EXHIBIT 99.1

News News News News News News

April 20, 2004

First Financial Bancorp Reports Earnings

HAMILTON, Ohio — First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC) chairman of the board and interim president and chief executive officer, Bruce E. Leep, today announced first-quarter 2004 net earnings of $9,948,000 or 23 cents in diluted earnings per share, compared to $10,631,000 or 24 cents in diluted earnings per share for the same period in 2003. This represents a 4.17 percent decrease in earnings per share.

Leep said, “While earnings were slightly less than the comparable quarter last year, they were ahead of the consensus estimates, and we are encouraged by some positive trends in the quarter. Most notably, net interest income and margin increased over fourth quarter 2003, reversing a trend of net interest margin compression, which has negatively impacted much of our industry over the last two years.

“Credit quality indicators were also stable to improved with net charge-offs being at their lowest level since December 2002, while loans 90 days or more past due improved to levels we had not seen in five years.

“Going forward, we may still see some fluctuations in credit quality and margin as we work through the current economic and interest-rate environment. Nonetheless, we are encouraged by the progress we’ve seen in the first quarter.”

Return on assets was 1.03 percent for the first quarter of 2004 compared to 1.16 percent in 2003, while return on average shareholders equity was 10.88 percent compared to 11.52 percent for the first quarter of 2003.

(The preceding overview of First Financial Bancorp’s earnings is supplemented with the following detail:)

1

Net Interest Income:

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2004 was $1.1 million or 2.90 percent less than the first quarter of 2003. Bancorp’s net interest margin for 2004 was 4.00 percent compared to 4.37 percent in 2003.

The major contributing factor to the decline in net interest income was the net interest margin compression Bancorp experienced during 2003 due to the asset-sensitive position of Bancorp’s balance sheet. This margin compression was the result of the continued downward repricing of assets without a like decrease in deposit liability rates. The net interest margin began to stabilize in the fourth quarter of 2003 and this positive trend continued into the first quarter of 2004. On a linked-quarter basis (first quarter 2004 compared to fourth quarter 2003), net interest income increased $2.1 million. Of this increase, $1.5 million is attributable to the negative impact of the accelerated amortization in the fourth quarter of 2003 associated with a previously announced mobile home loan sale that closed as planned. Likewise net interest margin on a linked-quarter basis increased 26 basis points to 4.00 percent. Of this increase in margin, 16 basis points is attributable to the fourth quarter 2003 impact of accelerated amortization.

Average outstanding loan balances were 1.94 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2003. The primary area of loan growth from the prior year was the residential real estate category. This increase was achieved notwithstanding the $35 million of loans sold in December related to both the sale of the Sunman, Indiana, banking center and the distressed loan sale that was announced and completed in 2003. On a linked-quarter basis, commercial and real estate construction loans exhibited growth as demand improved primarily in Bancorp’s southwestern Ohio market.

Deposit balances decreased $16.5 million or 0.56 percent from a year ago, while average deposit balances increased $22.4 million or 0.77 percent from a year ago. Deposit balances were impacted by the sale of two banking centers since the first quarter of 2003 which reduced deposit balances by $53 million. Bancorp also opened three new banking centers in 2003, two of which were opened in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Bancorp opened a new banking center in Maineville, Ohio, in April of 2004 and plans to open three to five additional new banking centers in 2004 in growing markets.

Credit Quality:

The provision for loan loss expense for the first quarter of 2004 was $2.6 million or $614,000 less than the comparable period in 2003. Net charge-offs of $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2004 were $387,000 less than the $3.1 million in net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2003. Improvements in the

2

level of commercial loans charged-off and strong recoveries on consumer loans previously charged-off positively impacted net charge-offs. The net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2004 were at the lowest level since December of 2002. The percentage of net charge-offs to average loans improved to 0.38 percent for 2004 compared to 0.45 percent for the same period in 2003.

Bancorp continued to maintain appropriate reserves with an allowance to ending loans ratio of 1.68 percent at year-end versus 1.74 percent for the same period last year. It is management’s belief that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb estimated probable credit losses. The nonperforming assets to ending loans ratio decreased to 1.16 percent as of March 31, 2004, from 1.19 percent as of the end of the first quarter of 2003. This is also an improvement from the linked-quarter percentage of 1.18 and a 2003 high of 1.34 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2003.

