<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950152-04-000719
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20040129
<ITEMS>11
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20040204
<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>04565238
</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>l05463ae8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP    8-K
<TEXT>
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<TITLE>First Financial Bancorp    8-K</TITLE>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>




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<P>&nbsp;



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE<BR>
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;29, 2004


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B><BR>
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Ohio</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">31-1042001</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">0-12379
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">of incorporation)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File<BR>
Number)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>

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

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

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">45011</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>

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</DIV>


<P>&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (513)&nbsp;867-5240


<P>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
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</TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#000">Item&nbsp;7. Exhibits.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant&#146;s Employee Benefit Plans.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">Exhibit&nbsp;Index</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="l05463aexv99w1.htm">EX-99.1</A></TD></TR>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>






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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exhibits.</B>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">(c)</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Exhibits:</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Notice to Directors and Section&nbsp;16 Executive Officers of
First Financial Bancorp. regarding early ending date of trading
blackout period under the registrant&#146;s employee benefit plan.</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant&#146;s Employee Benefit Plans." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;11.</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant&#146;s Employee Benefit Plans.</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">The blackout period on trading of First Financial Bancorp. equity securities
scheduled to continue through the week of February&nbsp;22, 2004 has ended early on
January&nbsp;29, 2004. Federated Investments, Inc., the new record keeper for the
First Financial Bancorp. Thrift Plan, accomplished the change to a daily
valuation method earlier than anticipated. Other than the earlier ending date,
there are no material changes in the information contained in the prior report.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">First Financial Bancorp. notified its directors and executive officers subject
to Section&nbsp;16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
&#147;Executive Officers&#148;) that the previously announced blackout period has ended
early. A copy of the notice sent to the directors and Executive Officers is
attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
reference.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&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.

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    <TD width="51%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><FONT size="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ C. Douglas Lefferson</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Douglas Lefferson</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Senior Vice President and</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer</TD>
</TR>

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</DIV>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Date: February&nbsp;4, 2004


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<!-- link1 "Exhibit&nbsp;Index" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Index</B>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="90%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="79%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit Nos.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Notice to Directors and
Section&nbsp;16 Executive Officers of First Financial Bancorp.
regarding early ending date of trading blackout period under the registrant&#146;s employee benefit plan.</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

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<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>l05463aexv99w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
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<TITLE>EX-99.1</TITLE>
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<P align="right" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 16pt"><B>MEMORANDUM</FONT></B>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>To:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Directors and Section&nbsp;16 Executive Officers of First Financial Bancorp.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>From:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Janie McCauley, Legal Officer and Secretary</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Date:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">February&nbsp;4, 2004</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Re:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Early Ending Date on Trading Blackout in First Financial Bancorp. Equity
Securities</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade color="#000000" width="95%" align="center">


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The previous notice announcing the trading blackout indicated that the
blackout period would continue through the week beginning February&nbsp;22, 2004.
Federated Investments, Inc., the new record keeper for the First Financial
Bancorp. Thrift Plan, has accomplished the change to a daily valuation method
earlier than anticipated. Therefore, the blackout period on trading in First
Financial Bancorp. equity securities terminated on January&nbsp;29, 2004. Other
than the earlier ending date, there are no material changes in the information
contained in the prior notice.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact Janie
McCauley, Legal Officer and Secretary, First Financial Bancorp., 300 High
Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45012, (513)&nbsp;867-4729, fax (513)&nbsp;785-3434, or by email
at <U>janie.mccauley@ffbc-oh.com</U>.



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