EXHIBIT 99.1

First Financial Bancorp Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

§ Net income of $5.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.15

- Net income of $7.9 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.21, excluding the impact of a $2.2 million after-tax loss related to government sponsored entity preferred stock holdings

§ Nonperforming loans and net charge-offs improve from the second quarter of 2008

§ Capital levels remain strong and continue to exceed regulatory well-capitalized requirement

§ Continued growth in commercial lending

§ Expansion in new and existing markets

Cincinnati, Ohio - October 29, 2008 -- First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC) announced today results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008. Third quarter 2008 net income was $5.7 million, and earnings per diluted share were $0.15. This compares with second quarter 2008 net income and earnings per diluted share of $7.8 million and $0.21, respectively, and third quarter 2007 net income and earnings per diluted share of $8.4 million and $0.22, respectively. Year-to-date 2008, net income was $20.9 million, and earnings per diluted share were $0.56. This compares with year-to-date 2007 net income and earnings per diluted share of $25.0 million and $0.64, respectively.

Third quarter 2008 net income includes a $2.2 million after-tax loss related to the company’s investment in 200,000 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) perpetual preferred series V shares. This loss is a result of the decline in market value of the shares following the September 7, 2008 announcement by the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) that the FHFA was placing FHLMC under conservatorship and would eliminate the dividends on its common and preferred shares. Excluding this loss, third quarter 2008 net income and earnings per diluted share were $7.9 million, and $0.21, respectively, and year-to-date 2008 net income and earnings per diluted share were $23.1 million and $0.62, respectively.

Third quarter 2008 return on average assets was 0.66%. Year-to-date 2008 return on average assets was 0.83%, compared with 1.01% for 2007’s comparable period. Third quarter 2008 return on average shareholders’ equity was 8.24%, compared with 11.26% for the second quarter 2008, and 12.03% for the third quarter of 2007. Year-to-date 2008 return on average shareholders’ equity was 10.05%, compared with 11.86% for 2007’s comparable period.

Excluding the loss related to the FHLMC preferred stock holdings, third quarter 2008 return on average assets and return on average shareholders’ equity was 0.90% and 11.35%, respectively; and year-to-date 2008 return on average assets and return on average shareholders’ equity was 0.92% and 11.16%, respectively.

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Commenting on the company’s results, Claude Davis, First Financial Bancorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We reported solid third quarter and year-to-date 2008 results in a volatile and challenging economic environment. Our credit quality performance in the third quarter was consistent with our expectations and reflects our discipline of originating loans within our footprint, strong underwriting policies, and proactive management of resolution strategies for problem credits.

“While we remain highly focused on credit quality, balance sheet management, and capital, we are also continuing to grow within our existing and new markets,” added Mr. Davis. “Recently, we further expanded our presence with a new commercial lending team in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a new business office and retail banking center in the Dayton, Ohio, suburb of Kettering. Construction is currently underway on two new retail banking centers - one in Crown Point, Indiana, and the other in the Cincinnati, Ohio, suburb of Madeira. These new locations are part of our corporate plan, underscore our commitment to the communities we serve, and will contribute to the long-term growth of the company.”

DETAILS OF RESULTS

Unless otherwise noted, all amounts discussed in this earnings release are pre-tax except net income and per-share data which are presented after-tax. Percentage changes are not annualized unless specifically noted.

CREDIT QUALITY

Credit quality trends have remained relatively consistent over the past five quarters. Total nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets have ranged from a low of 51 basis points to a high of 55 basis points, and annualized net charge-offs to average loans and leases have been within the company’s expected range, with a low of 23 basis points and a high of 40 basis points.

Delinquency trends have also remained relatively stable over the past five quarters with total loans 30 to 89 days past due at September 30, 2008, of $22.3 million or 0.84% of period end loans, consistent with $22.1 million or 0.83% at June 30, 2008. Management closely monitors these trends and ratios and considers the current level of delinquent loans consistent with its expectation of the total loan portfolio’s behavior.

At September 30, 2008, the commercial real estate and real estate construction loan portfolios totaled $1.0 billion, or 38.1% of total loans, including $152.5 million, or 5.7% of total loans for commercial real estate construction, and $51.3 million, or 1.9% of total loans, for residential construction, land acquisition, and development. First Financial closely monitors the status of all residential construction and land development projects and works proactively with borrowers throughout all stages of the lending relationship.