Total nonperforming assets — which includes nonaccrual loans, restructured loans, and other real estate owned — decreased slightly to $33.0 million at the end of the first quarter of 2004 from $33.2 million at the end of the first quarter of 2003. Loans delinquent over 90 days decreased significantly to $1.3 million in 2004 from $3.6 million in 2003. This represents the lowest level of 90 days past due loans in over five years.

Bancorp’s level of nonperforming assets over the last several quarters has been reflective of the uncertain economy in the corporation’s primary markets in Ohio and Indiana. In the first quarter of 2004, credit quality indicators stabilized and in some cases improved. The stabilization and improvement in regard to credit quality has been positively influenced by signs of economic improvement, strategies such as the fourth-quarter 2003 distressed loan sale, and improved credit risk disciplines. Given the current economic environment, Bancorp expects continued stable to improving credit quality trends through 2004 although moderate fluctuations could occur as Bancorp continues to work through credit issues.

Noninterest Income:

Noninterest income increased $591,000 or 4.27% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. Service charges on deposit accounts improved slightly over 2003. Trust revenues increased $185,000 or 4.99% as a result of year-over-year market value improvements. Other noninterest income was positively impacted by a gain of approximately $500,000 on life insurance due to the death of a retired senior executive officer of a Bancorp affiliate in 2003, recapture of impairment on the mortgage-servicing assets of approximately $246,000, and increased insurance agency revenue, partially offset by a decrease on gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $842,000.

3

Noninterest Expense:

Total noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2004 increased $1.5 million or 4.68 percent from the first quarter of 2003. Salaries and employee benefits increased $328,000 or 1.80%. In the benefits category, reduced healthcare costs were partially offset by increased pension expense. Net occupancy expenses for 2004 increased $127,000 or 6.11% as a result of increased building rent, depreciation, and related expenses. Data processing expense increased $376,000 or 25.29% due primarily to a reclassification of certain credit-card and merchant processing expenses from other noninterest expense. Other noninterest expense was impacted by costs associated with the mobile home loan sale completed in the quarter, direct consulting work in regard to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 internal control documentation and testing, and the executive search.

Other Items:

Bancorp’s search for a new president and chief executive officer is progressing. Selection is expected to be finalized by the end of the second quarter.

Bancorp repurchased 108,000 shares of its common stock during the first quarter of 2004 under a previously approved and ongoing program for general corporate purposes.

A $3.9 billion publicly owned bank holding company with over 4,000 shareholders, First Financial Bancorp currently operates 8 banking affiliates in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana with a total of 103 retail banking centers, as well as an investment-advisor affiliate and an operations affiliate. Insurance services are offered through Flagstone Insurance and Financial Services.

This release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, notes, and tables attached and in the First Financial Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Management’s analysis may contain forward-looking statements that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. However, such performance involves risk and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the strength of the local economies in which operations are conducted, the effects of and changes in policies and laws of regulatory agencies, inflation, and interest rates. For further discussion of certain factors that may cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results, refer to the 2003 Form 10-K.

First Financial Bancorp

P.O. Box 476

Hamilton, OH 45012

Analyst Contact: C. Douglas Lefferson

513-867-4993

doug.lefferson@ffbc-oh.com

Media Contact: Cheryl R. Lipp

513-867-4929

cheryl.lipp@comfirst.com

4

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited)

