ORANGE COUNTY EARNINGS

First Fidelity Bancorp Inc.: The Irvine holding company for First Fidelity Thrift and Loan Assn. said third-quarter net earnings dropped to $877,000, or 59 cents a share, from $1.1 million, or 72 cents a share, for the year-earlier period. The company said it incurred income tax expenses of $732,000 for the recent quarter, compared with $330,000 a year ago. Total assets increased 30% to $407.9 million from $314 million.