Over the past five quarters both the home equity net charge-off ratio and ratio of nonaccrual home equity loans to total home equity loans have been below 50 basis points, excluding a few large home equity loan charge-offs in the first and second quarters of 2008 that the company believes were unusual in terms of individual charge-off size. Year-to-date 2008 annualized net charge-offs were 39 basis points of average loans and leases, of which approximately 5 basis points were related to the larger home equity charge-offs recorded earlier this year. The net charge-off level for home equity loans returned to its lower historical level in the third quarter of 2008, and although the company continues to actively monitor its home equity portfolio, it may experience some volatility in future quarters.

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Other real estate owned had a net increase of $0.8 million during the third quarter of 2008 from the second quarter of 2008, primarily as a result of net additions from residential lending.

The table below presents First Financial’s key credit quality metrics for the periods ended September 30, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007.

		($ in thousands)
		September 30, 2008			June 30, 2008			September 30, 2007
Total Nonperforming Loans		$	14,038		$	15,366		$	13,716
Total Nonperforming Assets		$	18,648		$	19,129		$	16,840
Nonperforming Assets as a % of:
Period-End Loans, Plus Other Real Estate Owned			0.70	%		0.71	%		0.65	%
Total Assets			0.53	%		0.55	%		0.51	%
Nonperforming Loans as a % of Total Loans			0.53	%		0.57	%		0.53	%
Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses		$	30,353		$	29,580		$	29,136
Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses as a % of:
Period-End Loans			1.14	%		1.11	%		1.12	%
Nonaccrual Loans			219.5	%		199.7	%		221.7	%
Nonperforming Loans			216.2	%		192.5	%		212.4	%
Total Net Charge-Offs		$	2,446		$	2,631		$	1,482
Annualized Net-Charge-Offs as a % of Average
Loans & Leases			0.36	%		0.40	%		0.23	%

First Financial’s credit quality continues to be favorably impacted by the 2005 decision to shift away from certain low-margin consumer-based lending, including the decision to discontinue the origination of residential real estate loans for retention on the balance sheet. It is also important to note that First Financial does not participate in high risk mortgage lending, including the origination of sub-prime residential real estate loans.

The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of period-end loans is based on the estimated potential losses inherent in the loan portfolio in today’s economic environment. The company believes that the $30.4 million allowance for loan and lease losses at September 30, 2008, 1.14% of period end loans, is adequate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in its lending portfolio. Overall credit coverage ratios remained strong, with the allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of nonaccrual and nonperforming loans at 219.47% and 216.22%, respectively. A large percentage of nonperforming loans are secured by real estate, and this collateral has been appropriately considered in establishing the allowance for loan and lease losses. While First Financial’s credit trends have remained relatively consistent over the past several quarters and the company believes that it is well-positioned to handle the challenging economic environment and avoid many of the troublesome areas facing the financial services industry, the possibility exists that the company could experience higher credit costs over the next several quarters.

For further details on the quarter-over-quarter and year-to-date changes in credit quality, please see the attached Credit Quality schedule.

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CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

All regulatory capital ratios exceeded the amounts necessary to be classified as “well capitalized” at September 30, 2008. In addition, total regulatory capital exceeded the “minimum” requirement by approximately $80.8 million, on a consolidated basis. At September 30, 2008, First Financial’s regulatory capital ratios were:

§ Leverage ratio of 7.95%.

§ Tier 1 capital ratio of 9.80%.

§ Total capital ratio of 10.89%.

Average tangible equity as a percent of average tangible assets was 7.18% at September 30, 2008, compared with 7.50% at June 30, 2008, and 7.53% at September 30, 2007. The reduction in the average tangible equity ratio has been primarily due to the growth in total average assets.

First Financial Bank, N.A., the subsidiary bank, regulatory capital ratios at September 30, 2008 were:

§ Leverage ratio of 8.86%.

§ Tier 1 ratio of 10.94%.

§ Total capital ratio of 12.30%.

Late in the third quarter of 2008, First Financial took steps to further manage the risk profile of its balance sheet by securitizing $58.5 million in residential mortgage loans into agency guaranteed, mortgage-backed securities collateralized by those loans. This resulted in a reduction in credit risk on the balance sheet and a lower regulatory risk weighting for those assets. The assets remain on the balance sheet, but are now accounted for as investment securities available-for-sale rather than residential real estate loans. This securitization resulted in First Financial recognizing a servicing asset of approximately $0.3 million related to the company’s contractual right to service the securitized loans. This mortgage servicing right will be amortized over the period of net servicing income, which is estimated to be sixty months.

