<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950152-03-003471
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>3
<PERIOD>20030326
<ITEMS>7
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20030326
<FILER>
<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>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-12379
<FILM-NUMBER>03618645
</FILING-VALUES>
<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>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>l99816ae8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP    8-K
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<TITLE>First Financial Bancorp    8-K</TITLE>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE<BR>
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B>
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Date of Report: March&nbsp;26, 2003
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B><BR>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="75%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="34%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="28%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="28%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">Ohio</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
0-12379
</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">31-1042001</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(State or other jurisdiction</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
(Commission File
</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(IRS Employer</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">of incorporation)</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Number)
</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">300 High Street</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">Hamilton, Ohio</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">45011</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(Address of principal executive</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(Zip Code)</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">offices)</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (513)&nbsp;867-5240
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="70%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Form&nbsp;8-K</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>First Financial Bancorp.</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exhibits.</B>
</FONT>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(a)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="93%"><FONT size="2">Exhibits:</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="right">
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="92%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">99.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Certification of Periodic Financial Report By
Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" nowrap><FONT size="2">99.2</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Certification of Periodic Financial Report By
Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure.</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On March&nbsp;26, 2003, Stanley N. Pontius, President and Chief Executive
Officer of First Financial Bancorp., and C. Douglas Lefferson, Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of First Financial Bancorp., each signed
the Certification of Periodic Financial Report pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with the First Financial Bancorp. Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2002. The Certifications were
submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;26, 2003. A copy
of each of these Certifications is attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 hereto.
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</FONT>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
</FONT>
<div align="right">
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="50%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">By:</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" colspan="2"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;
<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ C. Douglas Lefferson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
C. Douglas Lefferson</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Senior Vice President and</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</div>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">Date: March&nbsp;26, 2003
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="70%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Form&nbsp;8-K</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>First Financial Bancorp.</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Index</B>
</FONT>

<CENTER>
<TABLE cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="81%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Nos.</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
<B>Description</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">99.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Certification of Periodic Financial Report By Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">99.2</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">
Certification of Periodic Financial Report By Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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</TEXT>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>l99816aexv99w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1  CERTIFICATION
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<TITLE>EX-99.1  Certification</TITLE>
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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORT BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002</B>
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">In connection with the Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2002 of
First Financial Bancorp. (the &#147;Company&#148;), as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;26, 2003 (the &#147;Report&#148;), I, Stanley N. Pontius,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
</FONT>
<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(1)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(2)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><u>/s/ Stanley N. Pontius&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u><BR>
Stanley N. Pontius<BR>
President and Chief Executive Officer
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">March&nbsp;26, 2003
</FONT>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>l99816aexv99w2.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.2  CERTIFICATION
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<TITLE>EX-99.2  Certification</TITLE>
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<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><B>CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORT BY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002</B>
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">In connection with the Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2002 of
First Financial Bancorp. (the &#147;Company&#148;), as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;26, 2003 (the &#147;Report&#148;), I, C. Douglas Lefferson,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
</FONT>
<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(1)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD width="1%" align="left" nowrap><FONT size="2">(2)</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="3%"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="96%"><FONT size="2">The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2"><u>/s/ C. Douglas Lefferson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u><BR>
C. Douglas Lefferson<BR>
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">March&nbsp;26, 2003
</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>




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