First Financial Bancorp. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011. For the quarter, the company reported net income available to the common shareholders of $17,941,000, or $0.31 per diluted share against net income available to the common shareholders of $14,300,000 or $0.24 per diluted share a year ago. Return on average assets was 1.09% against 0.90% a year ago. Return on average shareholders' equity was 9.89% against 8.14% a year ago. Total interest income was $74,985,000 against $82,321,000 a year ago. Net interest income was $65,476,000 against $67,906,000 a year ago. Income before income tax was $28,374,000 against $22,412,000 a year ago. The decline in total interest income was offset by the decrease in total interest expense of $1.2 million, or 11.4%, due primarily to lower interest expense on deposits. For the year, the company reported net income available to the common shareholders of $66,739,000, or $1.14 per diluted share against net income available to the common shareholders of $57,386,000, or $0.99 per diluted share a year ago. Return on average assets was 1.06% against 0.91% a year ago. Return on average shareholders' equity was 9.37% against 8.68% a year ago. Book value per common was $12.22 as on December 31, 2011 against $12.01 as on December 31, 2010. Total interest income was $308,817,000 against $343,502,000 a year ago. Net interest income was $263,896,000 against $275,510,000 a year ago. Income before income tax was $105,039,000 against $91,953,000 a year ago. Net interest income decrease was driven by a decline in average covered loan balances of 26.8% and the reduced yield on the FDIC indemnification asset, offset partially by higher interest income from investments and lower funding costs. The company announced that the board of directors has also authorized a regular dividend of $0.12 per common share and a variable dividend of $0.19 per common share for the next regularly scheduled dividend, payable on April 2, 2012 to shareholders of record as of March 2, 2012.