First Financial is also evaluating the merits of a sale-leaseback transaction involving certain of its properties. Sale-leaseback transactions have been utilized in the financial services industry as a means to generate higher levels of earning assets by redeploying the current value of real estate. Additionally, a sale-leaseback transaction may provide regulatory capital relief, depending on the risk weighting of the replacement assets. The portfolio under review includes a maximum of 47 of the company’s retail banking locations. A typically structured transaction would result in First Financial selling the properties and simultaneously entering into long-term operating leases. Should the company decide to pursue this strategy, there would be no disruption of services to clients or impact on staff.

The U.S. Treasury Department, working with the Federal Reserve Board, recently announced the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), including the Capital Purchase Program (CPP), both which are intended to stabilize the financial services industry. First Financial is currently analyzing the potential advantages of participating in these programs.

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NET INTEREST INCOME & NET INTEREST MARGIN

		($ in thousands)
		Three Months ended									Nine Months ended
		September 30, 2008			June 30, 2008			September 30, 2007			September 30, 2008			September 30, 2007
Net Interest Income		$	29,410		$	28,414		$	29,417		$	86,073		$	89,421
Net Interest Margin			3.68	%		3.72	%		3.88	%		3.72	%		3.99	%
Net Interest Margin
(fully tax equivalent)			3.73	%		3.78	%		3.95	%		3.79	%		4.07	%

Overall declines in net interest income and the net interest margin are primarily the result of actions taken by the Federal Reserve to address deteriorating economic conditions. Specifically, the federal funds rate has declined 375 basis points over the past twelve months, which has led to a decline in most market interest rates and negatively impacted the company’s asset sensitive balance sheet. Earning asset growth in the commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loan portfolios, as well as growth in the investment securities portfolio, has partially offset the effects of the decline in market interest rates on net interest income.

Third quarter 2008 net interest income increased from the second quarter of 2008 primarily due to the 14.5% growth in the investment portfolio over the same time period and disciplined pricing on deposits, which substantially offset the impact on loan yields from the decline in market interest rates. The linked-quarter decline in the net interest margin reflects a 7 basis point negative impact from the increase in earnings assets related primarily to the investment portfolio.

Third quarter 2008 net interest income was relatively flat with third quarter 2007 net interest income. Loan growth and growth in the investment portfolio, combined with the continued shift from time deposits to transaction-based accounts partially offset the impact from the decline in overall market interest rates.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 declined $3.3 million or 3.7% from 2007’s comparable period primarily as a result of decreasing market interest rates, offset by loan growth and growth in the investment portfolio, as well as a shift in deposit balances from higher cost certificates of deposit to lower cost transaction-based accounts.

During the third quarter of 2008, First Financial entered into a $50.0 million two-year interest rate swap to hedge the risk of overall changes in cash flows on a designated prime-based loan portfolio. The execution of this receive fixed/pay floating instrument is consistent with the company’s risk management objective and strategy to reduce exposure to variability in cash flows relating to its variable-rate assets. This interest rate swap will effectively fix the company’s interest rate on $50.0 million of loans at 5.88%.

For further details on the quarter-over-quarter and year-to-date changes in the net interest margin, please see the attached Net Interest Margin Rate / Volume Analysis.

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NONINTEREST INCOME

§ Third quarter 2008 noninterest income was $10.5 million, compared with $13.7 million in the second quarter of 2008, and $14.5 million in the third quarter of 2007.

§ Excluding the $3.4 million loss related to the FHLMC perpetual preferred stock holdings, third quarter 2008 noninterest income was $13.9 million.

§ Year-to-date 2008 noninterest income was $39.1 million, compared with $43.3 million in 2007’s comparable period.

§ Excluding the $3.6 million year-to-date 2008 loss related to the FHLMC perpetual preferred stock holdings, year-to-date 2008 noninterest income was $42.7 million.

Excluding the loss related to the FHLMC perpetual preferred stock holdings, third quarter 2008 noninterest income was relatively unchanged from the second quarter of 2008, and approximately $0.6 million lower than 2007’s third quarter. Third quarter 2008 service charges on deposits increased $0.4 million from the second quarter of 2008, offsetting a $0.3 million decline in investment advisory fees and lower brokerage revenue. 2007’s third quarter included a $0.4 million gain from the sale of investment securities. Excluding this gain, third quarter 2008 noninterest income declined by $0.2 million from the third quarter of 2007. This decline was attributable to a $0.3 million decrease in investment advisory and trust fees in 2008’s third quarter due to lower equity market values as a result of overall market declines. Assets under management by the company's wealth management division have declined approximately $100.0 million, or 5.0% since June 30, 2008.

Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 declined $4.2 million from 2007’s comparable period. In addition to the $3.6 million year-to-date 2008 loss related to the FHLMC perpetual preferred stock holdings, year-to-date 2008 noninterest income also included a first quarter $1.6 million gain associated with the partial redemption of Visa Inc. common shares. 2007’s comparable period included a $1.1 million gain on the sale of residential mortgage servicing rights, and a $0.4 million gain on the sale of investment securities. Excluding these items, year-to-date 2008 noninterest income declined $0.8 million from 2007’s comparable period, primarily due to lower earnings on banked-owned life insurance.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

§ Third quarter 2008 noninterest expense was $28.3 million, compared with $28.0 million in the second quarter of 2008, and $28.7 million in the third quarter of 2007.

§ Year-to-date 2008 noninterest expense was $85.3 million, compared with $89.4 million in 2007’s comparable period.

Third quarter 2008 noninterest expense increased approximately $0.4 million from the second quarter of 2008, and declined approximately $0.4 million from the third quarter of 2007. Second quarter 2008 non interest expense included a $1.3 million reduction in the liability for retiree medical benefits. Excluding this reduction, third quarter 2008 noninterest expense declined approximately $0.9 million from 2008’s second quarter, primarily due to lower salaries, benefits, professional fees, and travel costs, offset by increases in marketing costs. The slight decline from 2007’s third quarter was primarily due to decreases in salaries, benefits, data processing, and professional services, offset by increases in marketing costs.

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Noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 declined $4.0 million from 2007’s comparable period. Year-to-date 2008 noninterest expense includes the previously mentioned $1.3 million reduction in the liability for retiree medical benefits. Excluding this reduction, year-to-date 2008 noninterest expense declined $2.7 million. The remainder of the year-to-date 2008 decline was primarily due to lower salaries, benefits, data processing, professional fees, and marketing costs.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense was $2.6 million and the effective tax rate was 31.18% for the third quarter of 2008, compared with income tax expense of $4.2 million and an effective tax rate of 33.46% for the third quarter of 2007. Income tax expense was $10.0 million and the effective tax rate was 32.46% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with income tax expense of $12.4 million and an effective tax rate of 33.14% for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2007.

LOANS

As previously discussed, late in the third quarter, First Financial securitized $58.5 million in residential mortgage loans into agency guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. The assets remain on the balance sheet, but are now accounted for as investment securities available-for-sale rather than residential real estate loans. This transaction had an immaterial impact on the average loan balances for the third quarter and year-to-date 2008.

Overall declines in certain period-end and average loans are a result of the company’s 2005 decision to shift away from certain consumer-based lending activities. As a result, the residential real estate and indirect installment loan portfolios have declined $234.2 million and $220.0 million, respectively.

Third Quarter 2008 versus Second Quarter 2008

§ Average total loans increased $62.3 million, or 9.4% on an annualized basis.

§ Average commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans increased $77.8 million, or 17.9% on an annualized basis.

Third Quarter 2008 versus Third Quarter 2007

§ Average total loans increased $133.5 million, or 5.2%.

§ Average commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans increased $221.8 million, or 14.0%.

Year-to-Date 2008 versus Year-to-Date 2007

§ Average total loans increased $119.3 million, or 4.7%.

§ Average commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans increased $223.5 million, or 14.8%.

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INVESTMENTS

During the second quarter of 2008, First Financial began to increase the size of its investment portfolio through the purchase of highly-rated agency pass-through mortgage-backed securities. Approximately $68.0 million of securities were added during the third quarter of 2008, bringing the total additions for the year to approximately $189.5 million. The investment portfolio as a percent of total assets remains low relative to peers. The company continues to review various portfolio strategies that may increase the size of its investment portfolio and its absolute level of earnings, while balancing capital and liquidity targets. Among other factors, the portfolio selection criteria avoids securities backed by sub-prime assets and also those containing assets that would give rise to material geographic concentrations. At September 30, 2008, First Financial held approximately 72.9% of its available-for-sale securities in mortgage related instruments, substantially all of which are held in highly rated agency pass-through residential mortgage instruments.

Securities available-for-sale were $492.6 million at September 30, 2008, compared with $307.9 million at September 30, 2007, and $421.7 million at June 30, 2008. The combined investment portfolio was 15.2% and 10.4% of total assets at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 13.5% of total assets at June 30, 2008.

The company recorded as a component of equity, in accumulated other comprehensive income, an unrealized gain in the investment portfolio of approximately $0.5 million at September 30, 2008, compared with an unrealized loss of $0.9 million at June 30, 2008, and an unrealized loss of $1.3 million at September 30, 2007.

