a premium or a discount with the economics of the underlying instrument. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. First Financial is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In May 2017, the FASB issued an update (ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope of Modification Accounting), which provides clarity and reduces the diversity in practice, cost and complexity when accounting for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in this update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718 clarifying that an entity will not apply modification accounting to a share-based payment award if the award's fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value), vesting conditions and classification as an equity or liability instrument are the same immediately before and after the change. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods, with early adoption permitted and will be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. First Financial does not anticipate this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an update (ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities) to better align financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. This update aligns certain aspects of hedge documentation, effectiveness assessments, accounting and disclosures, and expands permissible hedge strategies as of the date of adoption. The guidance in this ASU will become effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and will require a modified retrospective transition method with recognition of the cumulative effect of the change on the opening balance of each affected component of equity. Amended disclosures will be required prospectively. First Financial is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

INVESTMENTS

INVESTMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
INVESTMENTS	INVESTMENTS For the three months ending September 30, 2017 , proceeds on the sale of $53.9 million of available-for-sale securities resulted in gains of $0.4 million and losses of $0.1 million . For the comparable quarter in 2016, proceeds on the sale of $99.4 million of available-for-sale securities resulted in gains of $0.8 million and losses of $0.5 million . For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , proceeds on the sale of $179.6 million of available-for-sale securities resulted in gains of $1.8 million and losses of $0.2 million . For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , proceeds on the sale of $206.9 million of available-for-sale securities resulted in gains of $1.2 million and losses of $1.0 million . The following is a summary of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investment securities as of September 30, 2017 : Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized Unrecognized gain Unrecognized loss Fair Amortized cost Unrealized gain Unrealized loss Fair U.S. Treasuries $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations 11,588 33 (23 ) 11,598 16,284 224 0 16,508 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 171,468 2,066 (1,219 ) 172,315 272,254 1,471 (1,609 ) 272,116 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 257,590 2,655 (2,053 ) 258,192 142,152 567 (521 ) 142,198 Collateralized mortgage obligations 153,806 934 (915 ) 153,825 304,679 1,551 (1,127 ) 305,103 Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 75,364 1,184 (242 ) 76,306 127,122 2,556 (701 ) 128,977 Asset-backed securities 0 0 0 0 340,477 1,921 (517 ) 341,881 Other securities 0 0 0 0 78,254 1,911 (276 ) 79,889 Total $ 669,816 $ 6,872 $ (4,452 ) $ 672,236 $ 1,281,320 $ 10,201 $ (4,751 ) $ 1,286,770 The following is a summary of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investment securities as of December 31, 2016 : Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized Unrecognized gain Unrecognized Fair Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair U.S. Treasuries $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 $ 0 $ (1 ) $ 97 Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations 13,011 0 (110 ) 12,901 7,056 0 (40 ) 7,016 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 205,522 1,740 (1,166 ) 206,096 184,960 1,175 (2,740 ) 183,395 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 278,728 3,254 (1,817 ) 280,165 154,239 188 (826 ) 153,601 Collateralized mortgage obligations 195,408 1,125 (1,476 ) 195,057 232,701 634 (2,321 ) 231,014 Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 70,585 117 (1,346 ) 69,356 96,934 1,461 (1,514 ) 96,881 Asset-backed securities 0 0 0 0 322,708 517 (2,013 ) 321,212 Other securities 0 0 0 0 46,641 741 (728 ) 46,654 Total $ 763,254 $ 6,236 $ (5,915 ) $ 763,575 $ 1,045,337 $ 4,716 $ (10,183 ) $ 1,039,870 The following table provides a summary of investment securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2017 , except for residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities, which are shown as single totals, due to the unpredictability of the timing in principal repayments. Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value By Contractual Maturity: Due in one year or less $ 170 $ 170 $ 2,408 $ 2,408 Due after one year through five years 4,466 4,469 26,795 27,154 Due after five years through ten years 2,690 2,849 78,265 79,868 Due after ten years 79,626 80,416 114,290 116,042 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 171,468 172,315 272,254 272,116 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 257,590 258,192 142,152 142,198 Collateralized mortgage obligations 153,806 153,825 304,679 305,103 Asset-backed securities 0 0 340,477 341,881 Total $ 669,816 $ 672,236 $ 1,281,320 $ 1,286,770 Gains and losses on debt securities are generally due to fluctuations in current market yields relative to the yields of the debt securities at their amortized cost. All securities with unrealized losses are reviewed quarterly to determine if any impairment is considered other than temporary, requiring a write-down to fair value. First Financial considers the percentage loss on a security, duration of the loss, average life or duration of the security, credit rating of the security and payment performance, as well as the Company's intent and ability to hold the security to maturity, when determining whether any impairment is other than temporary. At this time First Financial does not intend to sell, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell, debt securities temporarily impaired prior to maturity or recovery of the recorded value. First Financial had no other than temporary impairment related to its investment securities portfolio as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 . As of September 30, 2017 , the Company's investment securities portfolio consisted of 759 securities, of which 207 were in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's investment securities portfolio consisted of 706 securities, of which 255 were in an unrealized loss position. The following tables provide the fair value and gross unrealized losses on investment securities in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by investment category and the length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous loss position: September 30, 2017 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total (Dollars in thousands) Fair value Unrealized loss Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized Securities of U.S. Government agencies and corporations $ 6,275 $ (23 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 6,275 $ (23 ) Mortgage-backed securities - residential 71,312 (508 ) 96,048 (2,320 ) 167,360 (2,828 ) Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 67,611 (962 ) 66,749 (1,612 ) 134,360 (2,574 ) Collateralized mortgage obligations 124,023 (550 ) 92,035 (1,492 ) 216,058 (2,042 ) Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 58,858 (505 ) 28,713 (438 ) 87,571 (943 ) Asset-backed securities 23,707 (148 ) 29,666 (369 ) 53,373 (517 ) Other securities 7,278 (106 ) 2,468 (170 ) 9,746 (276 ) Total $ 359,064 $ (2,802 ) $ 315,679 $ (6,401 ) $ 674,743 $ (9,203 ) December 31, 2016 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized (Dollars in thousands) value loss value loss value loss U.S. Treasuries $ 97 $ (1 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 97 $ (1 ) Securities of U.S. Government agencies and corporations 19,917 (150 ) 0 0 19,917 (150 ) Mortgage-backed securities - residential 180,654 (3,621 ) 9,890 (285 ) 190,544 (3,906 ) Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 123,122 (1,200 ) 65,007 (1,443 ) 188,129 (2,643 ) Collateralized mortgage obligations 201,305 (2,882 ) 42,314 (915 ) 243,619 (3,797 ) Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 94,632 (2,710 ) 12,023 (150 ) 106,655 (2,860 ) Asset-backed securities 116,057 (764 ) 92,629 (1,249 ) 208,686 (2,013 ) Other securities 7,746 (237 ) 21,357 (491 ) 29,103 (728 ) Total $ 743,530 $ (11,565 ) $ 243,220 $ (4,533 ) $ 986,750 $ (16,098 ) For further detail on the fair value of investment securities, see Note 14 – Fair Value Disclosures.

LOANS AND LEASES

LOANS AND LEASES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]
LOANS AND LEASES	LOANS AND LEASES First Financial offers clients a variety of commercial and consumer loan and lease products with distinct interest rates and payment terms. Commercial loan categories include commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, construction real estate and lease financing. Consumer loan categories include residential real estate, home equity, installment and credit card. Lending activities are primarily concentrated in states where the Bank operates banking centers (Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky). First Financial also offers two nationwide lending platforms, one that provides equipment and leasehold improvement financing for franchisees in the quick service and casual dining restaurant sector and another that provides loans secured by commissions and cash collateral accounts primarily to insurance agents and brokers. Credit Quality. To facilitate the monitoring of credit quality for commercial loans, and for purposes of determining an appropriate ALLL, First Financial utilizes the following categories of credit grades: Pass - Higher quality loans that do not fit any of the other categories described below. Special Mention - First Financial assigns a special mention rating to loans and leases with potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or lease or in First Financial's credit position at some future date. Substandard - First Financial assigns a substandard rating to loans or leases that are inadequately protected by the current sound financial worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard loans and leases have well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize repayment of the debt. Substandard loans and leases are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not addressed. Doubtful - First Financial assigns a doubtful rating to loans and leases with all the attributes of a substandard rating with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values. The possibility of loss is extremely high, but because of certain important and reasonably specific pending factors that may work to the advantage and strengthening of the credit quality of the loan or lease, its classification as an estimated loss is deferred until its more exact status may be determined. Pending factors include proposed merger, acquisition or liquidation procedures, capital injection, perfecting liens on additional collateral and refinancing plans. The credit grades previously described are derived from standard regulatory rating definitions and are assigned upon initial approval of credit to borrowers and updated periodically thereafter. First Financial considers repayment performance to be the best indicator of credit quality for consumer loans. Consumer loans that have principal and interest payments that are past due by 90 days or more are generally classified as nonperforming. Additionally, consumer loans that have been modified in a TDR are classified as nonperforming. Purchased impaired loans are not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under FASB ASC Topic 310-30. Commercial and consumer credit exposure by risk attribute was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 Commercial Real Estate Lease (Dollars in thousands) and industrial Construction Commercial financing Total Pass $ 1,842,432 $ 420,101 $ 2,472,395 $ 84,607 $ 4,819,535 Special Mention 15,002 0 7,540 44 22,586 Substandard 28,659 840 43,452 1,363 74,314 Doubtful 0 0 0 0 0 Total $ 1,886,093 $ 420,941 $ 2,523,387 $ 86,014 $ 4,916,435 (Dollars in thousands) Residential real estate Home equity Installment Credit card Total Performing $ 469,320 $ 490,263 $ 43,396 $ 44,646 $ 1,047,625 Nonperforming 8,644 4,079 254 0 12,977 Total $ 477,964 $ 494,342 $ 43,650 $ 44,646 $ 1,060,602 As of December 31, 2016 Commercial Real Estate Lease (Dollars in thousands) and industrial Construction Commercial financing Total Pass $ 1,725,451 $ 398,155 $ 2,349,662 $ 92,540 $ 4,565,808 Special Mention 18,256 1,258 15,584 108 35,206 Substandard 38,241 21 62,331 460 101,053 Doubtful 0 0 0 0 0 Total $ 1,781,948 $ 399,434 $ 2,427,577 $ 93,108 $ 4,702,067 (Dollars in thousands) Residential real estate Home equity Installment Credit card Total Performing $ 491,380 $ 456,314 $ 50,202 $ 43,408 $ 1,041,304 Nonperforming 9,600 4,074 437 0 14,111 Total $ 500,980 $ 460,388 $ 50,639 $ 43,408 $ 1,055,415 Delinquency. Loans are considered past due or delinquent when the contractual principal or interest due in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement or any portion thereof remains unpaid after the date of the scheduled payment. Loan delinquency, including loans classified as nonaccrual, was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 (Dollars in thousands) 30 – 59 60 – 89 > 90 days Total Current Subtotal Purchased impaired Total > 90 days Loans Commercial and industrial $ 2,175 $ 205 $ 4,680 $ 7,060 $ 1,875,376 $ 1,882,436 $ 3,657 $ 1,886,093 $ 0 Lease financing 76 0 0 76 85,938 86,014 0 86,014 0 Construction real estate 1,612 0 824 2,436 418,213 420,649 292 420,941 0 Commercial real estate 1,353 865 9,337 11,555 2,449,194 2,460,749 62,638 2,523,387 0 Residential real estate 661 0 3,244 3,905 434,114 438,019 39,945 477,964 0 Home equity 2,249 590 1,224 4,063 486,495 490,558 3,784 494,342 0 Installment 109 43 215 367 42,547 42,914 736 43,650 0 Credit card 281 136 84 501 44,145 44,646 0 44,646 84 Total $ 8,516 $ 1,839 $ 19,608 $ 29,963 $ 5,836,022 $ 5,865,985 $ 111,052 $ 5,977,037 $ 84 As of December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) 30 – 59 60 – 89 > 90 days Total Current Subtotal Purchased impaired Total > 90 days Loans Commercial and industrial $ 1,257 $ 208 $ 1,339 $ 2,804 $ 1,773,939 $ 1,776,743 $ 5,205 $ 1,781,948 $ 0 Lease financing 137 0 115 252 92,856 93,108 0 93,108 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 398,877 398,877 557 399,434 0 Commercial real estate 777 134 5,589 6,500 2,339,327 2,345,827 81,750 2,427,577 2,729 Residential real estate 821 37 2,381 3,239 450,631 453,870 47,110 500,980 0 Home equity 195 145 1,776 2,116 456,143 458,259 2,129 460,388 0 Installment 24 1 258 283 49,058 49,341 1,298 50,639 0 Credit card 457 177 142 776 42,632 43,408 0 43,408 142 Total $ 3,668 $ 702 $ 11,600 $ 15,970 $ 5,603,463 $ 5,619,433 $ 138,049 $ 5,757,482 $ 2,871 Nonaccrual. Loans are classified as nonaccrual when, in the opinion of management, collection of principal or interest is doubtful or when principal or interest payments are 90 days or more past due. Generally, loans are classified as nonaccrual due to the continued failure to adhere to contractual payment terms by the borrower, coupled with other pertinent factors. When a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest income is discontinued and previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed. Any payments received while a loan is on nonaccrual status are applied as a reduction to the carrying value of the loan. A loan classified as nonaccrual may return to accrual status if collection of future principal and interest payments is no longer doubtful. Purchased impaired loans are classified as performing, even though they may be contractually past due, as any nonpayment of contractual principal or interest is considered in the periodic re-estimation of expected cash flows and is included in the resulting recognition of current period provision for loan and lease losses or prospective yield adjustments. Troubled Debt Restructurings. A loan modification is considered a TDR when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and concessions are made by the Company that would not otherwise be considered for a borrower with similar credit characteristics. The most common types of modifications include interest rate reductions, maturity extensions and modifications to principal amortization, including interest-only structures. Modified terms are dependent upon the financial position and needs of the individual borrower. If the modification agreement is violated, the loan is managed by the Company’s credit administration group for resolution, which may result in foreclosure in the case of real estate. TDRs are generally classified as nonaccrual for a minimum period of six months and may qualify for return to accrual status once they have demonstrated performance with the restructured terms of the loan agreement. First Financial had 230 TDRs totaling $28.8 million at September 30, 2017 , including $19.7 million on accrual status and $9.1 million classified as nonaccrual. First Financial had $0.1 million of commitments outstanding to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loan terms have been modified through TDRs, and the ALLL included reserves of $0.9 million related to TDRs at September 30, 2017 . For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company charged off $0.1 million for the portion of TDRs determined to be uncollectible. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, First Financial charged off $0.2 million and $0.5 million respectively, for the portion of TDRs determined to be uncollectible. Additionally, as of September 30, 2017 , approximately $14.6 million of accruing TDRs have been performing in accordance with the restructured terms for more than one year. First Financial had 247 TDRs totaling $35.4 million at December 31, 2016 , including $30.2 million of loans on accrual status and $5.1 million classified as nonaccrual. First Financial had $0.9 million of commitments outstanding to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loan terms had been modified through TDRs. At December 31, 2016 , the ALLL included reserves of $1.9 million related to TDRs, and $22.6 million of the accruing TDRs had been performing in accordance with the restructured terms for more than one year. The following tables provide information on loan modifications classified as TDRs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 : Three months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Commercial and industrial 1 $ 45 $ 37 6 $ 1,045 $ 1,159 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 1 285 285 5 3,550 3,531 Residential real estate 6 416 315 0 0 0 Home equity 1 39 39 1 16 16 Installment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 9 $ 785 $ 676 12 $ 4,611 $ 4,706 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Commercial and industrial 7 $ 5,724 $ 5,661 16 $ 3,172 $ 3,290 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 7 1,791 1,734 15 5,060 4,612 Residential real estate 6 416 315 2 282 247 Home equity 1 39 39 5 165 156 Installment 0 0 0 3 9 9 Total 21 $ 7,970 $ 7,749 41 $ 8,688 $ 8,314 The following table provides information on how TDRs were modified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 : Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Extended maturities $ 0 $ 1,831 $ 3,261 $ 2,352 Adjusted interest rates 0 0 2,767 0 Combination of rate and maturity changes 285 2,744 465 2,906 Forbearance 354 0 1,181 88 Other (1) 37 131 75 2,968 Total $ 676 $ 4,706 $ 7,749 $ 8,314 (1) Includes covenant modifications and other concessions, or combination of concessions, that do not consist of interest rate adjustments, forbearance and maturity extensions First Financial considers repayment performance as an indication of the effectiveness of the Company's loan modifications. Borrowers that are 90 days or more past due on any principal or interest payments, or who prematurely terminate a restructured loan agreement without paying off the contractual principal balance (for example, in a deed-in-lieu arrangement), are considered to be in payment default of the terms of the TDR agreement. There were no TDRs for which there was a payment default during the period that occurred within twelve months of the loan modification for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017 . For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , there were no TDRs and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , there were four TDRs with balances of $0.3 million , for which there was a payment default during the period that occurred within twelve months of the loan modification. Impaired Loans. Loans classified as nonaccrual and loans modified as TDRs are considered impaired. The following table provides information on impaired loans, excluding purchased impaired loans: (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Impaired loans Nonaccrual loans (1) Commercial and industrial $ 9,026 $ 2,419 Lease financing 87 195 Construction real estate 824 0 Commercial real estate 12,244 6,098 Residential real estate 4,333 5,251 Home equity 3,364 3,400 Installment 240 367 Credit card 0 0 Nonaccrual loans (1) 30,118 17,730 Accruing troubled debt restructurings 19,692 30,240 Total impaired loans $ 49,810 $ 47,970 (1) Nonaccrual loans include nonaccrual TDRs of $9.1 million and $5.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Interest income effect on impaired loans Gross amount of interest that would have been recorded under original terms $ 761 $ 705 $ 2,735 $ 2,173 Interest included in income Nonaccrual loans 140 97 445 269 Troubled debt restructurings 168 224 563 665 Total interest included in income 308 321 1,008 934 Net impact on interest income $ 453 $ 384 $ 1,727 $ 1,239 First Financial individually reviews all impaired commercial loan relationships greater than $250,000 , as well as consumer loan TDRs greater than $250,000 , to determine if a specific allowance is necessary based on the borrower’s overall financial condition, resources and payment record, support from guarantors and the realizable value of any collateral. Specific allowances are based on discounted cash flows using the loan's initial effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral for certain collateral dependent loans. First Financial's investment in impaired loans was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 As of December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Current balance Contractual principal balance Related allowance Current balance Contractual Related Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 12,146 $ 12,718 $ 0 $ 12,134 $ 12,713 $ 0 Lease financing 87 87 0 195 195 0 Construction real estate 824 824 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,089 25,607 0 12,232 14,632 0 Residential real estate 7,581 8,935 0 8,412 9,648 0 Home equity 3,978 5,094 0 3,973 5,501 0 Installment 254 426 0 437 603 0 Total 47,959 53,691 0 37,383 43,292 0 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 179 179 179 1,069 1,071 550 Lease financing 0 0 0 0 0 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 508 508 44 8,228 8,277 593 Residential real estate 1,063 1,068 160 1,189 1,189 179 Home equity 101 101 2 101 101 2 Installment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1,851 1,856 385 10,587 10,638 1,324 Total Commercial and industrial 12,325 12,897 179 13,203 13,784 550 Lease financing 87 87 0 195 195 0 Construction real estate 824 824 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,597 26,115 44 20,460 22,909 593 Residential real estate 8,644 10,003 160 9,601 10,837 179 Home equity 4,079 5,195 2 4,074 5,602 2 Installment 254 426 0 437 603 0 Total $ 49,810 $ 55,547 $ 385 $ 47,970 $ 53,930 $ 1,324 First Financial's average impaired loans by class and interest income recognized by class was as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Average Interest Average Interest Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 13,730 $ 63 $ 13,015 $ 83 Lease financing 91 1 155 1 Construction real estate 950 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,187 147 14,363 98 Residential real estate 7,569 55 7,887 52 Home equity 3,791 26 4,635 23 Installment 290 1 460 2 Total 49,608 293 40,515 259 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 1,832 2 1,228 8 Lease financing 0 0 536 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 652 5 6,704 46 Residential real estate 1,067 7 1,299 7 Home equity 101 1 101 1 Installment 0 0 0 0 Total 3,652 15 9,868 62 Total Commercial and industrial 15,562 65 14,243 91 Lease financing 91 1 691 1 Construction real estate 950 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,839 152 21,067 144 Residential real estate 8,636 62 9,186 59 Home equity 3,892 27 4,736 24 Installment 290 1 460 2 Total $ 53,260 $ 308 $ 50,383 $ 321 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Average Interest Average Interest Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 14,669 $ 259 $ 13,990 $ 232 Lease financing 120 3 138 2 Construction real estate 744 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 21,563 451 14,757 259 Residential real estate 7,801 147 7,587 147 Home equity 3,951 77 5,044 65 Installment 351 4 348 5 Total 49,199 941 41,864 710 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 1,463 26 1,106 26 Lease financing 0 0 268 8 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 2,513 18 7,684 163 Residential real estate 1,126 20 1,420 24 Home equity 101 3 101 3 Installment 0 0 0 0 Total 5,203 67 10,579 224 Total Commercial and industrial 16,132 285 15,096 258 Lease financing 120 3 406 10 Construction real estate 744 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 24,076 469 22,441 422 Residential real estate 8,927 167 9,007 171 Home equity 4,052 80 5,145 68 Installment 351 4 348 5 Total $ 54,402 $ 1,008 $ 52,443 $ 934 OREO. OREO consists of properties acquired by the Company primarily through the loan foreclosure or repossession process, or other resolution activity that results in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans. Changes in OREO were as follows: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Balance at beginning of period $ 5,961 $ 10,031 $ 6,284 $ 13,254 Additions Commercial and industrial 1,559 936 1,731 1,824 Residential real estate 235 303 2,313 594 Total additions 1,794 1,239 4,044 2,418 Disposals Commercial and industrial (3,684 ) (2,670 ) (5,291 ) (4,763 ) Residential real estate (821 ) (66 ) (1,506 ) (2,145 ) Total disposals (4,505 ) (2,736 ) (6,797 ) (6,908 ) Valuation adjustment Commercial and industrial (102 ) (186 ) (264 ) (332 ) Residential real estate (32 ) (42 ) (151 ) (126 ) Total valuation adjustment (134 ) (228 ) (415 ) (458 ) Balance at end of period $ 3,116 $ 8,306 $ 3,116 $ 8,306 FDIC indemnification asset. The FDIC indemnification asset results from the loss sharing agreements entered into in conjunction with First Financial's FDIC-assisted transactions, and represents expected reimbursements from the FDIC for losses on covered assets. First Financial's FDIC indemnification asset balance was $8.2 million and $12.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. The accounting for the FDIC indemnification asset is closely related to the accounting for the underlying, indemnified assets as well as the ongoing assessment of the collectibility of the indemnification asset. The primary activities impacting the FDIC indemnification asset are FDIC claims, amortization, FDIC loss sharing income and accelerated discount. For a detailed discussion on the indemnification asset, please refer to the Loans and Leases Note in the 2016 Form 10-K.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LO

