GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

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.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 were as follows:



(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Balance at beginning of year	$	204,084	$	204,084
Goodwill resulting from business combinations	676,949		0
Balance at end of period	$	881,033	$	204,084

First Financial recorded additions to goodwill resulting from the merger with MSFG in 2018, while no additions to goodwill were recorded during 2017. For further detail on the merger with MSFG, see Note 16 - Business Combinations.

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, 2017 and no impairment was indicated. As of September 30, 2018, 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, 2018 and December 31, 2017, First Financial had $53.3 million and $5.3 million, respectively, of other intangible assets included in Goodwill and other intangibles in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, which primarily consist of core deposit intangibles. Core deposit intangibles represent the estimated fair value of acquired customer deposit relationships on the date of acquisition and are amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful lives. Core deposit intangibles were $40.2 million and $3.3 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. First Financial's core deposit intangibles have an estimated weighted average remaining life of 9.1 years. Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $2.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $5.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively.