INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES First Financial’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was 35.4% compared to 38.2% for the third quarter of 2011. The year-to-date effective tax rate through September 30, 2012 was 34.8% compared to 36.3% for the comparable period in 2011. The decrease in the effective tax rate during the third quarter 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to an unfavorable provision to return adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2011 related to the completion of the 2010 federal and state tax returns. First Financial recorded a favorable provision to return adjustment in the second quarter 2012 related to the completion of 2011 state tax returns. Provision to return adjustments of this nature are typical during the second or third quarters as federal and state tax returns are finalized. At September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, First Financial had no FASB ASC Topic 740-10 unrecognized tax benefits recorded. First Financial does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase within the next twelve months. First Financial recognizes interest and penalties on income tax assessments or income tax refunds in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of noninterest expense. 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 2010 have been closed and are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations. The 2009 tax year had been under examination by the federal taxing authority and was closed during the second quarter of 2012 with no material impact to the Company's financial position and results of operations as a result of this examination. First Financial is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2008. Tax years 2008 through 2011 remain open to state and local examination in various jurisdictions.

INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES

First Financial’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was 35.4% compared to 38.2% for the third quarter of 2011. The year-to-date effective tax rate through September 30, 2012 was 34.8% compared to 36.3% for the comparable period in 2011. The decrease in the effective tax rate during the third quarter 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to an unfavorable provision to return adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2011 related to the completion of the 2010 federal and state tax returns. First Financial recorded a favorable provision to return adjustment in the second quarter 2012 related to the completion of 2011 state tax returns. Provision to return adjustments of this nature are typical during the second or third quarters as federal and state tax returns are finalized.

At September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, First Financial had no FASB ASC Topic 740-10 unrecognized tax benefits recorded. First Financial does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase within the next twelve months.

First Financial recognizes interest and penalties on income tax assessments or income tax refunds in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of noninterest expense.

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 2010 have been closed and are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations. The 2009 tax year had been under examination by the federal taxing authority and was closed during the second quarter of 2012 with no material impact to the Company's financial position and results of operations as a result of this examination.

First Financial is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinations for years prior to 2008. Tax years 2008 through 2011 remain open to state and local examination in various jurisdictions.