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES	ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES Loans and leases. Management maintains the ALLL at a level that it considers sufficient to absorb probable incurred loan and lease losses inherent in the portfolio. Management determines the adequacy of the ALLL based on historical loss experience as well as other significant factors such as composition of the portfolio, economic conditions, geographic footprint, the results of periodic internal and external evaluations of delinquent, nonaccrual and classified loans and any other adverse situations that may affect a specific borrower's ability to repay, including the timing of future payments. The ALLL is increased by provision expense and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries of amounts previously charged-off. First Financial's policy is to charge-off all or a portion of a loan when, in management's opinion, it is unlikely to collect the principal amount owed in full either through payments from the borrower or from the liquidation of collateral. Covered/formerly covered loans. The majority of covered/formerly covered loans are purchased impaired loans, whereby First Financial is required to periodically re-estimate the expected cash flows on the loans. First Financial updated the valuations related to covered/formerly covered loans during the third quarter of 2017 . Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses were as follows: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses on loans, excluding covered/formerly covered loans Balance at beginning of period $ 48,351 $ 46,931 $ 49,422 $ 43,149 Provision for loan and lease losses 4,462 1,886 7,451 7,381 Loans charged-off (4,485 ) (1,131 ) (10,935 ) (4,547 ) Recoveries 825 1,206 3,215 2,909 Balance at end of period $ 49,153 $ 48,892 $ 49,153 $ 48,892 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses on loans on covered/formerly covered loans Balance at beginning of period $ 6,522 $ 9,777 $ 8,539 $ 10,249 Provision for loan and lease losses (1,509 ) (199 ) (3,664 ) (2 ) Loans charged-off (14 ) (1,419 ) (812 ) (3,147 ) Recoveries 382 567 1,318 1,626 Balance at end of period $ 5,381 $ 8,726 $ 5,381 $ 8,726 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses Balance at beginning of period $ 54,873 $ 56,708 $ 57,961 $ 53,398 Provision for loan and lease losses 2,953 1,687 3,787 7,379 Loans charged-off (4,499 ) (2,550 ) (11,747 ) (7,694 ) Recoveries 1,207 1,773 4,533 4,535 Balance at end of period $ 54,534 $ 57,618 $ 54,534 $ 57,618 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses by loan category were as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home Equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 18,313 $ 550 $ 3,416 $ 21,717 $ 5,016 $ 4,138 $ 355 $ 1,368 $ 54,873 Provision for loan and lease losses 3,024 507 (178 ) (1,003 ) (243 ) 819 (80 ) 107 2,953 Gross charge-offs (4,122 ) 0 0 (58 ) (23 ) (71 ) (24 ) (201 ) (4,499 ) Recoveries 325 0 0 585 70 110 74 43 1,207 Total net charge-offs (3,797 ) 0 0 527 47 39 50 (158 ) (3,292 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 Three months ended September 30, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home Equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 20,897 $ 1,881 $ 2,893 $ 22,784 $ 3,292 $ 3,002 $ 383 $ 1,576 $ 56,708 Provision for loan and lease losses (720 ) (1,011 ) 232 2,628 (13 ) 275 168 128 1,687 Loans charged off (296 ) 0 (64 ) (1,135 ) (90 ) (475 ) (223 ) (267 ) (2,550 ) Recoveries 327 0 6 997 38 257 56 92 1,773 Total net charge-offs 31 0 (58 ) (138 ) (52 ) (218 ) (167 ) (175 ) (777 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 20,208 $ 870 $ 3,067 $ 25,274 $ 3,227 $ 3,059 $ 384 $ 1,529 $ 57,618 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 19,225 $ 716 $ 3,282 $ 26,540 $ 3,208 $ 3,043 $ 388 $ 1,559 $ 57,961 Provision for loan and lease losses 5,965 340 (133 ) (6,510 ) 1,781 2,150 (52 ) 246 3,787 Loans charged off (8,930 ) 0 0 (1,028 ) (307 ) (635 ) (199 ) (648 ) (11,747 ) Recoveries 1,280 1 89 2,239 138 438 188 160 4,533 Total net charge-offs (7,650 ) 1 89 1,211 (169 ) (197 ) (11 ) (488 ) (7,214 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 As of September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Ending allowance balance attributable to loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 179 $ 0 $ 0 $ 44 $ 160 $ 2 $ 0 $ 0 $ 385 Collectively evaluated for impairment 17,361 1,057 3,238 21,197 4,660 4,994 325 1,317 54,149 Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 Loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 12,325 $ 87 $ 824 $ 23,597 $ 8,644 $ 4,079 $ 254 $ 0 $ 49,810 Collectively evaluated for impairment 1,873,768 85,927 420,117 2,499,790 469,320 490,263 43,396 44,646 5,927,227 Total loans $ 1,886,093 $ 86,014 $ 420,941 $ 2,523,387 $ 477,964 $ 494,342 $ 43,650 $ 44,646 $ 5,977,037 Nine months ended September 30, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 16,995 $ 821 $ 1,810 $ 23,656 $ 4,014 $ 3,943 $ 386 $ 1,773 $ 53,398 Provision for loan and lease losses 3,284 48 1,118 3,491 (806 ) (247 ) 107 384 7,379 Loans charged off (1,040 ) 0 (95 ) (3,993 ) (163 ) (1,213 ) (326 ) (864 ) (7,694 ) Recoveries 969 1 234 2,120 182 576 217 236 4,535 Total net charge-offs (71 ) 1 139 (1,873 ) 19 (637 ) (109 ) (628 ) (3,159 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 20,208 $ 870 $ 3,067 $ 25,274 $ 3,227 $ 3,059 $ 384 $ 1,529 $ 57,618 As of December 31, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Ending allowance balance attributable to loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 550 $ 0 $ 0 $ 593 $ 179 $ 2 $ 0 $ 0 $ 1,324 Collectively evaluated for impairment 18,675 716 3,282 25,947 3,029 3,041 388 1,559 56,637 Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 19,225 $ 716 $ 3,282 $ 26,540 $ 3,208 $ 3,043 $ 388 $ 1,559 $ 57,961 Loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 13,203 $ 195 $ 0 $ 20,460 $ 9,601 $ 4,074 $ 437 $ 0 $ 47,970 Collectively evaluated for impairment 1,768,745 92,913 399,434 2,407,117 491,379 456,314 50,202 43,408 5,709,512 Total loans $ 1,781,948 $ 93,108 $ 399,434 $ 2,427,577 $ 500,980 $ 460,388 $ 50,639 $ 43,408 $ 5,757,482

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE A

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill. Assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess cost of the acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. First Financial had goodwill of $204.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively, and recorded no additional goodwill during 2017 or 2016. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis as of October 1 of each year, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value. First Financial performed its most recent annual impairment test as of October 1, 2016 and no impairment was indicated. As of September 30, 2017 , no events or changes in circumstances indicated that the fair value of a reporting unit was below its carrying value. Other intangible assets. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , First Financial had $5.6 million and $6.5 million , respectively, of other intangible assets, which primarily consist of core deposit intangibles and are included in Goodwill and other intangibles in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Core deposit intangibles represent the estimated fair value of acquired customer deposit relationships. Core deposit intangibles are recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition and are then amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful lives. Core deposit intangibles were $3.6 million and $4.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. First Financial's core deposit intangibles have an estimated weighted average remaining life of 4.1 years . Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $0.3 million and $0.4 million , respectively. Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $1.0 million and $1.2 million , respectively.

BORROWINGS

BORROWINGS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
BORROWINGS	BORROWINGS Short-term borrowings on the Consolidated Balance Sheets include repurchase agreements utilized for corporate sweep accounts with cash management account agreements in place, overnight advances from the FHLB and a short-term line of credit. All repurchase agreements are subject to terms and conditions of repurchase/security agreements between the Bank and the client. To secure its liability to the client, the Bank is authorized to sell or repurchase U.S. Treasury, government agency and mortgage-backed securities. First Financial had $818.2 million in short-term borrowings with the FHLB at September 30, 2017 and $687.7 million as of December 31, 2016 . These short-term borrowings are used to manage normal liquidity needs and support the Company's asset and liability management strategies. First Financial has a $15.0 million short-term credit facility with an unaffiliated bank that matures on May 29, 2018. This facility can have a variable or fixed interest rate and provides First Financial additional liquidity, if needed, for various corporate activities, including the repurchase of First Financial common stock and the payment of dividends to shareholders. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , there was no outstanding balance. The credit agreement requires First Financial to comply with certain covenants including those related to asset quality and capital levels, and First Financial was in compliance with all covenants associated with this facility as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . In 2015, First Financial issued $120.0 million of subordinated notes, which have a fixed interest rate of 5.125% payable semiannually and mature on August 25, 2025. These notes are not redeemable by the Company, or callable by the holders of the notes prior to maturity. The subordinated notes are treated as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes and are included in Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Long-term debt also includes $0.2 million and $0.4 million of FHLB long-term advances as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. These instruments are primarily utilized to reduce overnight liquidity risk and to mitigate interest rate sensitivity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following is a summary of First Financial's long-term debt: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Amount Average rate Amount Average rate Subordinated notes $ 120,000 5.13 % $ 120,000 5.13 % Unamortized debt issuance costs (1,406 ) N/A (1,537 ) N/A FHLB borrowings 246 1.37 % 351 1.43 % Capital loan with municipality 775 0.00 % 775 0.00 % Total long-term debt $ 119,615 5.14 % $ 119,589 5.15 %

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Shareholders’ equity is affected by transactions and valuations of asset and liability positions that require adjustments to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The related tax effects allocated to other comprehensive income and reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 2,612 $ 276 $ 2,336 $ (835 ) $ 1,501 $ 1,014 $ 1,501 $ 2,515 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 202 0 202 (73 ) 129 (835 ) 129 (706 ) Retirement obligation 0 (335 ) 335 (122 ) 213 (22,401 ) 213 (22,188 ) Total $ 2,814 $ (59 ) $ 2,873 $ (1,030 ) $ 1,843 $ (22,222 ) $ 1,843 $ (20,379 ) Three months ended September 30, 2016 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 99 $ 398 $ (299 ) $ 137 $ (162 ) $ 7,302 $ (162 ) $ 7,140 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 202 0 202 (74 ) 128 (1,343 ) 128 (1,215 ) Retirement obligation 0 (317 ) 317 (117 ) 200 (23,647 ) 200 (23,447 ) Total $ 301 $ 81 $ 220 $ (54 ) $ 166 $ (17,688 ) $ 166 $ (17,522 ) Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 12,614 $ 1,630 $ 10,984 $ (3,920 ) $ 7,064 $ (4,549 ) $ 7,064 $ 2,515 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 607 0 607 (222 ) 385 (1,091 ) 385 (706 ) Retirement obligation 0 (1,005 ) 1,005 (390 ) 615 (22,803 ) 615 (22,188 ) Total $ 13,221 $ 625 $ 12,596 $ (4,532 ) $ 8,064 $ (28,443 ) $ 8,064 $ (20,379 ) Nine months ended September 30, 2016 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 18,951 $ 234 $ 18,717 $ (6,644 ) $ 12,073 $ (4,933 ) $ 12,073 $ 7,140 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 607 0 607 (223 ) 384 (1,599 ) 384 (1,215 ) Retirement obligation 0 (951 ) 951 (350 ) 601 (24,048 ) 601 (23,447 ) Total $ 19,558 $ (717 ) $ 20,275 $ (7,217 ) $ 13,058 $ (30,580 ) $ 13,058 $ (17,522 ) The following table presents the activity reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively: Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (1) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income Realized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale $ 276 $ 398 $ 1,630 $ 234 Net gains on sales of investments securities Defined benefit pension plan Amortization of prior service cost (2) 103 103 310 310 Salaries and employee benefits Recognized net actuarial loss (2) (438 ) (420 ) (1,315 ) (1,261 ) Salaries and employee benefits Defined benefit pension plan total (335 ) (317 ) (1,005 ) (951 ) Total reclassifications for the period, before tax $ (59 ) $ 81 $ 625 $ (717 ) (1) Negative amounts are reductions to net income. (2) Included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 12 - Employee Benefit Plans for additional details).