						Three months ended,
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2004				2003				2003				2003				2003
EARNINGS
Net interest income		$	36,157			$	34,093			$	36,373			$	37,179			$	37,236
Net earnings			9,948				8,841				7,824				10,610				10,631
Net earnings per share — basic		$	0.23			$	0.20			$	0.18			$	0.24			$	0.24
Net earnings per share — diluted		$	0.23			$	0.20			$	0.18			$	0.24			$	0.24
KEY RATIOS
Return on average assets			1.03	%			0.90	%			0.80	%			1.11	%			1.16	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity			10.88	%			9.62	%			8.46	%			11.46	%			11.52	%
Average shareholders’ equity to average assets			9.44	%			9.38	%			9.42	%			9.66	%			10.03	%
Net interest margin			4.00	%			3.74	%			3.98	%			4.17	%			4.37	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent)			4.10	%			3.84	%			4.08	%			4.28	%			4.48	%
COMMON STOCK DATA
Average basic shares outstanding			43,924,139				43,993,558				44,122,446				44,486,775				44,893,511
Average diluted shares outstanding			43,967,599				44,012,803				44,160,906				44,519,484				45,048,972
Ending shares outstanding			43,924,139				43,939,018				44,049,702				44,277,529				44,709,604
Market price:
High		$	18.82			$	16.92			$	16.60			$	17.00			$	17.19
Low		$	16.29			$	15.14			$	14.67			$	15.00			$	15.26
Close		$	18.50			$	15.95			$	14.75			$	15.83			$	15.86
Book value		$	8.44			$	8.34			$	8.34			$	8.40			$	8.34
Common dividend declared		$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.15
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS
Loans less unearned income		$	2,819,711			$	2,805,667			$	2,829,582			$	2,811,848			$	2,765,970
Investment securities			799,823				798,727				778,365				747,090				650,619
Other earning assets			12,279				13,559				15,845				13,619				40,751
Total earning assets			3,631,813				3,617,953				3,623,792				3,572,557				3,457,340
Total assets			3,894,900				3,886,012				3,894,426				3,841,251				3,730,744
Noninterest-bearing deposits			395,894				399,611				392,862				406,730				416,824
Interest-bearing deposits			2,530,912				2,553,934				2,592,383				2,536,477				2,487,612
Total deposits			2,926,806				2,953,545				2,985,245				2,943,207				2,904,436
Borrowings			542,380				516,952				486,825				481,731				410,100
Shareholders’ equity			367,628				364,653				366,978				371,219				374,236
CREDIT QUALITY
Ending allowance for loan losses		$	47,672			$	47,771			$	48,680			$	48,876			$	48,305
Nonperforming assets:
Nonaccrual			26,586				25,980				28,374				28,210				24,276
Restructured			3,373				3,821				6,532				7,188				6,291
OREO			3,070				3,207				3,054				2,366				2,636
Total nonperforming assets			33,029				33,008				37,960				37,764				33,203
Loans delinquent over 90 days			1,345				1,872				3,186				3,490				3,575
Gross charge-offs:
Commercial real estate			(631	)			(3,377	)			(300	)			(424	)			(112	)
Commercial loans and leases			(1,036	)			(3,650	)			(2,771	)			(1,800	)			(1,699	)
Consumer			(2,588	)			(2,447	)			(2,351	)			(1,957	)			(2,354	)
All other			(27	)			(8	)			(38	)			(18	)			0
Total gross charge-offs			(4,282	)			(9,482	)			(5,460	)			(4,199	)			(4,165	)
Recoveries:
Commercial real estate			34				83				5				45				5
Commercial loans and leases			538				561				316				229				432
Consumer			1,011				498				576				553				642
All other			0				9				3				1				0
Total recoveries			1,583				1,151				900				828				1,079
Total net charge-offs			(2,699	)			(8,331	)			(4,560	)			(3,371	)			(3,086	)
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Allowance to ending loans, net of unearned income			1.68	%			1.71	%			1.73	%			1.73	%			1.74	%
Nonperforming assets to ending loans, net of unearned income plus OREO			1.16	%			1.18	%			1.34	%			1.33	%			1.19	%
90 days past due to loans, net of unearned income			0.05	%			0.07	%			0.11	%			0.12	%			0.13	%
Net charge-offs to average loans, net of unearned income			0.38	%			1.18	%			0.64	%			0.48	%			0.45	%