In the first quarter of 2008, First Financial adopted FASB Statement No. 159 (SFAS No. 159), “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” The company applied the fair value option to its equity securities of government sponsored entities (“GSE”), specifically 200,000 FHLMC perpetual preferred series V shares; and these shares are classified as trading assets. Third quarter 2008 financial results included a $3.4 million loss related to the company’s investment of these securities. As previously mentioned, this loss is a result of the decline in market value of the shares following the September 7, 2008 announcement by the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FHFA, was placing FHLMC under conservatorship and would eliminate the dividends on its common and preferred stock. The fair value accounting treatment discussed above requires First Financial to recognize in its income statement both the market value increases and decreases in future periods.

DEPOSITS & FUNDING

Third Quarter 2008 versus Second Quarter 2008

§ Average total deposits declined $12.7 million, or 1.8% on an annualized basis.

§ Average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $8.3 million, or 8.3% on an annualized basis.

§ Average transaction account balances increased $14.2 million, or 4.7% on an annualized basis.

§ Average total interest-bearing deposits declined $20.9 million, or 3.5%, on an annualized basis.

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Third Quarter 2008 versus Third Quarter 2007

§ Average total deposits declined $53.8 million, or 1.9%.

§ Average noninterest-bearing deposits increased $17.0 million, or 4.4%.

§ Average transaction account balances increased $2.8 million, or 0.2%.

§ Average total interest-bearing deposits declined $70.8 million, or 2.9%.

Year-to-Date 2008 versus Year-to-Date 2007

§ Average total deposits declined $14.8 million, or 0.5%.

§ Average noninterest-bearing deposits declined $5.3 million, or 1.3%.

§ Average transaction account balances increased $22.4 million, or 1.9%.

§ Average total interest-bearing deposits declined $9.5 million, or 0.4%.

Total deposit balances, both average and period-end, declined on a linked-quarter and year-over-year basis. Contributing significantly to this decline was a decrease in average total interest-bearing deposits primarily due to the planned runoff of public funds and wholesale deposits, which in the third quarter of 2008, declined by approximately $31.0 million from the third quarter of 2007.

For most of this year, First Financial has maintained a strategy of rational deposit pricing aimed at stabilizing the net interest margin in a very competitive landscape. The strategy has been successful as outflows of deposits have been replaced with less expensive wholesale instruments that were used to help fund asset generation.

Growth in average transaction accounts has continued, and at the end of the third quarter of 2008, the company instituted pricing initiatives designed to retain and grow retail deposits. Some of the new initiatives included extending CD offerings with maturities of one year and beyond, and offering rate-competitive core deposit products in an effort to more appropriately manage the company’s overall asset/liability position.

As a result of increasing the size of the investment portfolio over the past several quarters, continued strong loan demand, and the net deposit outflows recently experienced, First Financial executed $115 million of term debt instruments during the third quarter of 2008. Utilizing a combination of its funding sources from the pledging of investment securities and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), this funding has multiple maturities between two and three years, and a weighted average cost of 3.63%. This strategy was primarily executed to address increased industry-wide liquidity risk.

2008 Outlook

Updated full year 2008 performance expectations remain relatively unchanged. Average loan growth is expected to be in the low single-digits, while average total deposits are expected to experience a revised mid-single-digit decline in balances, with transaction deposits growing at a low single-digit rate, and time deposits declining at a faster pace. Total net interest income is expected to stabilize for the remainder of 2008, and the full-year net interest margin expectation remains between 3.67% and 3.75%. Previous expectations for margin recovery have been tempered by recent market rate declines. Full-year 2008 net charge-off levels are unchanged at an expected 30 and 40 basis points of average loans, though likely at the high end of this range. First Financial does expect modest noninterest income growth in selected areas, and little to no growth in noninterest expense. A material change in economic conditions would have an impact on the company’s expected 2008 performance. Please refer to the forward-looking statement found at the end of this release.

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Conference Call & Webcast

As previously announced, a conference call and webcast to discuss First Financial’s third quarter and year-to-date 2008 financial and operational results will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. ET, with Claude E. Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer, and J. Franklin Hall, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. To access the conference call, dial 800-860-2442 (passcode not required). The webcast will be available at the Investor Relations section of First Financial’s website (www.bankatfirst.com). Participants should join the live conference call and webcast 5 to 10 minutes before its scheduled start. A replay of the call and webcast will be available approximately one hour after the live call has ended. To access the replay, dial 877-344-7529 (passcode 424 614).

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, notes and tables in First Financial Bancorp’s most recent Form 10-Q filing dated June 30, 2008, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Management’s analysis contains 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, management’s ability to effectively execute its business plan; the risk that the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which First Financial conducts operations may be different from expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on First Financial’s loan portfolio and allowance for loan and lease losses; the ability of financial institutions to access sources of liquidity at a reasonable cost; the effects of and changes in policies and laws of regulatory agencies, inflation, and interest rates; technology changes; mergers and acquisitions; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices; adverse changes in the securities markets; the cost and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation; and First Financial’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. For further discussion of certain factors that may cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results, refer to the 2007 Form 10-K and other public documents filed with the SEC. These documents are available at no cost within the investor relations section of First Financial’s website at www.bankatfirst.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

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About First Financial Bancorp

First Financial Bancorp is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company with $3.5 billion in assets. Its banking subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., founded in 1863, provides retail and commercial banking products and services, and investment and insurance products through its 80 retail banking locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The bank’s wealth management division, First Financial Wealth Resource Group, provides investment management, traditional trust, brokerage, private banking, and insurance services, and has approximately $1.9 billion in assets under management. Additional information about the company, including its products, services, and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.

Additional Information

Investors/Analysts Patti Forsythe Vice President, Investor Relations 513-979-5837 patti.forsythe@bankatfirst.com Media Cheryl Lipp First Vice President, Marketing Director 513-979-5797 cheryl.lipp@bankatfirst.com

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FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share)

(Unaudited)

		Three months ended,															Nine months ended
		Sep. 30,			Jun. 30,			Mar. 31,			Dec. 31,			Sep. 30,			Sep. 30,
		2008			2008			2008			2007			2007			2008			2007
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net interest income		$	29,410		$	28,414		$	28,249		$	29,079		$	29,417		$	86,073		$	89,421
Net income		$	5,732		$	7,808		$	7,338		$	10,701		$	8,373		$	20,878		$	24,980
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.15		$	0.21		$	0.20		$	0.29		$	0.22		$	0.56		$	0.64
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.15		$	0.21		$	0.20		$	0.29		$	0.22		$	0.56		$	0.64
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.17		$	0.17		$	0.17		$	0.17		$	0.16		$	0.51		$	0.48
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
Return on average assets			0.66	%		0.93	%		0.89	%		1.27	%		1.00	%		0.83	%		1.01	%
Return on average shareholders' equity			8.24	%		11.26	%		10.66	%		15.37	%		12.03	%		10.05	%		11.86	%
Return on average tangible shareholders' equity			9.21	%		12.57	%		11.91	%		17.17	%		13.44	%		11.23	%		13.23	%
Net interest margin			3.68	%		3.72	%		3.78	%		3.79	%		3.88	%		3.72	%		3.99	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.73	%		3.78	%		3.85	%		3.86	%		3.95	%		3.79	%		4.07	%
Average shareholders' equity to average assets			7.96	%		8.29	%		8.39	%		8.27	%		8.34	%		8.21	%		8.53	%
Tier 1 Ratio (2)			9.80	%		9.99	%		10.20	%		10.29	%		10.18	%		9.80	%		10.18	%
Total Capital Ratio (2)			10.89	%		11.06	%		11.31	%		11.38	%		11.27	%		10.89	%		11.27	%
Leverage Ratio (2)			7.95	%		8.21	%		8.32	%		8.26	%		8.21	%		7.95	%		8.21	%
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS
Loans (3)		$	2,709,629		$	2,648,327		$	2,596,483		$	2,588,985		$	2,576,308		$	2,651,692		$	2,532,715
Investment securities			467,524			422,463			343,553			350,346			349,686			411,967			360,316
Other earning assets			3,137			4,095			65,799			106,922			81,669			24,266			103,236
Total earning assets		$	3,180,290		$	3,074,885		$	3,005,835		$	3,046,253		$	3,007,663		$	3,087,925		$	2,996,267
Total assets		$	3,476,648		$	3,361,649		$	3,298,663		$	3,338,828		$	3,309,800		$	3,379,343		$	3,300,339
Noninterest-bearing deposits		$	402,604		$	394,352		$	379,240		$	399,304		$	385,653		$	392,104		$	397,451
Interest-bearing deposits			2,380,037			2,400,940			2,453,028			2,461,464			2,450,830			2,411,221			2,420,715
Total deposits		$	2,782,641		$	2,795,292		$	2,832,268		$	2,860,768		$	2,836,483		$	2,803,325		$	2,818,166
Borrowings		$	394,708		$	256,409		$	157,899		$	177,876		$	176,528		$	270,128		$	178,519
Shareholders' equity		$	276,594		$	278,803		$	276,815		$	276,269		$	276,183		$	277,401		$	281,625
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Allowance to ending loans			1.14	%		1.11	%		1.14	%		1.12	%		1.12	%		1.14	%		1.12	%
Allowance to nonaccrual loans			219.47	%		199.70	%		202.29	%		205.89	%		221.70	%		219.47	%		221.70	%
Allowance to nonperforming loans			216.22	%		192.50	%		194.83	%		197.94	%		212.42	%		216.22	%		212.42	%
Nonperforming loans to total loans			0.53	%		0.57	%		0.58	%		0.56	%		0.53	%		0.53	%		0.53	%
Nonperforming assets to ending loans, plus OREO			0.70	%		0.71	%		0.67	%		0.67	%		0.65	%		0.70	%		0.65	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets			0.53	%		0.55	%		0.53	%		0.51	%		0.51	%		0.53	%		0.51	%
Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized)			0.36	%		0.40	%		0.40	%		0.26	%		0.23	%		0.39	%		0.23	%