DERIVATIVES

DERIVATIVES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
DERIVATIVES	DERIVATIVES First Financial uses certain derivative instruments, including interest rate caps, floors and swaps, to meet the needs of its clients while managing the interest rate risk associated with certain transactions. First Financial does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. First Financial primarily utilizes interest rate swaps as a means to offer borrowers credit-based products that meet their needs. First Financial may also utilize interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate risk profile of the Company. Interest rate payments are exchanged with counterparties based on the notional amount established in the interest rate agreement. As only interest rate payments are exchanged, the cash requirements and credit risk associated with interest rate swaps are significantly less than the notional amount and the Company’s credit risk exposure is limited to the market value of the instruments. First Financial manages market value credit risk through counterparty credit policies, which require the Company to maintain a total derivative notional position of less than 35% of assets, total credit exposure of less than 3% of capital and no single counterparty credit risk exposure greater than $20.0 million . The Company is currently below all single counterparty and portfolio limits. At September 30, 2017 , the Company had a total counterparty notional amount outstanding of $773.9 million , spread among ten counterparties, with an outstanding liability from these contracts of $3.0 million . At December 31, 2016 , the Company had a total counterparty notional amount outstanding of $677.8 million , spread among ten counterparties, with an outstanding liability from these contracts of $5.2 million . First Financial monitors its derivative credit exposure to borrowers by monitoring the creditworthiness of the related loan customers through the normal credit review processes the Company performs on all borrowers. Additionally, the Company monitors derivative credit risk exposure related to problem loans through the Company's ALLL committee. First Financial considers the market value of a derivative instrument to be part of the carrying value of the related loan for these purposes as the borrower is contractually obligated to pay First Financial this amount in the event the derivative contract is terminated. Client Derivatives. First Financial utilizes interest rate swaps as a means to offer commercial borrowers fixed rate funding while providing the Company with floating rate assets. The following table details the classification and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for client derivatives: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Estimated fair value Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) Balance sheet classification Notional amount Gain Loss Notional amount Gain Loss Client derivatives - instruments associated with loans Matched interest rate swaps with borrower Accrued interest and other assets $ 773,946 $ 9,488 $ (3,582 ) $ 677,028 $ 8,401 $ (4,158 ) Matched interest rate swaps with counterparty Accrued interest and other liabilities 773,946 3,582 (9,496 ) 677,028 4,158 (8,429 ) Total $ 1,547,892 $ 13,070 $ (13,078 ) $ 1,354,056 $ 12,559 $ (12,587 ) In connection with its use of derivative instruments, First Financial and its counterparties are required to post cash collateral to offset the market position of the derivative instruments under certain conditions. First Financial maintains the right to offset these derivative positions with the collateral posted against them by or with the relevant counterparties. First Financial classifies the derivative cash collateral outstanding with its counterparties as an adjustment to the fair value of the derivative contracts within Accrued interest and other assets or Accrued interest and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table discloses the gross and net amounts of client derivative liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Gross amounts of recognized liabilities Gross amounts offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net amounts of assets presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Gross amounts of recognized liabilities Gross amounts offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net amounts of assets presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Client derivatives Matched interest rate swaps with counterparty $ 13,078 $ (3,648 ) $ 9,430 $ 12,587 $ (462 ) $ 12,125 The following table details the derivative financial instruments, the average remaining maturities and the weighted-average interest rates being paid and received by First Financial at September 30, 2017 : Weighted-average rate (Dollars in thousands) Notional amount Average maturity (years) Fair value Receive Pay Client derivatives Receive fixed, matched interest rate swaps with borrower $ 773,946 5.8 $ 5,906 3.62 % 3.40 % Pay fixed, matched interest rate swaps with counterparty 773,946 5.8 (5,914 ) 3.40 % 3.62 % Total client derivatives $ 1,547,892 5.8 $ (8 ) 3.51 % 3.51 % Credit Derivatives. In conjunction with participating interests in commercial loans, First Financial periodically enters into risk participation agreements with counterparties whereby First Financial assumes a portion of the credit exposure associated with an interest rate swap on the participated loan in exchange for a fee. Under these agreements, First Financial will make payments to the counterparty if the loan customer defaults on its obligation to perform under the interest rate swap contract with the counterparty. The total notional value of these agreements totaled $68.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and $64.9 million as of December 31, 2016 . The fair value of these agreements was recorded in Accrued interest and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Mortgage Derivatives. First Financial enters into IRLCs and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors, which are considered derivatives. When borrowers secure an IRLC with First Financial and the loan is intended to be sold, First Financial will enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of the loans to third party investors in order to hedge against the effect of changes in interest rates impacting IRLCs and loans held for sale. At September 30, 2017 , the notional amount of the IRLCs was $17.8 million and the notional amount of forward commitments was $21.3 million . As of December 31, 2016 , the notional amount of IRLCs was $13.2 million and the notional amount of forward commitments was $17.8 million . The fair value of these agreements was recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Accrued interest and other assets and was $0.1 million at September 30, 2017 and $0.2 million at December 31, 2016 .

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES First Financial offers a variety of financial instruments including standby letters of credit and outstanding commitments to extend credit to assist clients in meeting their requirement for liquidity and credit enhancement. GAAP does not require these financial instruments to be recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements. First Financial utilizes the same credit policies in issuing commitments and conditional obligations as it does for credit instruments recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. First Financial’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty is represented by the contractual amounts of those instruments. First Financial utilizes the ALLL methodology to maintain a reserve that it considers sufficient to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in standby letters of credit and outstanding loan commitments and records the reserve within Accrued interest and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Loan commitments. Loan commitments are agreements to extend credit to a client, absent any violation of conditions established in the commitment agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by First Financial upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the client. The collateral held varies, but may include securities, real estate, inventory, plant or equipment. First Financial had commitments outstanding to extend credit totaling $2.2 billion and $2.0 billion at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. As of September 30, 2017 , loan commitments with a fixed interest rate totaled $103.3 million while commitments with variable interest rates totaled $2.1 billion . The fixed rate loan commitments have interest rates ranging from 0.00% to 21.00% and maturities ranging from 1 to 29 years . Letters of credit. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by First Financial to guarantee the performance of a client to a third party. First Financial’s portfolio of standby letters of credit consists primarily of performance assurances made on behalf of clients who have a contractual commitment to produce or deliver goods or services. The risk to First Financial arises from its obligation to make payment in the event of the client's contractual default to produce the contracted good or service to a third party. First Financial issued letters of credit (including standby letters of credit) aggregating $25.3 million and $18.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Management conducts regular reviews of these instruments on an individual client basis. Investments in affordable housing tax credits. First Financial has made investments in certain qualified affordable housing tax credits. These credits are an indirect federal subsidy that provide tax incentives to encourage investment in the development, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing, and allow investors to claim tax credits and other tax benefits (such as deductions from taxable income for operating losses) on their federal income tax returns. The principal risk associated with qualified affordable housing investments is the potential for noncompliance with the tax code requirements, such as failure to rent property to qualified tenants, resulting in the unavailability or recapture of the tax credits and other tax benefits. Investments in affordable housing projects are accounted for under the proportional amortization method and are included in Accrued interest and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. First Financial's affordable housing commitments totaled $39.2 million and $32.7 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. The Company recognized tax credits of $0.8 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The Company recognized tax credits of $2.4 million and $1.6 million related to its investments in affordable housing projects for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The Company recognized amortization expense which was included in income tax expense of $1.0 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. The Company recognized amortization expense of $3.2 million and $2.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. First Financial had no affordable housing contingent commitments as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 . Investments in historic tax credits. First Financial has noncontrolling financial investments in private investment funds and partnerships which are not consolidated. These investments may generate a return through the realization of federal and state income tax credits, as well as other tax benefits, such as tax deductions from net operating losses of the investments over a period of time. Investments in historic tax credits are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are carried in Accrued interest and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s recorded investment in these entities was approximately $4.9 million at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . The maximum exposure to loss related to these investments was $13.7 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively, representing the Company’s investment balance and its unfunded commitments to invest additional amounts. Investments in historic tax credits resulted in $0.1 million of tax credits for each of the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. Investments in historic tax credits resulted in $0.4 million of tax credits for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 , respectively. Contingencies/Litigation. First Financial and its subsidiaries are engaged in various matters of litigation, other assertions of improper or fraudulent loan practices or lending violations and other matters from time to time, and have a number of unresolved claims pending. Additionally, as part of the ordinary course of business, First Financial and its subsidiaries are parties to litigation involving claims to the ownership of funds in particular accounts, the collection of delinquent accounts, challenges to security interests in collateral and foreclosure interests that are incidental to our regular business activities. While the ultimate liability with respect to these other litigation matters and claims cannot be determined at this time, First Financial believes that damages, if any, and other amounts relating to pending matters are not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated as of September 30, 2017 . Reserves are established for these various matters of litigation, when appropriate, under FASB ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, based in part upon the advice of legal counsel. First Financial had no reserves related to litigation matters as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 .

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES For the third quarter 2017 , income tax expense was $11.2 million , resulting in an effective tax rate of 31.1% compared with income tax expense of $10.1 million and an effective tax rate of 30.7% for the comparable period in 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, income tax expense was $32.9 million , resulting in an effective tax rate of 31.4% compared with $31.3 million and an effective tax rate of 32.4% for the comparable period in 2016. ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, became effective during the first quarter of 2017 and requires the recognition of the income tax effects of share-based awards through the income statement as a component income tax expense. First Financial recorded a $0.2 million tax benefit as a result of share awards vesting and exercised during the third quarter of 2017 and $1.4 million during the first nine months of 2017. At December 31, 2016 , First Financial had $2.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, as determined in FASB ASC Topic 740-10, Income Taxes, that, if recognized, would favorably affect 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 the Company. 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , 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 2014 have been closed and are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations. Tax years 2014 through 2016 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 2011. Tax years 2011 through 2016 remain open to state and local examination in various jurisdictions.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS First Financial sponsors a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees and uses a December 31 measurement date for the plan. Plan assets were primarily invested in fixed income and publicly traded equity mutual funds. The pension plan does not directly own any shares of First Financial common stock or any other First Financial security or product. First Financial made no cash contributions to fund the pension plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , or the year ended December 31, 2016, and does not expect to make cash contributions to the plan through the remainder of 2017. As a result of the plan’s actuarial projections, First Financial recorded income of $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. First Financial recorded income of $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The following table sets forth information concerning amounts recognized in First Financial’s Consolidated Statements of Income related to the Company's pension plan: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Service cost $ 1,238 $ 1,308 $ 3,715 $ 3,925 Interest cost 589 581 1,767 1,743 Expected return on assets (2,481 ) (2,431 ) (7,443 ) (7,294 ) Amortization of prior service cost (103 ) (103 ) (310 ) (310 ) Net actuarial loss 438 420 1,315 1,261 Net periodic benefit (income) cost $ (319 ) $ (225 ) $ (956 ) $ (675 )

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Numerator Net income available to common shareholders $ 24,826 $ 22,850 $ 71,976 $ 65,232 Denominator Basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares 61,577,619 61,280,283 61,507,160 61,170,845 Effect of dilutive securities Employee stock awards 552,774 740,977 617,128 736,659 Warrants 59,244 64,807 61,586 55,457 Diluted earnings per common share - adjusted weighted average shares 62,189,637 62,086,067 62,185,874 61,962,961 Earnings per share available to common shareholders Basic $ 0.40 $ 0.37 $ 1.17 $ 1.07 Diluted $ 0.40 $ 0.37 $ 1.16 $ 1.05 Warrants to purchase 105,832 and 141,913 shares of the Company's common stock were outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. These warrants, each representing the right to purchase one share of common stock, no par value per share, have an exercise price of $12.12 and expire on December 23, 2018. Stock options and warrants with exercise prices greater than the average market price of the common shares were not included in the computation of net income per diluted share, as they would have been antidilutive. Using the end of period price, there were no antidilutive options at September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 .

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES	FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES Fair Value Measurement The fair value framework as disclosed in the Fair Value Topic includes a hierarchy which focuses on prioritizing the inputs used in valuation techniques. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), a lower priority to observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 2) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, First Financial looks to active markets to price identical assets or liabilities whenever possible and classifies such items in Level 1. When identical assets and liabilities are not traded in active markets, First Financial looks to observable market data for similar assets and liabilities and classifies such items as Level 2. Certain assets and liabilities are not actively traded in observable markets and First Financial must use alternative techniques, based on unobservable inputs, to determine the fair value and classifies such items as Level 3. The level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant in the fair value measurement. The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used by First Financial to measure different financial assets and liabilities at fair value and in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments. Cash and short-term investments. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and short-term investments, such as federal funds sold, approximated the fair value of those instruments. The Company classifies cash and short-term investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Investment securities. Investment securities classified as trading and available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted market prices, when available (Level 1). If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured utilizing independent valuation techniques of identical or similar investment securities. First Financial compiles prices from various sources who may apply such techniques as matrix pricing to determine the value of identical or similar investment securities (Level 2). Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique widely used in the banking industry to value investment securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific investment securities but rather relying on the investment securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted investment securities. Any investment securities not valued based upon the methods previously described are considered Level 3. First Financial utilizes values provided by third-party pricing vendors to price the investment securities portfolio in accordance with the fair value hierarchy of the Fair Value Topic and reviews the pricing methodologies utilized by the pricing vendors to ensure that the fair value determination is consistent with the applicable accounting guidance. First Financial’s pricing process includes a series of quality assurance activities where prices are compared to recent market conditions, historical prices and other independent pricing services. Further, the Company periodically validates the fair value of a sample of securities in the portfolio by comparing the fair values to prices from other independent sources for the same or similar securities. First Financial analyzes unusual or significant variances, conducts additional research with the pricing vendor, and if necessary, takes appropriate action based on its findings. The results of the quality assurance process are incorporated into the selection of pricing providers by the portfolio manager. Other investments. Other investments include holdings in FRB and FHLB stock, which are carried at cost due to the inability to determine the fair value as a result of restrictions placed on transferability. Loans held for sale. Loans held for sale are carried at fair value. These loans currently consist of one-to-four family residential real estate loans originated for sale to qualified third parties. Fair value is based on the market price or contractual price to be received from these third parties, which is not materially different than cost due to the short duration between origination and sale (Level 2). As such, First Financial records any fair value adjustments on a nonrecurring basis. Gains and losses on the sale of loans are recorded as net gains from sales of loans within noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Loans and leases. The fair value of C&I loans, lease financing, CRE, residential real estate and other consumer loans were estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans and leases would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities or repricing frequency. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of loans as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Impaired loans are specifically reviewed for purposes of determining the appropriate amount of impairment to be allocated to the ALLL. Fair value is generally measured based on the value of the collateral securing the loans. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory and accounts receivable. The value of real estate collateral is determined utilizing an income or market valuation approach based on an appraisal conducted by an independent, licensed third-party appraiser (Level 3). The value of business equipment is based on an outside appraisal, if deemed significant, or the net book value on the applicable borrower financial statements. Likewise, values for inventory and accounts receivable collateral are based on borrower financial statement balances or aging reports on a discounted basis as appropriate (Level 3). Impaired loans are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Any fair value adjustments are recorded in the period incurred as provision for loan and lease losses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. OREO. Assets acquired through loan foreclosure are recorded at fair value less costs to sell, with any difference between the fair value of the property and the carrying value of the loan recorded as a charge-off. If the fair value is higher than the carrying amount of the loan, the excess is recognized first as a recovery and then as noninterest income. Subsequent declines in value are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount and are recorded in noninterest expense. The carrying value of OREO is not re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis, but is subject to fair value adjustments when the carrying value differs from the fair value, less estimated selling costs. Fair value is based on recent real estate appraisals and is updated at least annually. The Company classifies OREO in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. FDIC indemnification asset. Fair value of the FDIC indemnification asset is estimated using projected cash flows related to the loss sharing agreements based on expected reimbursements for losses and the applicable loss sharing percentages. The expected cash flows are discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC. The five year period of loss protection expired for the majority of First Financial's non-single family assets effective October 1, 2014, and the ten year period of loss protection on all other covered loans and covered OREO expires October 1, 2019. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of the indemnification asset as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Accrued interest receivable and payable. The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable approximate their fair values and are aligned with the underlying assets or liabilities (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3). Deposits. The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts and certain money-market deposits represents the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The carrying amounts for variable-rate CDs approximate their fair values at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-rate CDs is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation which applies the interest rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of deposit liabilities as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Borrowings. The carrying amounts of federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings approximate their fair values. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of short-term borrowings as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation which utilizes the interest rates currently offered for borrowings of similar remaining maturities. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of long-term debt as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Derivatives. The fair values of derivative instruments are based primarily on a net present value calculation of the cash flows related to the interest rate swaps at the reporting date, using primarily observable market inputs such as interest rate yield curves which represents the cost to terminate the swap if First Financial should choose to do so. Additionally, First Financial utilizes an internally-developed model to value the credit risk component of derivative assets and liabilities, which is recorded as an adjustment to the fair value of the derivative asset or liability on the reporting date. Derivative instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair values of First Financial’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis in the consolidated financial statements were as follows: Carrying Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 September 30, 2017 Financial assets Cash and short-term investments $ 152,627 $ 152,627 $ 152,627 $ 0 $ 0 Investment securities held-to-maturity 669,816 672,236 0 672,236 0 Other investments 53,198 N/A N/A N/A N/A Loans held for sale 16,466 16,466 0 16,466 0 Loans and leases, net of ALLL 5,922,503 5,946,969 0 0 5,946,969 FDIC indemnification asset 8,177 4,608 0 0 4,608 Accrued interest receivable 22,452 22,452 0 7,883 14,569 Financial liabilities Deposits 6,726,090 6,720,651 0 6,720,651 0 Short-term borrowings 863,732 863,732 863,732 0 0 Long-term debt 119,615 118,922 0 118,922 0 Accrued interest payable 3,997 3,997 957 3,040 0 Carrying Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 December 31, 2016 Financial assets Cash and short-term investments $ 204,048 $ 204,048 $ 204,048 $ 0 $ 0 Investment securities held-to-maturity 763,254 763,575 0 763,575 0 Other investments 51,077 N/A N/A N/A N/A Loans held for sale 13,135 13,135 0 13,135 0 Loans and leases, net of ALLL 5,699,521 5,754,845 0 0 5,754,845 FDIC indemnification asset 12,017 6,720 0 0 6,720 Accrued interest receivable 18,503 18,503 0 5,705 12,798 Financial liabilities Deposits 6,525,788 6,520,278 0 6,520,278 0 Short-term borrowings 807,912 807,912 807,912 0 0 Long-term debt 119,589 117,878 0 117,878 0 Accrued interest payable 5,049 5,049 410 4,639 0 The financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated financial statements were as follows: Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets/liabilities at fair value September 30, 2017 Assets Derivatives $ 0 $ 13,150 $ 0 $ 13,150 Investment securities available-for-sale 2,987 1,283,783 0 1,286,770 Total $ 2,987 $ 1,296,933 $ 0 $ 1,299,920 Liabilities Derivatives $ 0 $ 13,127 $ 0 $ 13,127 Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets/liabilities at fair value December 31, 2016 Assets Derivatives $ 0 $ 12,922 $ 0 $ 12,922 Investment securities available-for-sale 8,711 1,031,159 0 1,039,870 Total $ 8,711 $ 1,044,081 $ 0 $ 1,052,792 Liabilities Derivatives $ 0 $ 12,725 $ 0 $ 12,725 Certain financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Adjustments to the fair market value of these assets usually result from the application of fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. The following table summarizes financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 September 30, 2017 Assets Impaired loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 464 OREO 0 0 913 Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 December 31, 2016 Assets Impaired loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 8,154 OREO 0 0 3,921

