YOUNGSTOWN — Premier Financial Corp, the holding company for Premier Bank, reported net income of $25.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $13.2 million for the same quarter last year.

Excluding expenses related to the merger of United Community Financial Corp., the parent company of the former Home Savings Bank, net income was $28.6 million for the quarter.

The corporation’s financial results for the latest quarter also show earnings per share of 69 cents, or 77 cents excluding merger expenses. For three months ending September 2019, the earnings were 66 cents and 68 cents.

In addition, average loan growth was $166 million, or 3.1 percent, and average deposit growth was $247 million, or 4.5 percent for the quarter.