<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000708955-03-000067
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030624
<FILING-DATE>20030624
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>OBERG ROBERT C JR
<CIK>0001243275
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-12379
<FILM-NUMBER>03755199
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>610 DAYTON STREET APT# 3
<CITY>HAMILTON
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45011
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
<CIK>0000708955
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<IRS-NUMBER>311042001
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>OH
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>300 HIGH ST
<CITY>HAMILTON
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45011
<PHONE>5138674700
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>300 HIGH ST
<CITY>HAMILTON
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45011
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
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<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001243275d20030624f3f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-24</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFBC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001243275</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>OBERG ROBERT C JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Officer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">"No securities are benefically owned"</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Terri J. Ziepfel</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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