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION Pe

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION Pending Business Combination with MainSource Financial Group	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Event, Pro Forma Business Combinations or Disposals [Text Block]	PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION On July 25, 2017, First Financial Bancorp and MainSource Financial Group, Inc. entered into a definitive merger agreement under which MainSource will merge into First Financial in a stock-for-stock transaction. MainSource Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of MainSource, will merge into First Financial Bank. Under the terms of the merger agreement, shareholders of MainSource will receive 1.3875 common shares of First Financial common stock for each share of MainSource common stock. Including outstanding options and warrants on MainSource common stock, the transaction is valued at approximately $1.0 billion . Upon closing, First Financial shareholders will own approximately 65% of the combined company and MainSource shareholders will own approximately 35% , on a fully diluted basis. The merger will position the combined company to better serve the complimentary geographies of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and create a higher performing bank with greater scale and capabilities. Pro forma information for the periods ended June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was as follows: For the six For the year months ended ended (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement Information Net interest income $ 204,518 $ 387,725 Provision for loan and lease losses 834 10,140 Income before income taxes 92,591 170,132 Net income 65,884 119,661 As of Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Information Loans and leases, net $ 8,818,392 Total assets 13,806,092 Deposits 9,987,298 Total shareholders' equity 1,913,682 The merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018, subject to approval by the FRB of Cleveland and other customary closing conditions. The selected pro forma financial data included in the preceding table is based on preliminary estimates, and is subject to change upon completion of the merger. On October 19, 2017, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-4 that included historical and pro forma information required in connection with the merger.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTI

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by First Financial to guarantee the performance of a client to a third party. First Financial’s portfolio of standby letters of credit consists primarily of performance assurances made on behalf of clients who have a contractual commitment to produce or deliver goods or services. The risk to First Financial arises from its obligation to make payment in the event of the client's contractual default to produce the contracted good or service to a third party.
Basis of Presentation Policy	The Consolidated Financial Statements of First Financial Bancorp., a bank holding company principally serving Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, include the accounts and operations of First Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications of prior periods' amounts have been made to conform to current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net earnings.
Use of Estimates, Policy	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are inherently subjective and may be susceptible to significant change. Actual realized amounts could differ materially from these estimates.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Past Due Status, Policy	Loans are considered past due or delinquent when the contractual principal or interest due in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement or any portion thereof remains unpaid after the date of the scheduled payment.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonaccrual Loan and Lease Status, Policy	Loans are classified as nonaccrual when, in the opinion of management, collection of principal or interest is doubtful or when principal or interest payments are 90 days or more past due. Generally, loans are classified as nonaccrual due to the continued failure to adhere to contractual payment terms by the borrower, coupled with other pertinent factors. When a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest income is discontinued and previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed. Any payments received while a loan is on nonaccrual status are applied as a reduction to the carrying value of the loan. A loan classified as nonaccrual may return to accrual status if collection of future principal and interest payments is no longer doubtful. Purchased impaired loans are classified as performing, even though they may be contractually past due, as any nonpayment of contractual principal or interest is considered in the periodic re-estimation of expected cash flows and is included in the resulting recognition of current period provision for loan and lease losses or prospective yield adjustments.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring Policy	A loan modification is considered a TDR when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and concessions are made by the Company that would not otherwise be considered for a borrower with similar credit characteristics. The most common types of modifications include interest rate reductions, maturity extensions and modifications to principal amortization, including interest-only structures. Modified terms are dependent upon the financial position and needs of the individual borrower. If the modification agreement is violated, the loan is managed by the Company’s credit administration group for resolution, which may result in foreclosure in the case of real estate. TDRs are generally classified as nonaccrual for a minimum period of six months and may qualify for return to accrual status once they have demonstrated performance with the restructured terms of the loan agreement.
Impaired Financing Receivable, Policy	Loans classified as nonaccrual and loans modified as TDRs are considered impaired. First Financial individually reviews all impaired commercial loan relationships greater than $250,000 , as well as consumer loan TDRs greater than $250,000 , to determine if a specific allowance is necessary based on the borrower’s overall financial condition, resources and payment record, support from guarantors and the realizable value of any collateral. Specific allowances are based on discounted cash flows using the loan's initial effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral for certain collateral dependent loans.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure, Policy	OREO consists of properties acquired by the Company primarily through the loan foreclosure or repossession process, or other resolution activity that results in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance for Loan Losses Policy	Management maintains the ALLL at a level that it considers sufficient to absorb probable incurred loan and lease losses inherent in the portfolio. Management determines the adequacy of the ALLL based on historical loss experience as well as other significant factors such as composition of the portfolio, economic conditions, geographic footprint, the results of periodic internal and external evaluations of delinquent, nonaccrual and classified loans and any other adverse situations that may affect a specific borrower's ability to repay, including the timing of future payments. The ALLL is increased by provision expense and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries of amounts previously charged-off. First Financial's policy is to charge-off all or a portion of a loan when, in management's opinion, it is unlikely to collect the principal amount owed in full either through payments from the borrower or from the liquidation of collateral.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy	Assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess cost of the acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill Impairment Policy	Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis as of October 1 of each year, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy	Core deposit intangibles represent the estimated fair value of acquired customer deposit relationships. Core deposit intangibles are recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition and are then amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful lives.
Income Tax, Policy	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 the Company.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy	First Financial offers a variety of financial instruments including standby letters of credit and outstanding commitments to extend credit to assist clients in meeting their requirement for liquidity and credit enhancement. GAAP does not require these financial instruments to be recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements. First Financial utilizes the same credit policies in issuing commitments and conditional obligations as it does for credit instruments recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. First Financial’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty is represented by the contractual amounts of those instruments. First Financial utilizes the ALLL methodology to maintain a reserve that it considers sufficient to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in standby letters of credit and outstanding loan commitments and records the reserve within Accrued interest and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy	Fair Value Measurement The fair value framework as disclosed in the Fair Value Topic includes a hierarchy which focuses on prioritizing the inputs used in valuation techniques. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), a lower priority to observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 2) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, First Financial looks to active markets to price identical assets or liabilities whenever possible and classifies such items in Level 1. When identical assets and liabilities are not traded in active markets, First Financial looks to observable market data for similar assets and liabilities and classifies such items as Level 2. Certain assets and liabilities are not actively traded in observable markets and First Financial must use alternative techniques, based on unobservable inputs, to determine the fair value and classifies such items as Level 3. The level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant in the fair value measurement. The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used by First Financial to measure different financial assets and liabilities at fair value and in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments. Cash and short-term investments. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and short-term investments, such as federal funds sold, approximated the fair value of those instruments. The Company classifies cash and short-term investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Investment securities. Investment securities classified as trading and available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted market prices, when available (Level 1). If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured utilizing independent valuation techniques of identical or similar investment securities. First Financial compiles prices from various sources who may apply such techniques as matrix pricing to determine the value of identical or similar investment securities (Level 2). Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique widely used in the banking industry to value investment securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific investment securities but rather relying on the investment securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted investment securities. Any investment securities not valued based upon the methods previously described are considered Level 3. First Financial utilizes values provided by third-party pricing vendors to price the investment securities portfolio in accordance with the fair value hierarchy of the Fair Value Topic and reviews the pricing methodologies utilized by the pricing vendors to ensure that the fair value determination is consistent with the applicable accounting guidance. First Financial’s pricing process includes a series of quality assurance activities where prices are compared to recent market conditions, historical prices and other independent pricing services. Further, the Company periodically validates the fair value of a sample of securities in the portfolio by comparing the fair values to prices from other independent sources for the same or similar securities. First Financial analyzes unusual or significant variances, conducts additional research with the pricing vendor, and if necessary, takes appropriate action based on its findings. The results of the quality assurance process are incorporated into the selection of pricing providers by the portfolio manager. Other investments. Other investments include holdings in FRB and FHLB stock, which are carried at cost due to the inability to determine the fair value as a result of restrictions placed on transferability. Loans held for sale. Loans held for sale are carried at fair value. These loans currently consist of one-to-four family residential real estate loans originated for sale to qualified third parties. Fair value is based on the market price or contractual price to be received from these third parties, which is not materially different than cost due to the short duration between origination and sale (Level 2). As such, First Financial records any fair value adjustments on a nonrecurring basis. Gains and losses on the sale of loans are recorded as net gains from sales of loans within noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Loans and leases. The fair value of C&I loans, lease financing, CRE, residential real estate and other consumer loans were estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans and leases would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities or repricing frequency. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of loans as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Impaired loans are specifically reviewed for purposes of determining the appropriate amount of impairment to be allocated to the ALLL. Fair value is generally measured based on the value of the collateral securing the loans. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory and accounts receivable. The value of real estate collateral is determined utilizing an income or market valuation approach based on an appraisal conducted by an independent, licensed third-party appraiser (Level 3). The value of business equipment is based on an outside appraisal, if deemed significant, or the net book value on the applicable borrower financial statements. Likewise, values for inventory and accounts receivable collateral are based on borrower financial statement balances or aging reports on a discounted basis as appropriate (Level 3). Impaired loans are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Any fair value adjustments are recorded in the period incurred as provision for loan and lease losses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. OREO. Assets acquired through loan foreclosure are recorded at fair value less costs to sell, with any difference between the fair value of the property and the carrying value of the loan recorded as a charge-off. If the fair value is higher than the carrying amount of the loan, the excess is recognized first as a recovery and then as noninterest income. Subsequent declines in value are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount and are recorded in noninterest expense. The carrying value of OREO is not re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis, but is subject to fair value adjustments when the carrying value differs from the fair value, less estimated selling costs. Fair value is based on recent real estate appraisals and is updated at least annually. The Company classifies OREO in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. FDIC indemnification asset. Fair value of the FDIC indemnification asset is estimated using projected cash flows related to the loss sharing agreements based on expected reimbursements for losses and the applicable loss sharing percentages. The expected cash flows are discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC. The five year period of loss protection expired for the majority of First Financial's non-single family assets effective October 1, 2014, and the ten year period of loss protection on all other covered loans and covered OREO expires October 1, 2019. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of the indemnification asset as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Accrued interest receivable and payable. The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable approximate their fair values and are aligned with the underlying assets or liabilities (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3). Deposits. The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts and certain money-market deposits represents the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The carrying amounts for variable-rate CDs approximate their fair values at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-rate CDs is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation which applies the interest rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of deposit liabilities as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Borrowings. The carrying amounts of federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings approximate their fair values. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of short-term borrowings as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation which utilizes the interest rates currently offered for borrowings of similar remaining maturities. The Company classifies the estimated fair value of long-term debt as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Derivatives. The fair values of derivative instruments are based primarily on a net present value calculation of the cash flows related to the interest rate swaps at the reporting date, using primarily observable market inputs such as interest rate yield curves which represents the cost to terminate the swap if First Financial should choose to do so. Additionally, First Financial utilizes an internally-developed model to value the credit risk component of derivative assets and liabilities, which is recorded as an adjustment to the fair value of the derivative asset or liability on the reporting date. Derivative instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Loan Commitments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Loan commitments are agreements to extend credit to a client, absent any violation of conditions established in the commitment agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by First Financial upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the client. The collateral held varies, but may include securities, real estate, inventory, plant or equipment.
Other Contract-Mortgage
Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Hedging Derivatives, Policy	First Financial enters into IRLCs and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors, which are considered derivatives. When borrowers secure an IRLC with First Financial and the loan is intended to be sold, First Financial will enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of the loans to third party investors in order to hedge against the effect of changes in interest rates impacting IRLCs and loans held for sale.
Credit Risk
Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Hedging Derivatives, Policy	First Financial manages market value credit risk through counterparty credit policies, which require the Company to maintain a total derivative notional position of less than 35% of assets, total credit exposure of less than 3% of capital and no single counterparty credit risk exposure greater than $20.0 million .
Fair Value Hedges
Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Hedging Derivatives, Policy	First Financial utilizes interest rate swaps as a means to offer commercial borrowers fixed rate funding while providing the Company with floating rate assets.

INVESTMENTS (Tables)

INVESTMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Summary of Held-To-Maturity and Available-For-Sale Investment Securities	The following is a summary of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investment securities as of September 30, 2017 : Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized Unrecognized gain Unrecognized loss Fair Amortized cost Unrealized gain Unrealized loss Fair U.S. Treasuries $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations 11,588 33 (23 ) 11,598 16,284 224 0 16,508 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 171,468 2,066 (1,219 ) 172,315 272,254 1,471 (1,609 ) 272,116 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 257,590 2,655 (2,053 ) 258,192 142,152 567 (521 ) 142,198 Collateralized mortgage obligations 153,806 934 (915 ) 153,825 304,679 1,551 (1,127 ) 305,103 Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 75,364 1,184 (242 ) 76,306 127,122 2,556 (701 ) 128,977 Asset-backed securities 0 0 0 0 340,477 1,921 (517 ) 341,881 Other securities 0 0 0 0 78,254 1,911 (276 ) 79,889 Total $ 669,816 $ 6,872 $ (4,452 ) $ 672,236 $ 1,281,320 $ 10,201 $ (4,751 ) $ 1,286,770 The following is a summary of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investment securities as of December 31, 2016 : Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized Unrecognized gain Unrecognized Fair Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair U.S. Treasuries $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 98 $ 0 $ (1 ) $ 97 Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations 13,011 0 (110 ) 12,901 7,056 0 (40 ) 7,016 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 205,522 1,740 (1,166 ) 206,096 184,960 1,175 (2,740 ) 183,395 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 278,728 3,254 (1,817 ) 280,165 154,239 188 (826 ) 153,601 Collateralized mortgage obligations 195,408 1,125 (1,476 ) 195,057 232,701 634 (2,321 ) 231,014 Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 70,585 117 (1,346 ) 69,356 96,934 1,461 (1,514 ) 96,881 Asset-backed securities 0 0 0 0 322,708 517 (2,013 ) 321,212 Other securities 0 0 0 0 46,641 741 (728 ) 46,654 Total $ 763,254 $ 6,236 $ (5,915 ) $ 763,575 $ 1,045,337 $ 4,716 $ (10,183 ) $ 1,039,870
Summary of Investment Securities by Estimated Maturity	The following table provides a summary of investment securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2017 , except for residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities, which are shown as single totals, due to the unpredictability of the timing in principal repayments. Held-to-maturity Available-for-sale (Dollars in thousands) Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value By Contractual Maturity: Due in one year or less $ 170 $ 170 $ 2,408 $ 2,408 Due after one year through five years 4,466 4,469 26,795 27,154 Due after five years through ten years 2,690 2,849 78,265 79,868 Due after ten years 79,626 80,416 114,290 116,042 Mortgage-backed securities - residential 171,468 172,315 272,254 272,116 Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 257,590 258,192 142,152 142,198 Collateralized mortgage obligations 153,806 153,825 304,679 305,103 Asset-backed securities 0 0 340,477 341,881 Total $ 669,816 $ 672,236 $ 1,281,320 $ 1,286,770
Age of Gross Unrealized Losses and Associated Fair Value by Investment Category	The following tables provide the fair value and gross unrealized losses on investment securities in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by investment category and the length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous loss position: September 30, 2017 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total (Dollars in thousands) Fair value Unrealized loss Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized Securities of U.S. Government agencies and corporations $ 6,275 $ (23 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 6,275 $ (23 ) Mortgage-backed securities - residential 71,312 (508 ) 96,048 (2,320 ) 167,360 (2,828 ) Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 67,611 (962 ) 66,749 (1,612 ) 134,360 (2,574 ) Collateralized mortgage obligations 124,023 (550 ) 92,035 (1,492 ) 216,058 (2,042 ) Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 58,858 (505 ) 28,713 (438 ) 87,571 (943 ) Asset-backed securities 23,707 (148 ) 29,666 (369 ) 53,373 (517 ) Other securities 7,278 (106 ) 2,468 (170 ) 9,746 (276 ) Total $ 359,064 $ (2,802 ) $ 315,679 $ (6,401 ) $ 674,743 $ (9,203 ) December 31, 2016 Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized Fair Unrealized (Dollars in thousands) value loss value loss value loss U.S. Treasuries $ 97 $ (1 ) $ 0 $ 0 $ 97 $ (1 ) Securities of U.S. Government agencies and corporations 19,917 (150 ) 0 0 19,917 (150 ) Mortgage-backed securities - residential 180,654 (3,621 ) 9,890 (285 ) 190,544 (3,906 ) Mortgage-backed securities - commercial 123,122 (1,200 ) 65,007 (1,443 ) 188,129 (2,643 ) Collateralized mortgage obligations 201,305 (2,882 ) 42,314 (915 ) 243,619 (3,797 ) Obligations of state and other political subdivisions 94,632 (2,710 ) 12,023 (150 ) 106,655 (2,860 ) Asset-backed securities 116,057 (764 ) 92,629 (1,249 ) 208,686 (2,013 ) Other securities 7,746 (237 ) 21,357 (491 ) 29,103 (728 ) Total $ 743,530 $ (11,565 ) $ 243,220 $ (4,533 ) $ 986,750 $ (16,098 )