⁽¹⁾ The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest margin and net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provide useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.

⁽²⁾ September 30, 2008 regulatory capital ratios are preliminary.

⁽³⁾ Includes loans held for sale.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Three months ended,									Nine months ended,
		Sep. 30,									Sep. 30,
		2008			2007			% Change			2008			2007			% Change
Interest income
Loans, including fees		$	39,754		$	46,606			(14.7	)%	$	122,121		$	136,961			(10.8	)%
Investment securities
Taxable			5,349			3,667			45.9	%		13,257			11,320			17.1	%
Tax-exempt			631			863			(26.9	)%		2,214			2,683			(17.5	)%
Total investment securities interest			5,980			4,530			32.0	%		15,471			14,003			10.5	%
Federal funds sold			22			1,048			(97.9	)%		627			4,045			(84.5	)%
Total interest income			45,756			52,184			(12.3	)%		138,219			155,009			(10.8	)%
Interest expense
Deposits			13,608			20,528			(33.7	)%		45,982			58,946			(22.0	)%
Short-term borrowings			1,720			1,041			65.2	%		3,642			3,021			20.6	%
Long-term borrowings			707			532			32.9	%		1,497			1,633			(8.3	)%
Subordinated debentures and capital securities			311			666			(53.3	)%		1,025			1,988			(48.4	)%
Total interest expense			16,346			22,767			(28.2	)%		52,146			65,588			(20.5	)%
Net interest income			29,410			29,417			(0.0	)%		86,073			89,421			(3.7	)%
Provision for loan and lease losses			3,219			2,558			25.8	%		8,935			6,012			48.6	%
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses			26,191			26,859			(2.5	)%		77,138			83,409			(7.5	)%
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts			5,348			5,396			(0.9	)%		14,906			15,436			(3.4	)%
Trust and wealth management fees			4,390			4,721			(7.0	)%		13,666			13,407			1.9	%
Bankcard income			1,405			1,422			(1.2	)%		4,196			4,086			2.7	%
Net gains from sales of loans			376			203			85.2	%		783			549			42.6	%
Gain on sale of mortgage servicing rights			0			0			N/M			0			1,061			(100.0	)%
Gains on sales of investment securities			0			367			(100.0	)%		1,585			367			331.9	%
(Loss) income on preferred securities			(3,400	)		0			N/M			(3,601	)		0			N/M
Other			2,359			2,341			0.8	%		7,566			8,420			(10.1	)%
Total noninterest income			10,478			14,450			(27.5	)%		39,101			43,326			(9.8	)%
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			16,879			17,288			(2.4	)%		49,847			53,383			(6.6	)%
Net occupancy			2,538			2,728			(7.0	)%		8,000			8,019			(0.2	)%
Furniture and equipment			1,690			1,684			0.4	%		4,960			5,019			(1.2	)%
Data processing			791			1,010			(21.7	)%		2,398			2,673			(10.3	)%
Marketing			622			407			52.8	%		1,613			1,918			(15.9	)%
Communication			601			664			(9.5	)%		2,155			2,327			(7.4	)%
Professional services			729			964			(24.4	)%		2,551			3,033			(15.9	)%
Other			4,490			3,980			12.8	%		13,805			13,003			6.2	%
Total noninterest expenses			28,340			28,725			(1.3	)%		85,329			89,375			(4.5	)%
Income before income taxes			8,329			12,584			(33.8	)%		30,910			37,360			(17.3	)%
Income tax expense			2,597			4,211			(38.3	)%		10,032			12,380			(19.0	)%
Net income		$	5,732		$	8,373			(31.5	)%	$	20,878		$	24,980			(16.4	)%
ADDITIONAL DATA
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.15		$	0.22					$	0.56		$	0.64
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.15		$	0.22					$	0.56		$	0.64
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.17		$	0.16					$	0.51		$	0.48
Book value per common share		$	7.40		$	7.26					$	7.40		$	7.26
Return on average assets			0.66	%		1.00	%					0.83	%		1.01	%
Return on average shareholders' equity			8.24	%		12.03	%					10.05	%		11.86	%
Interest income		$	45,756		$	52,184			(12.3	)%	$	138,219		$	155,009			(10.8	)%
Tax equivalent adjustment			424			564			(24.8	)%		1,448			1,720			(15.8	)%
Interest income - tax equivalent			46,180			52,748			(12.5	)%		139,667			156,729			(10.9	)%
Interest expense			16,346			22,767			(28.2	)%		52,146			65,588			(20.5	)%
Net interest income - tax equivalent		$	29,834		$	29,981			(0.5	)%	$	87,521		$	91,141			(4.0	)%
Net interest margin			3.68	%		3.88	%					3.72	%		3.99	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.73	%		3.95	%					3.79	%		4.07	%
Full-time equivalent employees			1,052			1,078						1,052			1,078

