FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 20, 1996
First Financial Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 0-11889 39-1471963
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
1305 Main Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
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(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (715) 341-0400
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Not applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On November 20, 1996, First Financial Corporation (the
"Company") announced a 25% stock dividend and an effective 25%
increase in its quarterly dividend. A copy of the Company's
announcement is attached at Exhibit 28 hereto and incorporated
by reference herein.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
By /s/ John C. Seramur
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John C. Seramur
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Dated: November 20, 1996
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT
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28 Press release re announcement of 25% stock dividend.
Thomas H. Neuschaefer
(715) 345-4427
Kenneth F. Csinicsek
(715) 345-4352
FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 25% STOCK DIVIDEND AND A
25% INCREASE IN REGULAR QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, November 20, 1996... First Financial Corporation
(NASDAQ- NMS:FFHC) announced today that its board of directors declared a 25%
common stock dividend, payable on December 30, 1996, to shareholders of record
on December 16, 1996. Fractional shares will be paid in cash at a rate to be
determined by the closing bid price of the company's stock on the record date.
The company had 29,684,495 common shares outstanding as of November 19, 1996.
The company also announced that it will maintain its current quarterly dividend
of $.15 per share. The dividend will also be paid on the newly issued shares,
which will result in an equivalent 25% increase in the quarterly dividend. The
dividend will be payable on December 31, 1996 to shareholders of record on
December 16, 1996. The dividend is the 64th consecutive quarterly dividend paid
by the company since it went public in 1980.
"First Financial is experiencing another record year in terms of core earnings
and we are pleased to provide this five-for-four stock split and cash dividend
increase to our shareholders. Coupled with our previously announced stock
buyback program, these actions demonstrate our confidence in our strong capital
position and our desire to reward our shareholders for their loyalty," said John
C. Seramur, president and chief executive officer of First Financial
Corporation.
First Financial Corporation is the holding company for First Financial Bank, one
of the nation's largest savings banks. The corporation has total assets of $5.6
billion and operates 128 consumer banking offices throughout Wisconsin and
Illinois.
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