LOANS AND LEASES (Tables)

LOANS AND LEASES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]
Commercial and Consumer Credit Exposure by Risk Attribute	Commercial and consumer credit exposure by risk attribute was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 Commercial Real Estate Lease (Dollars in thousands) and industrial Construction Commercial financing Total Pass $ 1,842,432 $ 420,101 $ 2,472,395 $ 84,607 $ 4,819,535 Special Mention 15,002 0 7,540 44 22,586 Substandard 28,659 840 43,452 1,363 74,314 Doubtful 0 0 0 0 0 Total $ 1,886,093 $ 420,941 $ 2,523,387 $ 86,014 $ 4,916,435 (Dollars in thousands) Residential real estate Home equity Installment Credit card Total Performing $ 469,320 $ 490,263 $ 43,396 $ 44,646 $ 1,047,625 Nonperforming 8,644 4,079 254 0 12,977 Total $ 477,964 $ 494,342 $ 43,650 $ 44,646 $ 1,060,602 As of December 31, 2016 Commercial Real Estate Lease (Dollars in thousands) and industrial Construction Commercial financing Total Pass $ 1,725,451 $ 398,155 $ 2,349,662 $ 92,540 $ 4,565,808 Special Mention 18,256 1,258 15,584 108 35,206 Substandard 38,241 21 62,331 460 101,053 Doubtful 0 0 0 0 0 Total $ 1,781,948 $ 399,434 $ 2,427,577 $ 93,108 $ 4,702,067 (Dollars in thousands) Residential real estate Home equity Installment Credit card Total Performing $ 491,380 $ 456,314 $ 50,202 $ 43,408 $ 1,041,304 Nonperforming 9,600 4,074 437 0 14,111 Total $ 500,980 $ 460,388 $ 50,639 $ 43,408 $ 1,055,415
Loan Delinquency, including Nonaccrual Loans	Loan delinquency, including loans classified as nonaccrual, was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 (Dollars in thousands) 30 – 59 60 – 89 > 90 days Total Current Subtotal Purchased impaired Total > 90 days Loans Commercial and industrial $ 2,175 $ 205 $ 4,680 $ 7,060 $ 1,875,376 $ 1,882,436 $ 3,657 $ 1,886,093 $ 0 Lease financing 76 0 0 76 85,938 86,014 0 86,014 0 Construction real estate 1,612 0 824 2,436 418,213 420,649 292 420,941 0 Commercial real estate 1,353 865 9,337 11,555 2,449,194 2,460,749 62,638 2,523,387 0 Residential real estate 661 0 3,244 3,905 434,114 438,019 39,945 477,964 0 Home equity 2,249 590 1,224 4,063 486,495 490,558 3,784 494,342 0 Installment 109 43 215 367 42,547 42,914 736 43,650 0 Credit card 281 136 84 501 44,145 44,646 0 44,646 84 Total $ 8,516 $ 1,839 $ 19,608 $ 29,963 $ 5,836,022 $ 5,865,985 $ 111,052 $ 5,977,037 $ 84 As of December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) 30 – 59 60 – 89 > 90 days Total Current Subtotal Purchased impaired Total > 90 days Loans Commercial and industrial $ 1,257 $ 208 $ 1,339 $ 2,804 $ 1,773,939 $ 1,776,743 $ 5,205 $ 1,781,948 $ 0 Lease financing 137 0 115 252 92,856 93,108 0 93,108 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 398,877 398,877 557 399,434 0 Commercial real estate 777 134 5,589 6,500 2,339,327 2,345,827 81,750 2,427,577 2,729 Residential real estate 821 37 2,381 3,239 450,631 453,870 47,110 500,980 0 Home equity 195 145 1,776 2,116 456,143 458,259 2,129 460,388 0 Installment 24 1 258 283 49,058 49,341 1,298 50,639 0 Credit card 457 177 142 776 42,632 43,408 0 43,408 142 Total $ 3,668 $ 702 $ 11,600 $ 15,970 $ 5,603,463 $ 5,619,433 $ 138,049 $ 5,757,482 $ 2,871
Loans Restructured During Period	The following tables provide information on loan modifications classified as TDRs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 : Three months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Commercial and industrial 1 $ 45 $ 37 6 $ 1,045 $ 1,159 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 1 285 285 5 3,550 3,531 Residential real estate 6 416 315 0 0 0 Home equity 1 39 39 1 16 16 Installment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 9 $ 785 $ 676 12 $ 4,611 $ 4,706 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Number of loans Pre-modification loan balance Period end balance Commercial and industrial 7 $ 5,724 $ 5,661 16 $ 3,172 $ 3,290 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 7 1,791 1,734 15 5,060 4,612 Residential real estate 6 416 315 2 282 247 Home equity 1 39 39 5 165 156 Installment 0 0 0 3 9 9 Total 21 $ 7,970 $ 7,749 41 $ 8,688 $ 8,314
Loans Restructured, Modifications	The following table provides information on how TDRs were modified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 : Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Extended maturities $ 0 $ 1,831 $ 3,261 $ 2,352 Adjusted interest rates 0 0 2,767 0 Combination of rate and maturity changes 285 2,744 465 2,906 Forbearance 354 0 1,181 88 Other (1) 37 131 75 2,968 Total $ 676 $ 4,706 $ 7,749 $ 8,314 (1) Includes covenant modifications and other concessions, or combination of concessions, that do not consist of interest rate adjustments, forbearance and maturity extensions
Nonaccrual, Restructured and Impaired Loans	The following table provides information on impaired loans, excluding purchased impaired loans: (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Impaired loans Nonaccrual loans (1) Commercial and industrial $ 9,026 $ 2,419 Lease financing 87 195 Construction real estate 824 0 Commercial real estate 12,244 6,098 Residential real estate 4,333 5,251 Home equity 3,364 3,400 Installment 240 367 Credit card 0 0 Nonaccrual loans (1) 30,118 17,730 Accruing troubled debt restructurings 19,692 30,240 Total impaired loans $ 49,810 $ 47,970 (1) Nonaccrual loans include nonaccrual TDRs of $9.1 million and $5.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Interest income effect on impaired loans Gross amount of interest that would have been recorded under original terms $ 761 $ 705 $ 2,735 $ 2,173 Interest included in income Nonaccrual loans 140 97 445 269 Troubled debt restructurings 168 224 563 665 Total interest included in income 308 321 1,008 934 Net impact on interest income $ 453 $ 384 $ 1,727 $ 1,239
Investment in Impaired Loans	First Financial's investment in impaired loans was as follows: As of September 30, 2017 As of December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Current balance Contractual principal balance Related allowance Current balance Contractual Related Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 12,146 $ 12,718 $ 0 $ 12,134 $ 12,713 $ 0 Lease financing 87 87 0 195 195 0 Construction real estate 824 824 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,089 25,607 0 12,232 14,632 0 Residential real estate 7,581 8,935 0 8,412 9,648 0 Home equity 3,978 5,094 0 3,973 5,501 0 Installment 254 426 0 437 603 0 Total 47,959 53,691 0 37,383 43,292 0 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 179 179 179 1,069 1,071 550 Lease financing 0 0 0 0 0 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 508 508 44 8,228 8,277 593 Residential real estate 1,063 1,068 160 1,189 1,189 179 Home equity 101 101 2 101 101 2 Installment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1,851 1,856 385 10,587 10,638 1,324 Total Commercial and industrial 12,325 12,897 179 13,203 13,784 550 Lease financing 87 87 0 195 195 0 Construction real estate 824 824 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,597 26,115 44 20,460 22,909 593 Residential real estate 8,644 10,003 160 9,601 10,837 179 Home equity 4,079 5,195 2 4,074 5,602 2 Installment 254 426 0 437 603 0 Total $ 49,810 $ 55,547 $ 385 $ 47,970 $ 53,930 $ 1,324 First Financial's average impaired loans by class and interest income recognized by class was as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Average Interest Average Interest Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 13,730 $ 63 $ 13,015 $ 83 Lease financing 91 1 155 1 Construction real estate 950 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,187 147 14,363 98 Residential real estate 7,569 55 7,887 52 Home equity 3,791 26 4,635 23 Installment 290 1 460 2 Total 49,608 293 40,515 259 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 1,832 2 1,228 8 Lease financing 0 0 536 0 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 652 5 6,704 46 Residential real estate 1,067 7 1,299 7 Home equity 101 1 101 1 Installment 0 0 0 0 Total 3,652 15 9,868 62 Total Commercial and industrial 15,562 65 14,243 91 Lease financing 91 1 691 1 Construction real estate 950 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 23,839 152 21,067 144 Residential real estate 8,636 62 9,186 59 Home equity 3,892 27 4,736 24 Installment 290 1 460 2 Total $ 53,260 $ 308 $ 50,383 $ 321 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Average Interest Average Interest Loans with no related allowance recorded Commercial and industrial $ 14,669 $ 259 $ 13,990 $ 232 Lease financing 120 3 138 2 Construction real estate 744 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 21,563 451 14,757 259 Residential real estate 7,801 147 7,587 147 Home equity 3,951 77 5,044 65 Installment 351 4 348 5 Total 49,199 941 41,864 710 Loans with an allowance recorded Commercial and industrial 1,463 26 1,106 26 Lease financing 0 0 268 8 Construction real estate 0 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 2,513 18 7,684 163 Residential real estate 1,126 20 1,420 24 Home equity 101 3 101 3 Installment 0 0 0 0 Total 5,203 67 10,579 224 Total Commercial and industrial 16,132 285 15,096 258 Lease financing 120 3 406 10 Construction real estate 744 0 0 0 Commercial real estate 24,076 469 22,441 422 Residential real estate 8,927 167 9,007 171 Home equity 4,052 80 5,145 68 Installment 351 4 348 5 Total $ 54,402 $ 1,008 $ 52,443 $ 934
Changes in Other Real Estate Owned	Changes in OREO were as follows: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Balance at beginning of period $ 5,961 $ 10,031 $ 6,284 $ 13,254 Additions Commercial and industrial 1,559 936 1,731 1,824 Residential real estate 235 303 2,313 594 Total additions 1,794 1,239 4,044 2,418 Disposals Commercial and industrial (3,684 ) (2,670 ) (5,291 ) (4,763 ) Residential real estate (821 ) (66 ) (1,506 ) (2,145 ) Total disposals (4,505 ) (2,736 ) (6,797 ) (6,908 ) Valuation adjustment Commercial and industrial (102 ) (186 ) (264 ) (332 ) Residential real estate (32 ) (42 ) (151 ) (126 ) Total valuation adjustment (134 ) (228 ) (415 ) (458 ) Balance at end of period $ 3,116 $ 8,306 $ 3,116 $ 8,306

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE 27

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Changes in the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses for the Current and Comparable Quarter	Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses were as follows: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses on loans, excluding covered/formerly covered loans Balance at beginning of period $ 48,351 $ 46,931 $ 49,422 $ 43,149 Provision for loan and lease losses 4,462 1,886 7,451 7,381 Loans charged-off (4,485 ) (1,131 ) (10,935 ) (4,547 ) Recoveries 825 1,206 3,215 2,909 Balance at end of period $ 49,153 $ 48,892 $ 49,153 $ 48,892 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses on loans on covered/formerly covered loans Balance at beginning of period $ 6,522 $ 9,777 $ 8,539 $ 10,249 Provision for loan and lease losses (1,509 ) (199 ) (3,664 ) (2 ) Loans charged-off (14 ) (1,419 ) (812 ) (3,147 ) Recoveries 382 567 1,318 1,626 Balance at end of period $ 5,381 $ 8,726 $ 5,381 $ 8,726 Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses Balance at beginning of period $ 54,873 $ 56,708 $ 57,961 $ 53,398 Provision for loan and lease losses 2,953 1,687 3,787 7,379 Loans charged-off (4,499 ) (2,550 ) (11,747 ) (7,694 ) Recoveries 1,207 1,773 4,533 4,535 Balance at end of period $ 54,534 $ 57,618 $ 54,534 $ 57,618
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses by Classification	Changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses by loan category were as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home Equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 18,313 $ 550 $ 3,416 $ 21,717 $ 5,016 $ 4,138 $ 355 $ 1,368 $ 54,873 Provision for loan and lease losses 3,024 507 (178 ) (1,003 ) (243 ) 819 (80 ) 107 2,953 Gross charge-offs (4,122 ) 0 0 (58 ) (23 ) (71 ) (24 ) (201 ) (4,499 ) Recoveries 325 0 0 585 70 110 74 43 1,207 Total net charge-offs (3,797 ) 0 0 527 47 39 50 (158 ) (3,292 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 Three months ended September 30, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home Equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 20,897 $ 1,881 $ 2,893 $ 22,784 $ 3,292 $ 3,002 $ 383 $ 1,576 $ 56,708 Provision for loan and lease losses (720 ) (1,011 ) 232 2,628 (13 ) 275 168 128 1,687 Loans charged off (296 ) 0 (64 ) (1,135 ) (90 ) (475 ) (223 ) (267 ) (2,550 ) Recoveries 327 0 6 997 38 257 56 92 1,773 Total net charge-offs 31 0 (58 ) (138 ) (52 ) (218 ) (167 ) (175 ) (777 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 20,208 $ 870 $ 3,067 $ 25,274 $ 3,227 $ 3,059 $ 384 $ 1,529 $ 57,618 Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 19,225 $ 716 $ 3,282 $ 26,540 $ 3,208 $ 3,043 $ 388 $ 1,559 $ 57,961 Provision for loan and lease losses 5,965 340 (133 ) (6,510 ) 1,781 2,150 (52 ) 246 3,787 Loans charged off (8,930 ) 0 0 (1,028 ) (307 ) (635 ) (199 ) (648 ) (11,747 ) Recoveries 1,280 1 89 2,239 138 438 188 160 4,533 Total net charge-offs (7,650 ) 1 89 1,211 (169 ) (197 ) (11 ) (488 ) (7,214 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 As of September 30, 2017 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Ending allowance balance attributable to loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 179 $ 0 $ 0 $ 44 $ 160 $ 2 $ 0 $ 0 $ 385 Collectively evaluated for impairment 17,361 1,057 3,238 21,197 4,660 4,994 325 1,317 54,149 Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 17,540 $ 1,057 $ 3,238 $ 21,241 $ 4,820 $ 4,996 $ 325 $ 1,317 $ 54,534 Loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 12,325 $ 87 $ 824 $ 23,597 $ 8,644 $ 4,079 $ 254 $ 0 $ 49,810 Collectively evaluated for impairment 1,873,768 85,927 420,117 2,499,790 469,320 490,263 43,396 44,646 5,927,227 Total loans $ 1,886,093 $ 86,014 $ 420,941 $ 2,523,387 $ 477,964 $ 494,342 $ 43,650 $ 44,646 $ 5,977,037 Nine months ended September 30, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Allowance for loan and lease losses: Balance at beginning of period $ 16,995 $ 821 $ 1,810 $ 23,656 $ 4,014 $ 3,943 $ 386 $ 1,773 $ 53,398 Provision for loan and lease losses 3,284 48 1,118 3,491 (806 ) (247 ) 107 384 7,379 Loans charged off (1,040 ) 0 (95 ) (3,993 ) (163 ) (1,213 ) (326 ) (864 ) (7,694 ) Recoveries 969 1 234 2,120 182 576 217 236 4,535 Total net charge-offs (71 ) 1 139 (1,873 ) 19 (637 ) (109 ) (628 ) (3,159 ) Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 20,208 $ 870 $ 3,067 $ 25,274 $ 3,227 $ 3,059 $ 384 $ 1,529 $ 57,618 As of December 31, 2016 Real Estate (Dollars in thousands) Commercial and industrial Lease financing Construction Commercial Residential Home equity Installment Credit card Total Ending allowance balance attributable to loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 550 $ 0 $ 0 $ 593 $ 179 $ 2 $ 0 $ 0 $ 1,324 Collectively evaluated for impairment 18,675 716 3,282 25,947 3,029 3,041 388 1,559 56,637 Ending allowance for loan and lease losses $ 19,225 $ 716 $ 3,282 $ 26,540 $ 3,208 $ 3,043 $ 388 $ 1,559 $ 57,961 Loans Individually evaluated for impairment $ 13,203 $ 195 $ 0 $ 20,460 $ 9,601 $ 4,074 $ 437 $ 0 $ 47,970 Collectively evaluated for impairment 1,768,745 92,913 399,434 2,407,117 491,379 456,314 50,202 43,408 5,709,512 Total loans $ 1,781,948 $ 93,108 $ 399,434 $ 2,427,577 $ 500,980 $ 460,388 $ 50,639 $ 43,408 $ 5,757,482

