Published: May 26, 2008 11:24 pm         

First Financial declares dividend

TERRE HAUTE — The directors of First Financial Corp. have declared a semi-annual dividend of 44 cents per share payable on July 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business June 16. The declaration increases the total dividend paid in 2008 to 88 cents per share, a 2.3 percent increase from 2007.

Donald E. Smith, chairman, noted that the corporation’s performance has made it possible to increase dividends to shareholders for 20 consecutive years.

“First Financial Corporation’s focus is on both quality and consistency in earnings,” he said. “We believe that our disciplined approach to the delivery of financial products and services, along with our diligent efforts to control costs, combine to yield positive results for shareholders.”

First Financial Corp. is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A., with 48 banking centers in western Indiana and eastern Illinois; The Morris Plan Co. of Terre Haute; and Forrest Sherer Inc., a full-service insurance agency.