YOUNGSTOWN — Net income for Premier Financial Corp. in the second quarter was $31.4 million, up 8 percent over the same three-month span in 2020.

The Defiance-based corporation, holding company for Youngstown-based Premier Bank, also reported net income for the first six months of 2021 was $72.4 million, compared to $6.6 million in the first half of 2020. The number, according to Premier, was “substantially impacted” by the acquisition of United Community Financial Corp., holding company of the former Home Savings Bank.

United Community Financial Corp. and First Federal Bank of the Midwest merged and created Premier. Regulatory approval for the transaction was finalized in January 2020.

The company also reported loan growth of $45 million, excluding Paycheck Protection Program loans, up 3.6 percent annualized, including $36 million for commercial loans.