BORROWINGS (Tables)

BORROWINGS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Long-term Debt	The following is a summary of First Financial's long-term debt: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Amount Average rate Amount Average rate Subordinated notes $ 120,000 5.13 % $ 120,000 5.13 % Unamortized debt issuance costs (1,406 ) N/A (1,537 ) N/A FHLB borrowings 246 1.37 % 351 1.43 % Capital loan with municipality 775 0.00 % 775 0.00 % Total long-term debt $ 119,615 5.14 % $ 119,589 5.15 %

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSI29

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Related Tax Effects Allocated to Other Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The related tax effects allocated to other comprehensive income and reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2017 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 2,612 $ 276 $ 2,336 $ (835 ) $ 1,501 $ 1,014 $ 1,501 $ 2,515 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 202 0 202 (73 ) 129 (835 ) 129 (706 ) Retirement obligation 0 (335 ) 335 (122 ) 213 (22,401 ) 213 (22,188 ) Total $ 2,814 $ (59 ) $ 2,873 $ (1,030 ) $ 1,843 $ (22,222 ) $ 1,843 $ (20,379 ) Three months ended September 30, 2016 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 99 $ 398 $ (299 ) $ 137 $ (162 ) $ 7,302 $ (162 ) $ 7,140 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 202 0 202 (74 ) 128 (1,343 ) 128 (1,215 ) Retirement obligation 0 (317 ) 317 (117 ) 200 (23,647 ) 200 (23,447 ) Total $ 301 $ 81 $ 220 $ (54 ) $ 166 $ (17,688 ) $ 166 $ (17,522 ) Nine months ended September 30, 2017 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 12,614 $ 1,630 $ 10,984 $ (3,920 ) $ 7,064 $ (4,549 ) $ 7,064 $ 2,515 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 607 0 607 (222 ) 385 (1,091 ) 385 (706 ) Retirement obligation 0 (1,005 ) 1,005 (390 ) 615 (22,803 ) 615 (22,188 ) Total $ 13,221 $ 625 $ 12,596 $ (4,532 ) $ 8,064 $ (28,443 ) $ 8,064 $ (20,379 ) Nine months ended September 30, 2016 Total other comprehensive income Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Dollars in thousands) Prior to Reclassification Reclassification from Pre-tax Tax-effect Net of tax Beginning Balance Net Activity Ending Balance Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities $ 18,951 $ 234 $ 18,717 $ (6,644 ) $ 12,073 $ (4,933 ) $ 12,073 $ 7,140 Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 607 0 607 (223 ) 384 (1,599 ) 384 (1,215 ) Retirement obligation 0 (951 ) 951 (350 ) 601 (24,048 ) 601 (23,447 ) Total $ 19,558 $ (717 ) $ 20,275 $ (7,217 ) $ 13,058 $ (30,580 ) $ 13,058 $ (17,522 )
Other Accumulated Comprehensive income reclassified from AOCI	The following table presents the activity reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively: Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (1) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income Realized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale $ 276 $ 398 $ 1,630 $ 234 Net gains on sales of investments securities Defined benefit pension plan Amortization of prior service cost (2) 103 103 310 310 Salaries and employee benefits Recognized net actuarial loss (2) (438 ) (420 ) (1,315 ) (1,261 ) Salaries and employee benefits Defined benefit pension plan total (335 ) (317 ) (1,005 ) (951 ) Total reclassifications for the period, before tax $ (59 ) $ 81 $ 625 $ (717 ) (1) Negative amounts are reductions to net income. (2) Included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 12 - Employee Benefit Plans for additional details).

DERIVATIVES (Tables)

DERIVATIVES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Derivative Financial Instruments and Balances	The following table details the classification and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for client derivatives: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Estimated fair value Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) Balance sheet classification Notional amount Gain Loss Notional amount Gain Loss Client derivatives - instruments associated with loans Matched interest rate swaps with borrower Accrued interest and other assets $ 773,946 $ 9,488 $ (3,582 ) $ 677,028 $ 8,401 $ (4,158 ) Matched interest rate swaps with counterparty Accrued interest and other liabilities 773,946 3,582 (9,496 ) 677,028 4,158 (8,429 ) Total $ 1,547,892 $ 13,070 $ (13,078 ) $ 1,354,056 $ 12,559 $ (12,587 )
Disclosure by Type of Financial Instrument	The following table discloses the gross and net amounts of client derivative liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (Dollars in thousands) Gross amounts of recognized liabilities Gross amounts offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net amounts of assets presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Gross amounts of recognized liabilities Gross amounts offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Net amounts of assets presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets Client derivatives Matched interest rate swaps with counterparty $ 13,078 $ (3,648 ) $ 9,430 $ 12,587 $ (462 ) $ 12,125
Derivative Financial Instruments, Average Remaining Maturity and the Weighted-Average Interest Rates being Paid and Received	The following table details the derivative financial instruments, the average remaining maturities and the weighted-average interest rates being paid and received by First Financial at September 30, 2017 : Weighted-average rate (Dollars in thousands) Notional amount Average maturity (years) Fair value Receive Pay Client derivatives Receive fixed, matched interest rate swaps with borrower $ 773,946 5.8 $ 5,906 3.62 % 3.40 % Pay fixed, matched interest rate swaps with counterparty 773,946 5.8 (5,914 ) 3.40 % 3.62 % Total client derivatives $ 1,547,892 5.8 $ (8 ) 3.51 % 3.51 %

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Income	The following table sets forth information concerning amounts recognized in First Financial’s Consolidated Statements of Income related to the Company's pension plan: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Service cost $ 1,238 $ 1,308 $ 3,715 $ 3,925 Interest cost 589 581 1,767 1,743 Expected return on assets (2,481 ) (2,431 ) (7,443 ) (7,294 ) Amortization of prior service cost (103 ) (103 ) (310 ) (310 ) Net actuarial loss 438 420 1,315 1,261 Net periodic benefit (income) cost $ (319 ) $ (225 ) $ (956 ) $ (675 )

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Tabl

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30, (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Numerator Net income available to common shareholders $ 24,826 $ 22,850 $ 71,976 $ 65,232 Denominator Basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares 61,577,619 61,280,283 61,507,160 61,170,845 Effect of dilutive securities Employee stock awards 552,774 740,977 617,128 736,659 Warrants 59,244 64,807 61,586 55,457 Diluted earnings per common share - adjusted weighted average shares 62,189,637 62,086,067 62,185,874 61,962,961 Earnings per share available to common shareholders Basic $ 0.40 $ 0.37 $ 1.17 $ 1.07 Diluted $ 0.40 $ 0.37 $ 1.16 $ 1.05

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES (Tables)

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments	The estimated fair values of First Financial’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis in the consolidated financial statements were as follows: Carrying Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 September 30, 2017 Financial assets Cash and short-term investments $ 152,627 $ 152,627 $ 152,627 $ 0 $ 0 Investment securities held-to-maturity 669,816 672,236 0 672,236 0 Other investments 53,198 N/A N/A N/A N/A Loans held for sale 16,466 16,466 0 16,466 0 Loans and leases, net of ALLL 5,922,503 5,946,969 0 0 5,946,969 FDIC indemnification asset 8,177 4,608 0 0 4,608 Accrued interest receivable 22,452 22,452 0 7,883 14,569 Financial liabilities Deposits 6,726,090 6,720,651 0 6,720,651 0 Short-term borrowings 863,732 863,732 863,732 0 0 Long-term debt 119,615 118,922 0 118,922 0 Accrued interest payable 3,997 3,997 957 3,040 0 Carrying Estimated fair value (Dollars in thousands) value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 December 31, 2016 Financial assets Cash and short-term investments $ 204,048 $ 204,048 $ 204,048 $ 0 $ 0 Investment securities held-to-maturity 763,254 763,575 0 763,575 0 Other investments 51,077 N/A N/A N/A N/A Loans held for sale 13,135 13,135 0 13,135 0 Loans and leases, net of ALLL 5,699,521 5,754,845 0 0 5,754,845 FDIC indemnification asset 12,017 6,720 0 0 6,720 Accrued interest receivable 18,503 18,503 0 5,705 12,798 Financial liabilities Deposits 6,525,788 6,520,278 0 6,520,278 0 Short-term borrowings 807,912 807,912 807,912 0 0 Long-term debt 119,589 117,878 0 117,878 0 Accrued interest payable 5,049 5,049 410 4,639 0
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	The financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated financial statements were as follows: Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets/liabilities at fair value September 30, 2017 Assets Derivatives $ 0 $ 13,150 $ 0 $ 13,150 Investment securities available-for-sale 2,987 1,283,783 0 1,286,770 Total $ 2,987 $ 1,296,933 $ 0 $ 1,299,920 Liabilities Derivatives $ 0 $ 13,127 $ 0 $ 13,127 Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets/liabilities at fair value December 31, 2016 Assets Derivatives $ 0 $ 12,922 $ 0 $ 12,922 Investment securities available-for-sale 8,711 1,031,159 0 1,039,870 Total $ 8,711 $ 1,044,081 $ 0 $ 1,052,792 Liabilities Derivatives $ 0 $ 12,725 $ 0 $ 12,725
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis	The following table summarizes financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 September 30, 2017 Assets Impaired loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 464 OREO 0 0 913 Fair value measurements using (Dollars in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 December 31, 2016 Assets Impaired loans $ 0 $ 0 $ 8,154 OREO 0 0 3,921

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION 34

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION Pending Business Combination (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information	For the six For the year months ended ended (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement Information Net interest income $ 204,518 $ 387,725 Provision for loan and lease losses 834 10,140 Income before income taxes 92,591 170,132 Net income 65,884 119,661 As of Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Information Loans and leases, net $ 8,818,392 Total assets 13,806,092 Deposits 9,987,298 Total shareholders' equity 1,913,682

RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED A35

RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 0.2	$ 1.4

INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS - Addit

INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
NumberOfSecuritiesInSecurityPortfolio	759		759		706
NumberOfSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPosition	207		207		255
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains (Losses), Sale Proceeds	$ 53.9	$ 99.4	$ 179.6	$ 206.9
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains	0.4	0.8	1.8	1.2
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses	$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 0.2	$ 1

INVESTMENTS - Summary of Held-T

INVESTMENTS - Summary of Held-To-Maturity and Available-For-Sale Investment Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	$ 669,816	$ 763,254
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	6,872	6,236
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(4,452)	(5,915)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	672,236	763,575
Total	1,281,320	1,045,337
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	10,201	4,716
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(4,751)	(10,183)
Investment securities available-for-sale	1,286,770	1,039,870
U.S. Treasuries
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	0	0
Total	98	98
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	0	0
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	0	(1)
Investment securities available-for-sale	98	97
Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	11,588	13,011
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	33	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(23)	(110)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	11,598	12,901
Total	16,284	7,056
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	224	0
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	0	(40)
Investment securities available-for-sale	16,508	7,016
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	171,468	205,522
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	2,066	1,740
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(1,219)	(1,166)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	172,315	206,096
Total	272,254	184,960
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	1,471	1,175
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(1,609)	(2,740)
Investment securities available-for-sale	272,116	183,395
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	257,590	278,728
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	2,655	3,254
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(2,053)	(1,817)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	258,192	280,165
Total	142,152	154,239
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	567	188
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(521)	(826)
Investment securities available-for-sale	142,198	153,601
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	153,806	195,408
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	934	1,125
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(915)	(1,476)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	153,825	195,057
Total	304,679	232,701
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	1,551	634
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(1,127)	(2,321)
Investment securities available-for-sale	305,103	231,014
Obligations of state and other political subdivisions
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	75,364	70,585
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	1,184	117
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	(242)	(1,346)
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	76,306	69,356
Total	127,122	96,934
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	2,556	1,461
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(701)	(1,514)
Investment securities available-for-sale	128,977	96,881
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	0	0
Total	340,477	322,708
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	1,921	517
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(517)	(2,013)
Investment securities available-for-sale	341,881	321,212
Other securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Gain	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Accumulated Unrecognized Holding Loss	0	0
Held-to-Maturity Market Value	0	0
Total	78,254	46,641
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Accumulated In Investments	1,911	741
Available for Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss Accumulated In Investments	(276)	(728)
Investment securities available-for-sale	$ 79,889	$ 46,654

INVESTMENTS - Summary of Invest

INVESTMENTS - Summary of Investment Securities by Estimated Maturity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	$ 669,816	$ 763,254
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	672,236	763,575
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	1,281,320	1,045,337
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	1,286,770	1,039,870
One Year or Less [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	170
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	170
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	2,408
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	2,408
After One Year Through Five Years [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	4,466
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	4,469
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	26,795
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	27,154
After Five Years Through Ten Years [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	2,690
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	2,849
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	78,265
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	79,868
After Ten Years [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	79,626
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	80,416
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	114,290
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	116,042
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	171,468	205,522
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	172,315	206,096
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	272,254	184,960
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	272,116	183,395
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	257,590	278,728
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	258,192	280,165
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	142,152	154,239
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	142,198	153,601
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	153,806	195,408
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	153,825	195,057
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	304,679	232,701
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	305,103	231,014
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Held-to-Maturity Amortized Cost
Amortized Cost	0	0
Held-to-Maturity Market Value
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-Sale Amortized Cost
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	340,477	322,708
Available-for-Sale Market Value
Investment securities available-for-sale	$ 341,881	$ 321,212

INVESTMENTS - Age of Gross Unre

INVESTMENTS - Age of Gross Unrealized Losses and Associated Fair Value by Investment Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	$ 359,064	$ 743,530
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(2,802)	(11,565)
12 Months or More Fair Value	315,679	243,220
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(6,401)	(4,533)
Total Fair Value	674,743	986,750
Total Unrealized Loss	(9,203)	(16,098)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	71,312	180,654
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(508)	(3,621)
12 Months or More Fair Value	96,048	9,890
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(2,320)	(285)
Total Fair Value	167,360	190,544
Total Unrealized Loss	(2,828)	(3,906)
U.S. Treasuries
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value		97
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss		(1)
12 Months or More Fair Value		0
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss		0
Total Fair Value		97
Total Unrealized Loss		(1)
Securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	6,275	19,917
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(23)	(150)
12 Months or More Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	0	0
Total Fair Value	6,275	19,917
Total Unrealized Loss	(23)	(150)
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	67,611	123,122
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(962)	(1,200)
12 Months or More Fair Value	66,749	65,007
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(1,612)	(1,443)
Total Fair Value	134,360	188,129
Total Unrealized Loss	(2,574)	(2,643)
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	124,023	201,305
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(550)	(2,882)
12 Months or More Fair Value	92,035	42,314
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(1,492)	(915)
Total Fair Value	216,058	243,619
Total Unrealized Loss	(2,042)	(3,797)
Obligations of state and other political subdivisions
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	58,858	94,632
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(505)	(2,710)
12 Months or More Fair Value	28,713	12,023
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(438)	(150)
Total Fair Value	87,571	106,655
Total Unrealized Loss	(943)	(2,860)
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	23,707	116,057
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(148)	(764)
12 Months or More Fair Value	29,666	92,629
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(369)	(1,249)
Total Fair Value	53,373	208,686
Total Unrealized Loss	(517)	(2,013)
Other securities
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items]
Less than 12 Months Fair Value	7,278	7,746
Less than 12 Months Unrealized Loss	(106)	(237)
12 Months or More Fair Value	2,468	21,357
12 Months or More Unrealized Loss	(170)	(491)
Total Fair Value	9,746	29,103
Total Unrealized Loss	$ (276)	$ (728)

LOANS AND LEASES - Additional I

LOANS AND LEASES - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Provision for loan and lease losses covered	$ (1,509,000)	$ (199,000)	$ (3,664,000)	$ (2,000)
Restructured Loans, Nonaccrual Status	9,100,000		9,100,000			$ 5,100,000
Write-downs	134,000	228,000	415,000	458,000
Gain (loss) on sale of other real estate owned	(237,000)	112,000	(423,000)	259,000
Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure	3,116,000	8,306,000	3,116,000	8,306,000	$ 5,961,000	6,284,000	$ 10,031,000	$ 13,254,000
FDIC indemnification asset	8,200,000		8,200,000			$ 12,000,000
Commercial
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured Loans, Loan Relationships, Review Threshold Amount Minimum			250,000
Residential real estate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured Loans, Loan Relationships, Review Threshold Amount Minimum			250,000
Write-downs	$ 32,000	$ 42,000	$ 151,000	$ 126,000

LOANS AND LEASES - Commercial a

LOANS AND LEASES - Commercial and Consumer Credit Exposure by Risk Attribute (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial	$ 1,886,093	$ 1,781,948
Real Estate - Construction	420,941	399,434
Real Estate - Commercial	2,523,387	2,427,577
Lease financing	86,014	93,108
Total Commercial	4,916,435	4,702,067
Pass
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial	1,842,432	1,725,451
Real Estate - Construction	420,101	398,155
Real Estate - Commercial	2,472,395	2,349,662
Lease financing	84,607	92,540
Total Commercial	4,819,535	4,565,808
Special Mention
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial	15,002	18,256
Real Estate - Construction	0	1,258
Real Estate - Commercial	7,540	15,584
Lease financing	44	108
Total Commercial	22,586	35,206
Substandard
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial	28,659	38,241
Real Estate - Construction	840	21
Real Estate - Commercial	43,452	62,331
Lease financing	1,363	460
Total Commercial	74,314	101,053
Doubtful
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial	0	0
Real Estate - Construction	0	0
Real Estate - Commercial	0	0
Lease financing	0	0
Total Commercial	0	0
Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	477,964	500,980
Residential real estate | Performing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	469,320	491,380
Residential real estate | Nonperforming
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	8,644	9,600
Home equity
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	494,342	460,388
Home equity | Performing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	490,263	456,314
Home equity | Nonperforming
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	4,079	4,074
Installment
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	43,650	50,639
Installment | Performing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	43,396	50,202
Installment | Nonperforming
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	254	437
Credit card
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	44,646	43,408
Credit card | Performing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	44,646	43,408
Credit card | Nonperforming
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	0	0
Total consumer loans
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	1,060,602	1,055,415
Total consumer loans | Performing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	1,047,625	1,041,304
Total consumer loans | Nonperforming
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, before Fees, Gross	$ 12,977	$ 14,111

LOANS AND LEASES - Loan Delinqu

LOANS AND LEASES - Loan Delinquency, including Nonaccrual Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	$ 29,963	$ 15,970
Current	5,836,022	5,603,463
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	5,865,985	5,619,433
Purchased impaired loans	111,052	138,049
Total loans and leases	5,977,037	5,757,482
> 90 days past due and still accruing	84	2,871
Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	8,516	3,668
Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	1,839	702
Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	19,608	11,600
Commercial
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	7,060	2,804
Current	1,875,376	1,773,939
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	1,882,436	1,776,743
Purchased impaired loans	3,657	5,205
Total loans and leases	1,886,093	1,781,948
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Commercial | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	2,175	1,257
Commercial | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	205	208
Commercial | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	4,680	1,339
Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	76	252
Current	85,938	92,856
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	86,014	93,108
Purchased impaired loans	0	0
Total loans and leases	86,014	93,108
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Lease financing | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	76	137
Lease financing | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	0	0
Lease financing | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	0	115
Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	2,436	0
Current	418,213	398,877
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	420,649	398,877
Purchased impaired loans	292	557
Total loans and leases	420,941	399,434
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Construction real estate | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	1,612	0
Construction real estate | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	0	0
Construction real estate | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	824	0
Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	11,555	6,500
Current	2,449,194	2,339,327
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	2,460,749	2,345,827
Purchased impaired loans	62,638	81,750
Total loans and leases	2,523,387	2,427,577
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	2,729
Commercial real estate | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	1,353	777
Commercial real estate | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	865	134
Commercial real estate | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	9,337	5,589
Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	3,905	3,239
Current	434,114	450,631
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	438,019	453,870
Purchased impaired loans	39,945	47,110
Total loans and leases	477,964	500,980
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Residential real estate | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	661	821
Residential real estate | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	0	37
Residential real estate | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	3,244	2,381
Home equity
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	4,063	2,116
Current	486,495	456,143
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	490,558	458,259
Purchased impaired loans	3,784	2,129
Total loans and leases	494,342	460,388
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Home equity | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	2,249	195
Home equity | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	590	145
Home equity | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	1,224	1,776
Installment
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	367	283
Current	42,547	49,058
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	42,914	49,341
Purchased impaired loans	736	1,298
Total loans and leases	43,650	50,639
> 90 days past due and still accruing	0	0
Installment | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	109	24
Installment | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	43	1
Installment | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	215	258
Credit card
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	501	776
Current	44,145	42,632
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	44,646	43,408
Purchased impaired loans	0	0
Total loans and leases	44,646	43,408
> 90 days past due and still accruing	84	142
Credit card | Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	281	457
Credit card | Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	136	177
Credit card | Financing Receivables, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	$ 84	$ 142

LOANS AND LEASES - Restructured

LOANS AND LEASES - Restructured Loans (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)loans	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)loans	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)loansd	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)loans	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Extended Maturities	$ 0	$ 1,831,000	$ 3,261,000	$ 2,352,000
Adjusted Interest Rates	0	0	2,767,000	0
Combined Rate And Maturity	285,000	2,744,000	465,000	2,906,000
Forebearance Agreements	354,000	0	1,181,000	88,000
Other	37,000	131,000	75,000	2,968,000
Total	$ 676,000	$ 4,706,000	$ 7,749,000	$ 8,314,000
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	9	12	21	41
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 785,000	$ 4,611,000	$ 7,970,000	$ 8,688,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 676,000	$ 4,706,000	$ 7,749,000	$ 8,314,000
Restructured loans with payment default within 12 months of modification, Number of Loans | loans	0	0	0	4
Restructured loans with payment default within 12 months of modification, Period End Balance	$ 0		$ 0	$ 300,000
Number of Restructured Loans | loans	230		230		247
Total restructured loans	$ 28,800,000		$ 28,800,000		$ 35,400,000
Restructured loans on accrual status	19,692,000		19,692,000		30,240,000
Restructured Loans, Nonaccrual Status	9,100,000		9,100,000		5,100,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Impaired, Commitment to Lend	100,000		100,000		900,000
Allowance for loan and lease losses lncluded in reserves for restructured loans	900,000		900,000		1,900,000
Restructured loans uncollectible portion written off	100,000		200,000	$ 500,000
Accruing TDRs performing in accordance with restructured terms for more than one year	$ 14,600,000		$ 14,600,000		$ 22,600,000
Restructured loans performance threshold (days) | d			90
Commercial
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	1	6	7	16
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 45,000	$ 1,045,000	$ 5,724,000	$ 3,172,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 37,000	$ 1,159,000	$ 5,661,000	$ 3,290,000
Construction real estate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	0	0	0	0
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Commercial real estate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	1	5	7	15
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 285,000	$ 3,550,000	$ 1,791,000	$ 5,060,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 285,000	$ 3,531,000	$ 1,734,000	$ 4,612,000
Residential real estate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	6	0	6	2
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 416,000	$ 0	$ 416,000	$ 282,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 315,000	$ 0	315,000	$ 247,000
Restructured Loans, Loan Relationships, Review Threshold Amount Minimum			$ 250,000
Home equity
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	1	1	1	5
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 39,000	$ 16,000	$ 39,000	$ 165,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 39,000	$ 16,000	$ 39,000	$ 156,000
Installment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Restructured loans, Number of Loans | loans	0	0	0	3
Restructured loans, Restructured loans, Pre-Modification Loan Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 9,000
Restructured loans, Period End Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 9,000

LOANS AND LEASES - Nonaccrual,

LOANS AND LEASES - Nonaccrual, Restructured and Impaired Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	$ 53,260	$ 50,383	$ 54,402	$ 52,443
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	15	62	67	224
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	293	259	941	710
Nonaccrual loans	30,118		30,118		$ 17,730
Accruing trouble debt restructurings	19,692		19,692		30,240
Total impaired loans	49,810		49,810		47,970
Restructured loans - nonaccrual status	9,100		9,100		5,100
Interest income effect
Gross amount of interest that would have been recorded under original terms	761	705	2,735	2,173
Interest included in income
Nonaccrual loans	140	97	445	269
Troubled debt restructurings	168	224	563	665
Total interest included in income	308	321	1,008	934
Net impact on interest income	453	384	1,727	1,239
Commercial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	15,562	14,243	16,132	15,096
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	2	8	26	26
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	63	83	259	232
Nonaccrual loans	9,026		9,026		2,419
Total impaired loans	12,325		12,325		13,203
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	65	91	285	258
Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	91	691	120	406
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	8
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	1	3	2
Nonaccrual loans	87		87		195
Total impaired loans	87		87		195
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	1	1	3	10
Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	950	0	744	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Nonaccrual loans	824		824		0
Total impaired loans	824		824		0
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	0	0	0	0
Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	23,839	21,067	24,076	22,441
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	5	46	18	163
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	147	98	451	259
Nonaccrual loans	12,244		12,244		6,098
Total impaired loans	23,597		23,597		20,460
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	152	144	469	422
Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	8,636	9,186	8,927	9,007
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	7	7	20	24
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	55	52	147	147
Nonaccrual loans	4,333		4,333		5,251
Total impaired loans	8,644		8,644		9,601
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	62	59	167	171
Installment
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	290	460	351	348
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	2	4	5
Nonaccrual loans	240		240		367
Total impaired loans	254		254		437
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	1	2	4	5
Home equity
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	3,892	4,736	4,052	5,145
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	1	3	3
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	26	23	77	65
Nonaccrual loans	3,364		3,364		3,400
Total impaired loans	4,079		4,079		4,074
Interest included in income
Total interest included in income	27	24	80	68
Credit card
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Nonaccrual loans	0		0		0
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member]
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	49,608	40,515	49,199	41,864
Total impaired loans	47,959		47,959		37,383
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Commercial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	13,730	13,015	14,669	13,990
Total impaired loans	12,146		12,146		12,134
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	91	155	120	138
Total impaired loans	87		87		195
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	950	0	744	0
Total impaired loans	824		824		0
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	23,187	14,363	21,563	14,757
Total impaired loans	23,089		23,089		12,232
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	7,569	7,887	7,801	7,587
Total impaired loans	7,581		7,581		8,412
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Installment
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	290	460	351	348
Total impaired loans	254		254		437
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Home equity
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	3,791	4,635	3,951	5,044
Total impaired loans	3,978		3,978		3,973
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Total impaired loans	1,851		1,851
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Commercial
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	1,832	1,228	1,463	1,106
Total impaired loans	179		179		1,069
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	0	536	0	268
Total impaired loans	0		0		0
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	0	0	0	0
Total impaired loans	0		0		0
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	652	6,704	2,513	7,684
Total impaired loans	508		508		8,228
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	1,067	1,299	1,126	1,420
Total impaired loans	1,063		1,063		1,189
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Installment
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	0	0	0	0
Total impaired loans	0		0		0
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Home equity
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	101	101	101	101
Total impaired loans	101		101		101
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Average current balance	$ 3,652	$ 9,868	$ 5,203	$ 10,579
Total impaired loans					$ 10,587

LOANS AND LEASES - Investment i

LOANS AND LEASES - Investment in Impaired Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	$ 30,118		$ 30,118		$ 17,730
Current balance	49,810		49,810		47,970
Contractual Principal Balance	55,547		55,547		53,930
Related Allowance	385		385		1,324
Average current balance	53,260	$ 50,383	54,402	$ 52,443
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	15	62	67	224
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	293	259	941	710
Interest income recognized	308	321	1,008	934
Commercial
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	9,026		9,026		2,419
Current balance	12,325		12,325		13,203
Contractual Principal Balance	12,897		12,897		13,784
Related Allowance	179		179		550
Average current balance	15,562	14,243	16,132	15,096
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	2	8	26	26
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	63	83	259	232
Interest income recognized	65	91	285	258
Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	87		87		195
Current balance	87		87		195
Contractual Principal Balance	87		87		195
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	91	691	120	406
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	8
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	1	3	2
Interest income recognized	1	1	3	10
Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	824		824		0
Current balance	824		824		0
Contractual Principal Balance	824		824		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	950	0	744	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Interest income recognized	0	0	0	0
Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	12,244		12,244		6,098
Current balance	23,597		23,597		20,460
Contractual Principal Balance	26,115		26,115		22,909
Related Allowance	44		44		593
Average current balance	23,839	21,067	24,076	22,441
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	5	46	18	163
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	147	98	451	259
Interest income recognized	152	144	469	422
Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	4,333		4,333		5,251
Current balance	8,644		8,644		9,601
Contractual Principal Balance	10,003		10,003		10,837
Related Allowance	160		160		179
Average current balance	8,636	9,186	8,927	9,007
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	7	7	20	24
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	55	52	147	147
Interest income recognized	62	59	167	171
Home equity
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	3,364		3,364		3,400
Current balance	4,079		4,079		4,074
Contractual Principal Balance	5,195		5,195		5,602
Related Allowance	2		2		2
Average current balance	3,892	4,736	4,052	5,145
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	1	3	3
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	26	23	77	65
Interest income recognized	27	24	80	68
Installment
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	240		240		367
Current balance	254		254		437
Contractual Principal Balance	426		426		603
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	290	460	351	348
Impaired Financing Receivable, with Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivable, with No Related Allowance, Interest Income, Accrual Method	1	2	4	5
Interest income recognized	1	2	4	5
Credit card
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	0		0		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	47,959		47,959		37,383
Contractual Principal Balance	53,691		53,691		43,292
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	49,608	40,515	49,199	41,864
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Commercial
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	12,146		12,146		12,134
Contractual Principal Balance	12,718		12,718		12,713
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	13,730	13,015	14,669	13,990
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	87		87		195
Contractual Principal Balance	87		87		195
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	91	155	120	138
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	824		824		0
Contractual Principal Balance	824		824		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	950	0	744	0
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	23,089		23,089		12,232
Contractual Principal Balance	25,607		25,607		14,632
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	23,187	14,363	21,563	14,757
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	7,581		7,581		8,412
Contractual Principal Balance	8,935		8,935		9,648
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	7,569	7,887	7,801	7,587
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Home equity
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	3,978		3,978		3,973
Contractual Principal Balance	5,094		5,094		5,501
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	3,791	4,635	3,951	5,044
Loans with no related allowance recorded [member] | Installment
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	254		254		437
Contractual Principal Balance	426		426		603
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	290	460	351	348
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	1,851		1,851
Contractual Principal Balance	1,856		1,856
Related Allowance	385		385
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Commercial
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	179		179		1,069
Contractual Principal Balance	179		179		1,071
Related Allowance	179		179		550
Average current balance	1,832	1,228	1,463	1,106
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Lease financing
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	0		0		0
Contractual Principal Balance	0		0		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	0	536	0	268
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Construction real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	0		0		0
Contractual Principal Balance	0		0		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Commercial real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	508		508		8,228
Contractual Principal Balance	508		508		8,277
Related Allowance	44		44		593
Average current balance	652	6,704	2,513	7,684
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Residential real estate
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	1,063		1,063		1,189
Contractual Principal Balance	1,068		1,068		1,189
Related Allowance	160		160		179
Average current balance	1,067	1,299	1,126	1,420
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Home equity
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	101		101		101
Contractual Principal Balance	101		101		101
Related Allowance	2		2		2
Average current balance	101	101	101	101
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member] | Installment
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance	0		0		0
Contractual Principal Balance	0		0		0
Related Allowance	0		0		0
Average current balance	0	0	0	0
Impaired Financing Receivables With Related Allowance [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Current balance					10,587
Contractual Principal Balance					10,638
Related Allowance					$ 1,324
Average current balance	$ 3,652	$ 9,868	$ 5,203	$ 10,579

LOANS AND LEASES - Changes in O

LOANS AND LEASES - Changes in Other Real Estate Owned (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
FDIC indemnification asset	$ 8,200		$ 8,200		$ 12,000
Balance at beginning of period	5,961	$ 10,031	6,284	$ 13,254
Additions	1,794	1,239	4,044	2,418
Disposals	(4,505)	(2,736)	(6,797)	(6,908)
Write-downs	134	228	415	458
Balance at end of period	3,116	8,306	3,116	8,306
Commercial
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Additions	1,559	936	1,731	1,824
Disposals	(3,684)	(2,670)	(5,291)	(4,763)
Write-downs	102	186	264	332
Residential real estate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Additions	235	303	2,313	594
Disposals	(821)	(66)	(1,506)	(2,145)
Write-downs	$ 32	$ 42	$ 151	$ 126

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE 47

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES - Changes in the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses for the Current and Comparable Quarter and Year-to-Date (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Receivables [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 48,351,000	$ 46,931,000	$ 49,422,000	$ 49,422,000	$ 43,149,000	$ 43,149,000
Provision for loan and lease losses	4,462,000	1,886,000	834	7,451,000	7,381,000	10,140
Loans charged off	(4,485,000)	(1,131,000)		(10,935,000)	(4,547,000)
Recoveries	825,000	1,206,000		3,215,000	2,909,000
Balance at end of period	49,153,000	48,892,000	48,351,000	49,153,000	48,892,000	49,422,000
Balance at beginning of period	6,522,000	9,777,000	8,539,000	8,539,000	10,249,000	10,249,000
Provision for loan and lease losses covered	(1,509,000)	(199,000)		(3,664,000)	(2,000)
Loans charged-off	(14,000)	(1,419,000)		(812,000)	(3,147,000)
Recoveries	382,000	567,000		1,318,000	1,626,000
Balance at end of period	5,381,000	8,726,000	6,522,000	5,381,000	8,726,000	8,539,000
Balance at beginning of period	54,873,000	56,708,000	57,961,000	57,961,000	53,398,000	53,398,000
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	2,953,000	1,687,000		3,787,000	7,379,000
Loans charged-off	(4,499,000)	(2,550,000)		(11,747,000)	(7,694,000)
Recoveries	1,207,000	1,773,000		4,533,000	4,535,000
Balance at end of period	$ 54,534,000	$ 57,618,000	$ 54,873,000	$ 54,534,000	$ 57,618,000	$ 57,961,000