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

										Three months ended,
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2004				2003				2003				2003				2003
Interest income Loans, including fees		$	42,522			$	41,393			$	45,256			$	46,418			$	46,704
Investment securities Taxable			6,813				6,060				5,263				5,220				5,258
Tax-exempt			1,449				1,555				1,579				1,632				1,664
Total investment securities interest			8,262				7,615				6,842				6,852				6,922
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks			28				36				26				28				51
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell			11				11				24				37				74
Total interest income			50,823				49,055				52,148				53,335				53,751
Interest expense Deposits			9,662				10,214				10,692				11,396				12,084
Short-term borrowings			499				471				443				530				380
Long-term borrowings			4,163				4,130				4,161				4,112				3,931
Subordinated debentures and capital securities			342				147				479				118				120
Total interest expense			14,666				14,962				15,775				16,156				16,515
Net interest income			36,157				34,093				36,373				37,179				37,236
Provision for loan losses			2,600				7,422				4,364				3,942				3,214
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			33,557				26,671				32,009				33,237				34,022
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts			4,613				4,917				4,984				4,923				4,598
Trust revenues			3,892				3,648				3,623				3,522				3,707
Investment securities (losses) gains			(2	)			4				28				(36	)			28
Other			5,938				10,458				6,494				5,797				5,517
Total noninterest income			14,441				19,027				15,129				14,206				13,850
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			18,519				18,625				21,664				18,028				18,191
Net occupancy			2,205				1,872				1,899				1,816				2,078
Furniture and equipment			1,804				1,701				1,752				1,847				1,801
Data processing			1,863				2,037				1,690				1,516				1,487
Deposit insurance			171				140				147				150				100
State taxes			344				442				432				434				460
Amortization of intangibles			216				205				207				211				201
Other			8,122				8,458				7,948				7,815				7,441
Total noninterest expenses			33,244				33,480				35,739				31,817				31,759
Income before income taxes			14,754				12,218				11,399				15,626				16,113
Income tax expense			4,806				3,377				3,575				5,016				5,482
Net earnings		$	9,948			$	8,841			$	7,824			$	10,610			$	10,631
ADDITIONAL DATA — FULLY TAX EQUIVALENT NET INTEREST INCOME
Interest income		$	50,823			$	49,055			$	52,148			$	53,335			$	53,751
Tax equivalent adjustment			860				885				900				918				938
Interest income — tax equivalent			51,683				49,940				53,048				54,253				54,689
Interest expense			14,666				14,962				15,775				16,156				16,515
Net interest income — tax equivalent		$	37,017			$	34,978			$	37,273			$	38,097			$	38,174

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

		(Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited)
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Mar. 31,
		2004				2003				2003
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	138,950			$	183,612			$	179,317
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks			8,195				5,014				6,925
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell			1,987				607				16,416
Investment securities, held-to-maturity			12,482				18,399				20,620
Investment securities, available-for-sale			771,765				794,762				673,620
Loans
Commercial			677,918				666,315				702,042
Real estate-construction			77,388				73,260				85,402
Real estate-mortgage			1,494,663				1,466,153				1,408,345
Installment			553,679				560,061				547,986
Credit card			20,159				21,680				20,355
Lease financing			10,353				12,241				18,446
Total loans			2,834,160				2,799,710				2,782,576
Less
Unearned income			48				86				334
Allowance for loan losses			47,672				47,771				48,305
Net loans			2,786,440				2,751,853				2,733,937
Premises and equipment			59,816				59,050				56,337
Goodwill			28,344				27,379				27,379
Other intangibles			7,943				7,530				8,818
Deferred income taxes receivable			4,909				6,227				6,386
Other assets			97,794				101,629				91,233
Total Assets		$	3,918,625			$	3,956,062			$	3,820,988
LIABILITIES
Deposits Noninterest-bearing		$	403,522			$	414,785			$	431,169
Interest-bearing			2,528,828				2,530,880				2,517,665
Total deposits			2,932,350				2,945,665				2,948,834
Short-term borrowings			195,191				258,909				133,282
Long-term borrowings			354,615				322,979				318,053
Junior subordinated debentures owed to unconsolidated subsidiary trusts			30,930				0				0
Corporation-obligated mandatorily redeemable capital securities of subsidiary trusts			0				30,000				10,000
Accrued interest and other liabilities			34,724				32,026				37,729
Total Liabilities			3,547,810				3,589,579				3,447,898
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock			395,595				395,752				395,946
Retained earnings			53,680				50,325				42,914
Accumulated comprehensive income			4,648				2,344				6,407
Restricted stock awards			(4,403	)			(3,397	)			(5,902	)
Treasury stock, at cost			(78,705	)			(78,541	)			(66,275	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity			370,815				366,483				373,090
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	3,918,625			$	3,956,062			$	3,820,988

