First Fidelity Thrift and Loan: The Irvine...

First Fidelity Thrift and Loan: The Irvine subsidiary of First Fidelity Bancorp Inc. reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $1.3 million, compared with $662,000 for the comparable 1996 period. For the year, net income climbed 50% to $3.9 million from $2.6 million. Total assets rose 42%to $339.8 million from $239.8 million.