First Financial Holding reported first-half after-tax net profit of NT$17.8 billion (approximately $561.5 million), up 41.9% year-over-year, with EPS of NT$1.24. Its cumulative after-tax profit for the first seven months exceeded NT$20 billion (approximately $631.0 million), a record for the period. President Fang Ying-chi said the group remains optimistic about full-year earnings and will maintain a dividend payout ratio above 60%, while seeking to maximize the cash-dividend proportion as capital conditions allow. First Bank, the main profit driver, posted first-half profit of NT$15.46 billion (approximately $487.6 million), up 11.9%, as lending, interest income, fee income and wealth-management activity strengthened. The group lifted its foreign-currency lending growth target to 20% from 17%, raised its wealth-management fee-income target by 25% and its overall fee-income target by 20%. Non-bank subsidiaries accounted for 15.7% of total profit, led by sharp gains at First Securities and the venture-capital arm. The company also said it is open to acquisitions that meet regulatory, strategic and synergy requirements but remains focused on organic growth.