ADDITIONAL DATA — RISK BASED CAPITAL

		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2004				2003				2003				2003				2003
Tier 1 Capital		$	359,134			$	358,616			$	358,292			$	338,933			$	341,739
Tier 1 Ratio			13.19	%			13.20	%			12.92	%			12.50	%			12.66	%
Total Capital		$	393,331			$	392,735			$	393,122			$	373,011			$	375,662
Total Capital Ratio			14.45	%			14.46	%			14.18	%			13.76	%			13.92	%
Total Risk-Adjusted Assets		$	2,722,261			$	2,715,858			$	2,772,571			$	2,711,426			$	2,699,431
Leverage Ratio			9.30	%			9.30	%			9.28	%			8.90	%			9.24	%

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

										Quarterly Averages
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2004				2003				2003				2003				2003
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	114,977			$	117,810			$	129,005			$	127,405			$	140,351
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks			7,588				9,252				5,671				7,235				9,294
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell			4,691				4,307				10,174				6,384				31,457
Investment securities			799,823				798,727				778,365				747,090				650,619
Loans
Commercial			669,188				658,205				695,980				700,439				701,288
Real estate-construction			76,193				68,621				69,072				77,879				86,466
Real estate-mortgage			1,488,463				1,480,587				1,469,535				1,443,940				1,388,330
Installment			554,374				564,684				559,600				552,301				549,668
Credit card			20,274				20,402				20,169				20,077				20,692
Lease financing			11,284				13,276				15,405				17,488				19,911
Total loans			2,819,776				2,805,775				2,829,761				2,812,124				2,766,355
Less Unearned income			65				108				179				276				385
Allowance for loan losses			47,877				48,754				48,849				48,168				48,625
Net loans			2,771,834				2,756,913				2,780,733				2,763,680				2,717,345
Premises and equipment			59,271				58,863				57,825				56,675				56,468
Deferred income tax			5,570				8,457				7,969				5,555				3,958
Other assets			131,146				131,683				124,684				127,227				121,252
Total Assets		$	3,894,900			$	3,886,012			$	3,894,426			$	3,841,251			$	3,730,744
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Interest-bearing		$	193,256			$	182,501			$	212,102			$	165,275			$	298,561
Savings			1,030,709				1,046,180				1,023,110				1,001,121				850,866
Time			1,306,947				1,325,253				1,357,171				1,370,081				1,338,185
Total interest-bearing deposits			2,530,912				2,553,934				2,592,383				2,536,477				2,487,612
Noninterest-bearing			395,894				399,611				392,862				406,730				416,824
Total deposits			2,926,806				2,953,545				2,985,245				2,943,207				2,904,436
Borrowed funds
Short-term borrowings			209,166				193,390				161,742				157,965				102,310
Long-term borrowings			333,214				323,562				325,083				323,766				307,790
Total borrowed funds			542,380				516,952				486,825				481,731				410,100
Junior subordinated debentures owed to unconsolidated subsidiary trusts			30,930				0				0				0				0
Corporation-obligated mandatorily redeemable capital securities of subsidiary trust			0				30,000				26,956				10,000				10,000
Accrued interest and other liabilities			27,156				20,862				28,422				35,094				31,972
Total Liabilities			3,527,272				3,521,359				3,527,448				3,470,032				3,356,508
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock			395,648				395,808				395,894				395,916				396,033
Retained earnings			51,165				47,534				48,022				43,281				38,881
Accumulated comprehensive income			3,311				2,587				3,680				7,501				8,379
Restricted stock awards			(4,220	)			(3,619	)			(4,969	)			(5,613	)			(5,625	)
Treasury stock, at cost			(78,276	)			(77,657	)			(75,649	)			(69,866	)			(63,432	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity			367,628				364,653				366,978				371,219				374,236
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	3,894,900			$	3,886,012			$	3,894,426			$	3,841,251			$	3,730,744