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE 48

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES - Changes in the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	$ 54,873	$ 56,708	$ 57,961	$ 53,398
Provision for loan and lease losses	2,953	1,687	3,787	7,379
Loans charged-off	(4,499)	(2,550)	(11,747)	(7,694)
Recoveries	1,207	1,773	4,533	4,535
Total net charge-offs	(3,292)	(777)	(7,214)	(3,159)
Balance at end of period	54,534	57,618	54,534	57,618
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					$ 385	$ 1,324
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					54,149	56,637
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	54,873	56,708	57,961	53,398	54,534	57,961
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					49,810	47,970
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					5,927,227	5,709,512
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					5,977,037	5,757,482
Commercial
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	18,313	20,897	19,225	16,995
Provision for loan and lease losses	3,024	(720)	5,965	3,284
Loans charged-off	(4,122)	(296)	(8,930)	(1,040)
Recoveries	325	327	1,280	969
Total net charge-offs	(3,797)	31	(7,650)	(71)
Balance at end of period	17,540	20,208	17,540	20,208
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					179	550
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					17,361	18,675
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	18,313	20,897	19,225	16,995	17,540	19,225
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					12,325	13,203
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					1,873,768	1,768,745
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					1,886,093	1,781,948
Lease financing
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	550	1,881	716	821
Provision for loan and lease losses	507	(1,011)	340	48
Loans charged-off	0	0	0	0
Recoveries	0	0	1	1
Total net charge-offs	0	0	1	1
Balance at end of period	1,057	870	1,057	870
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					0	0
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					1,057	716
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	550	1,881	716	821	1,057	716
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					87	195
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					85,927	92,913
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					86,014	93,108
Construction real estate
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	3,416	2,893	3,282	1,810
Provision for loan and lease losses	(178)	232	(133)	1,118
Loans charged-off	0	(64)	0	(95)
Recoveries	0	6	89	234
Total net charge-offs	0	(58)	89	139
Balance at end of period	3,238	3,067	3,238	3,067
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					0	0
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					3,238	3,282
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	3,416	2,893	3,282	1,810	3,238	3,282
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					824	0
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					420,117	399,434
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					420,941	399,434
Commercial real estate
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	21,717	22,784	26,540	23,656
Provision for loan and lease losses	(1,003)	2,628	(6,510)	3,491
Loans charged-off	(58)	(1,135)	(1,028)	(3,993)
Recoveries	585	997	2,239	2,120
Total net charge-offs	527	(138)	1,211	(1,873)
Balance at end of period	21,241	25,274	21,241	25,274
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					44	593
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					21,197	25,947
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	21,717	22,784	26,540	23,656	21,241	26,540
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					23,597	20,460
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					2,499,790	2,407,117
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					2,523,387	2,427,577
Residential real estate
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	5,016	3,292	3,208	4,014
Provision for loan and lease losses	(243)	(13)	1,781	(806)
Loans charged-off	(23)	(90)	(307)	(163)
Recoveries	70	38	138	182
Total net charge-offs	47	(52)	(169)	19
Balance at end of period	4,820	3,227	4,820	3,227
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					160	179
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					4,660	3,029
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	5,016	3,292	3,208	4,014	4,820	3,208
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					8,644	9,601
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					469,320	491,379
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					477,964	500,980
Home equity
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	4,138	3,002	3,043	3,943
Provision for loan and lease losses	819	275	2,150	(247)
Loans charged-off	(71)	(475)	(635)	(1,213)
Recoveries	110	257	438	576
Total net charge-offs	39	(218)	(197)	(637)
Balance at end of period	4,996	3,059	4,996	3,059
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					2	2
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					4,994	3,041
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	4,138	3,002	3,043	3,943	4,996	3,043
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					4,079	4,074
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					490,263	456,314
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					494,342	460,388
Installment
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	355	383	388	386
Provision for loan and lease losses	(80)	168	(52)	107
Loans charged-off	(24)	(223)	(199)	(326)
Recoveries	74	56	188	217
Total net charge-offs	50	(167)	(11)	(109)
Balance at end of period	325	384	325	384
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					0	0
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					325	388
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	355	383	388	386	325	388
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					254	437
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					43,396	50,202
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					43,650	50,639
Credit card
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of period	1,368	1,576	1,559	1,773
Provision for loan and lease losses	107	128	246	384
Loans charged-off	(201)	(267)	(648)	(864)
Recoveries	43	92	160	236
Total net charge-offs	(158)	(175)	(488)	(628)
Balance at end of period	1,317	1,529	1,317	1,529
Ending allowance on loans individually evaluated for impairment					0	0
Ending allowance on loans collectively evaluated for impairment					1,317	1,559
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses	$ 1,368	$ 1,576	$ 1,559	$ 1,773	1,317	1,559
Loans and Leases:
Ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment					0	0
Ending balance of loans collectively evaluated for impairment					44,646	43,408
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income					$ 44,646	$ 43,408

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE49

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS--Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 204,100		$ 204,100		$ 204,084
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	5,600		5,600		6,500
Finite-Lived Core Deposits, Gross	3,600		3,600		$ 4,500
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense	$ 300	$ 400	$ 1,000	$ 1,200
Core Deposits [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets amortization method			accelerated basis
Estimated weighted average life (in years)			4 years 1 month

BORROWINGS Borrowings - - Addit

BORROWINGS Borrowings - - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowings	$ 818,200	$ 687,700
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	15,000
Commitments outstanding to extend credit	0	$ 0
Subordinated debt	$ 120,000
Subordinated Borrowing, Interest Rate	5.125%

BORROWINGS - Schedule of Long-t

BORROWINGS - Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Amount
Subordinated debt	$ 120,000	$ 120,000
FHLB long-term advances	246	351
Capital loan with municipality	775	775
Total long-term debt	$ 119,615	$ 119,589
Average Rate [Abstract]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.13%	5.13%
Federal Home Loan Bank	1.37%	1.43%
Weighted average rate on other long-term debt	0.00%	0.00%
Total long-term debt	5.14%	5.15%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net	$ (1,406)	$ (1,537)

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSI52

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassification Adjustments and Tax [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	$ 2,612	$ 99	$ 12,614	$ 18,951
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	202	202	607	607
Retirement obligation	0	0	0	0
Total	2,814	301	13,221	19,558
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassifications before Tax [Abstract]
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	276	398	1,630	234
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	0	0	0	0
Retirement obligation	(335)	(317)	(1,005)	(951)
Total	(59)	81	625	(717)
Transactions Pre-tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	2,336	(299)	10,984	18,717
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	202	202	607	607
Unfunded pension obligation	335	317	1,005	951
Total	2,873	220	12,596	20,275
Transactions Tax-effect
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	(835)	137	(3,920)	(6,644)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	(73)	(74)	(222)	(223)
Retirement obligation	(122)	(117)	(390)	(350)
Total	(1,030)	(54)	(4,532)	(7,217)
Transactions Net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	1,501	(162)	7,064	12,073
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	129	128	385	384
Retirement obligation	213	200	615	601
Total	1,843	166	8,064	13,058
Balances Net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	2,515	7,140	2,515	7,140	$ 1,014	$ (4,549)	$ 7,302	$ (4,933)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(706)	(1,215)	(706)	(1,215)	(835)	(1,091)	(1,343)	(1,599)
Retirement obligation	(22,188)	(23,447)	(22,188)	(23,447)	(22,401)	(22,803)	(23,647)	(24,048)
Total	$ (20,379)	$ (17,522)	$ (20,379)	$ (17,522)	$ (22,222)	$ (28,443)	$ (17,688)	$ (30,580)

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSI53

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AMOUNT RECLASSIFIED FROM ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Other Accumulated Comprehensive income reclassified from AOCI [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on sales of investment securities	$ 276	$ 398	$ 1,630	$ 234
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	103	103	310	310
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gain (Loss)	(438)	(420)	(1,315)	(1,261)
Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification, Amortization of Defined Benefit Plans items, Pre-tax	(335)	(317)	(1,005)	(951)
Total	$ (59)	$ 81	$ 625	$ (717)

DERIVATIVES - Additional Inform

DERIVATIVES - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)entity	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)entity
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum derivative notional position as a percentage of assets	35.00%
Maximum credit exposure as a percentage of capital	3.00%
Maximum single counterparty credit risk exposure	$ 20,000
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	$ 1,547,892	$ 1,354,056
Number of counterparties | entity	10	10
Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 13,078	$ 12,587
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	17,800	13,200
Other Credit Derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	21,300	17,800
Credit Risk Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	100	200
Credit Risk Contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	68,000	64,900
Accrued interest and other liabilities | Derivative [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	773,900	677,800
Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 3,000	$ 5,200

DERIVATIVES - Summary of Deriva

DERIVATIVES - Summary of Derivative Financial Instruments and Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	$ 1,547,892	$ 1,354,056
Estimate Fair Value Gain	13,070	12,559
Estimate Fair Value Loss	(13,078)	(12,587)
Other Credit Derivatives [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	21,300	17,800
Credit Risk Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	100	200
Fair Value Hedges | Matched interest rate swaps | Accrued interest and other liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	773,946	677,028
Estimate Fair Value Gain	3,582	4,158
Estimate Fair Value Loss	(9,496)	(8,429)
Fair Value Hedges | Matched interest rate swaps | Accrued interest and other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Inerest-bearing deposit liability	773,946	677,028
Estimate Fair Value Gain	9,488	8,401
Estimate Fair Value Loss	$ (3,582)	$ (4,158)

DERIVATIVES DERIVATIVES - Discl

DERIVATIVES DERIVATIVES - Disclosure by Type of Financial Instrument (Details) - Fair Value Hedges - Matched interest rate swaps - Accrued interest and other liabilities - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities	$ 13,078	$ 12,587
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset	(3,648)	(462)
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Amount Not Offset Against Collateral	$ 9,430	$ 12,125

DERIVATIVES - Derivative Financ

DERIVATIVES - Derivative Financial Instruments, Average Remaining Maturity and the Weighted-Average Interest Rates being Paid and Received (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value	$ 1,547,892	$ 1,354,056
Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value	$ 1,547,892
Average Maturity (years)	5 years 10 months
Fair Value	$ (8)
Weighted-Average Rate Receive	3.51%
Weighted-Average Rate Pay	3.51%
Interest Rate Swap | Derivative Financial Instruments Receive Fixed Pay Variable
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value	$ 773,946
Average Maturity (years)	5 years 10 months
Fair Value	$ 5,906
Weighted-Average Rate Receive	3.62%
Weighted-Average Rate Pay	3.40%
Interest Rate Swap | Derivative Financial Instruments Receive Variable Pay Fixed
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value	$ 773,946
Average Maturity (years)	5 years 10 months
Fair Value	$ (5,914)
Weighted-Average Rate Receive	3.40%
Weighted-Average Rate Pay	3.62%

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Commitments outstanding to extend credit	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Letters of credit issued to guarantee performance of a client to a third party	25,300		25,300		18,400
Affordable Housing Program Obligation	39,200		39,200		32,700
Affordable housing contingent commitment	0		0		0
Variable Interest Entity, Nonconsolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	4,900		4,900		4,900
Variable Interest Entity, Reporting Entity Involvement, Maximum Loss Exposure, Amount	13,700		13,700		13,700
Amortization Method Qualified Affordable Housing Project Investments, Amortization	1,000	$ 600	3,200	$ 2,100
Estimated Litigation Liability	0		0		0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates			103,300
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Variable Rates			$ 2,100,000
Loan Commitments, Fixed Interest Rate Range, Minimum			0.00%
Loan Commitments, Fixed Interest Rate Range, Maximum			21.00%
Loan Commitments, Fixed Rate, Maturities, Minimum			1 year
Loan Commitments, Fixed Rate, Maturities, Maximum			29 years
Commitments to Extend Credit
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Commitments outstanding to extend credit	2,200,000		$ 2,200,000		$ 2,000,000
Affordable housing investment [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Low-income housing tax credit	800	500	2,400	1,600
Historic tax credit [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Low-income housing tax credit	$ 100	$ 100	$ 400	$ 400

INCOME TAXES (Details)

INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$ 11,199	$ 10,125	$ 32,884	$ 31,311
Effective tax rate	31.10%	30.70%	31.40%	32.40%
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 200		$ 1,400
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate					$ 2,400

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Additi

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Remainder of Fiscal Year	$ 0		$ 0
Payment for Pension Benefits			0		$ 0
Pension Cost (Reversal of Cost)	$ (319,000)	$ (225,000)	$ (956,000)	$ (675,000)

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS EMPLOYEE

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Employee benefit plan amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Service cost	$ 1,238	$ 1,308	$ 3,715	$ 3,925
Interest cost	589	581	1,767	1,743
Expected return on plan assets	(2,481)	(2,431)	(7,443)	(7,294)
Amortization of prior service cost	(103)	(103)	(310)	(310)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gain (Loss)	438	420	1,315	1,261
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$ (319)	$ (225)	$ (956)	$ (675)

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Com

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share -income available to common shareholders:
Net income	$ 24,826	$ 22,850	$ 71,976	$ 65,232
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares	61,577,619	61,280,283	61,507,160	61,170,845
Effect of dilutive securities -
Employee stock awards	552,774	740,977	617,128	736,659
Warrants	59,244	64,807	61,586	55,457
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares	62,189,637	62,086,067	62,185,874	61,962,961
Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.37	$ 1.17	$ 1.07
Diluted	$ 0.40	$ 0.37	$ 1.16	$ 1.05

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Add

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Additional Information (Details) - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price	$ 12.12
Antidilutive Warrants
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Stock options and warrants with an exercise price greater than the average market price of the common shares not included in the computation of net income per diluted share	105,832	141,913
Antidilutive Stock Options
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Stock options and warrants with an exercise price greater than the average market price of the common shares not included in the computation of net income per diluted share	0	0

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Estima

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 13,078	$ 12,587
Financial assets
Investment securities held-to-maturity	669,816	763,254
Other investments	53,198	51,077
FDIC indemnification asset	8,200	12,000
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing	1,585,396	1,547,985
Savings	2,434,086	2,142,189
Time	1,188,597	1,321,843
Carrying value
Financial assets
Cash and short-term investments	152,627	204,048
Investment securities held-to-maturity	669,816	763,254
Other investments	53,198	51,077
Loans held for sale	16,466	13,135
Loans and leases, net of ALLL	5,922,503	5,699,521
FDIC indemnification asset	8,177	12,017
Interest Receivable	22,452	18,503
Deposits
Deposits	6,726,090	6,525,788
Short-term borrowings	863,732	807,912
Long-term debt	119,615	119,589
Interest Payable	3,997	5,049
Fair value
Financial assets
Cash and short-term investments	152,627	204,048
Investment securities held-to-maturity	672,236	763,575
Loans held for sale	16,466	13,135
Loans and leases, net of ALLL	5,946,969	5,754,845
FDIC indemnification asset	4,608	6,720
Interest Receivable	22,452	18,503
Deposits
Deposits	6,720,651	6,520,278
Short-term borrowings	863,732	807,912
Long-term debt	118,922	117,878
Interest Payable	3,997	5,049
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair value
Financial assets
Cash and short-term investments	152,627	204,048
Investment securities held-to-maturity	0	0
Loans held for sale	0	0
Loans and leases, net of ALLL	0	0
FDIC indemnification asset	0	0
Interest Receivable	0	0
Deposits
Deposits	0	0
Short-term borrowings	863,732	807,912
Long-term debt	0	0
Interest Payable	957	410
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair value
Financial assets
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Investment securities held-to-maturity	672,236	763,575
Loans held for sale	16,466	13,135
Loans and leases, net of ALLL	0	0
FDIC indemnification asset	0	0
Interest Receivable	7,883	5,705
Deposits
Deposits	6,720,651	6,520,278
Short-term borrowings	0	0
Long-term debt	118,922	117,878
Interest Payable	3,040	4,639
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Fair value
Financial assets
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Investment securities held-to-maturity	0	0
Loans held for sale	0	0
Loans and leases, net of ALLL	5,946,969	5,754,845
FDIC indemnification asset	4,608	6,720
Interest Receivable	14,569	12,798
Deposits
Deposits	0	0
Short-term borrowings	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Interest Payable	$ 0	$ 0

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Summar

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measure at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Derivatives	$ 13,070	$ 12,559
Investment securities available-for-sale	1,286,770	1,039,870
Liabilities
Derivatives	13,078	12,587
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Derivatives	13,150	12,922
Investment securities available-for-sale	1,286,770	1,039,870
Total	1,299,920	1,052,792
Liabilities
Derivatives	13,127	12,725
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1
Assets
Derivatives	0	0
Investment securities available-for-sale	2,987	8,711
Total	2,987	8,711
Liabilities
Derivatives	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fair Value Measurements Using Level 2
Assets
Derivatives	13,150	12,922
Investment securities available-for-sale	1,283,783	1,031,159
Total	1,296,933	1,044,081
Liabilities
Derivatives	13,127	12,725
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3
Assets
Derivatives	0	0
Investment securities available-for-sale	0	0
Total	0	0
Liabilities
Derivatives	$ 0	$ 0

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Summ66

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Measurements Using Level 1
Assets
Impaired loans	$ 0	$ 0
Other Real Estate Owned, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value Measurements Using Level 2
Assets
Impaired loans	0	0
Other Real Estate Owned, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3
Assets
Impaired loans	464	8,154
Other Real Estate Owned, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 913	$ 3,921

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION 67

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION Pending Business Combination - Pro Forma Information - (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Net interest income	$ 70,479,000	$ 68,818,000	$ 204,518	$ 207,931,000	$ 202,505,000	$ 387,725
Provision for loan and lease losses	4,462,000	1,886,000	834	7,451,000	7,381,000	10,140
Income before income taxes	36,025,000	32,975,000	92,591	104,860,000	96,543,000	170,132
Net Income			65,884			119,661
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount	5,922,503,000		8,818,392	5,922,503,000		5,699,521,000
Assets	8,761,689,000		13,806,092	8,761,689,000		8,437,967,000
Deposits	6,726,090,000		9,987,298	6,726,090,000		6,525,788,000
Total shareholders' equity	$ 914,954,000	$ 861,137,000	$ 1,913,682	$ 914,954,000	$ 861,137,000	$ 865,224,000	$ 809,376,000

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION 68

PENDING BUSINESS COMBINATION Pending Business Combination - Additional Information - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Jul. 27, 2017	Jul. 25, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Number Of Shares Received by Acquiree	1.3875
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$ 1
Business Acqusitions, Percentage of Voting Interests Retained		65.00%
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		0.00%