Appointment of president of Terre Haute First National Bank.

directors of First Financial Corp. has named Norman L. Lowery, as president and CEO of Terre Haute First National Bank and vice chairman of First Financial Corp. effective Jan. 1, 1996.

Lowery is a partner in the law firm of Wright, Shagley and Lowery. He is a graduate of Indiana State University and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Indiana University School of Law.

He has been a member of the board of directors of First Financial Corp. and Terre Haute First National Bank since 1989. He is also a director of First Farmers State Bank in Sullivan, Ind. Lowery serves on the board of directors of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. He has been active in various charitable and civic organizations.

Donald E. Smith will remain as chairman of the board of Terre Haute First National Bank and president and CEO of First Financial Corp. Smith has served as president of Terre Haute First National Bank since 1974. Under his leadership, First Financial Corp. has grown to become the fifth largest bank holding company headquartered in Indiana. First Financial Corp., formed in 1983, has seven affiliate banks with assets of $1.3 billion.

First Financial Corp. is the holding company for Terre Haute First National Bank, First State Bank, First Citizens State Bank, First Farmers State Bank and First Parke State Bank in Indiana and First Ridge Farm State Bank and First National Bank of Marshall in Illinois.

CONTACT: First Financial Corp., Terre Haute

John W. Perry, 812/238-6000