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<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950152-04-009173
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041221
<ITEMS>5.02
<FILING-DATE>20041227
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041227
<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>041226735
</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>l11197ae8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
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<TITLE>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</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 align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December&nbsp;21, 2004


<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>


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    <TD align="center" valign="top">Ohio
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">0-12379
</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<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File<BR>
Number)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</TD>
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    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="center">300 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio<BR></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">45011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="center">(Address of principal executive offices)<BR></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (513)&nbsp;867-5447


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General
Instruction A.2. below):


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    <TD align="left" valign="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
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</DIV></TD>
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    <TD align="left" valign="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))</TD>
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    <TD align="left" valign="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))</TD>
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<TR><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD colspan="6"><A HREF="#000">FORM 8-K</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
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<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.</B>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">(b)&nbsp;On December&nbsp;21, 2004, Stephen S. Marcum, a director of First Financial Bancorp. (the &#147;Company&#148;)
informed the Company of his decision not to stand for re-election at the Company&#146;s next annual
meeting of shareholders (the &#147;Annual Meeting&#148;). As a result, Mr.&nbsp;Marcum&#146;s term as a director of
the Company will expire as of the date of the next Annual Meeting, which will be held in April&nbsp;2005
on a date to be determined by the Company&#146;s board of directors.
Mr.&nbsp;Marcum stated, &#147;I have declined to stand for
re-election, because I am disappointed that I cannot fully
participate in the board&#146;s committee activities, since I am not
considered &#145;independent&#146; under the new Nasdaq listing
standards. I have enjoyed my past service on the Company&#146;s board
of directors.&#148;



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<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 colspan="3" align="left"><B>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>

<TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/
C. Douglas Lefferson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">C. Douglas Lefferson&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">Date: December 27, 2004&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


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