⁽¹⁾ The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.

N/M = Not meaningful.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		2008
		Third			Second			First						% Change
		Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Year-to-Date			Linked Qtr.
Interest income
Loans, including fees		$	39,754		$	39,646		$	42,721		$	122,121			0.3	%
Investment securities
Taxable			5,349			4,387			3,521			13,257			21.9	%
Tax-exempt			631			792			791			2,214			(20.3	)%
Total investment securities interest			5,980			5,179			4,312			15,471			15.5	%
Federal funds sold			22			40			565			627			(45.0	)%
Total interest income			45,756			44,865			47,598			138,219			2.0	%
Interest expense
Deposits			13,608			14,635			17,739			45,982			(7.0	)%
Short-term borrowings			1,720			1,130			792			3,642			52.2	%
Long-term borrowings			707			384			406			1,497			84.1	%
Subordinated debentures and capital securities			311			302			412			1,025			3.0	%
Total interest expense			16,346			16,451			19,349			52,146			(0.6	)%
Net interest income			29,410			28,414			28,249			86,073			3.5	%
Provision for loan and lease losses			3,219			2,493			3,223			8,935			29.1	%
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses			26,191			25,921			25,026			77,138			1.0	%
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts			5,348			4,951			4,607			14,906			8.0	%
Trust and wealth management fees			4,390			4,654			4,622			13,666			(5.7	)%
Bankcard income			1,405			1,493			1,298			4,196			(5.9	)%
Net gains from sales of loans			376			188			219			783			100.0	%
Gains on sales of investment securities			0			0			1,585			1,585			N/M
(Loss) income on preferred securities			(3,400	)		(221	)		20			(3,601	)		1438.5	%
Other			2,359			2,683			2,524			7,566			(12.1	)%
Total noninterest income			10,478			13,748			14,875			39,101			(23.8	)%
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			16,879			15,895			17,073			49,847			6.2	%
Net occupancy			2,538			2,510			2,952			8,000			1.1	%
Furniture and equipment			1,690			1,617			1,653			4,960			4.5	%
Data processing			791			814			793			2,398			(2.8	)%
Marketing			622			474			517			1,613			31.2	%
Communication			601			749			805			2,155			(19.8	)%
Professional services			729			1,061			761			2,551			(31.3	)%
Other			4,490			4,849			4,466			13,805			(7.4	)%
Total noninterest expenses			28,340			27,969			29,020			85,329			1.3	%
Income before income taxes			8,329			11,700			10,881			30,910			(28.8	)%
Income tax expense			2,597			3,892			3,543			10,032			(33.3	)%
Net income		$	5,732		$	7,808		$	7,338		$	20,878			(26.6	)%
ADDITIONAL DATA
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.15		$	0.21		$	0.20		$	0.56
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.15		$	0.21		$	0.20		$	0.56
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.17		$	0.17		$	0.17		$	0.51
Book value per common share		$	7.40		$	7.34		$	7.41		$	7.40
Return on average assets			0.66	%		0.93	%		0.89	%		0.83	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity			8.24	%		11.26	%		10.66	%		10.05	%
Interest income		$	45,756		$	44,865		$	47,598		$	138,219			2.0	%
Tax equivalent adjustment			424			510			514			1,448			(16.9	)%
Interest income - tax equivalent			46,180			45,375			48,112			139,667			1.8	%
Interest expense			16,346			16,451			19,349			52,146			(0.6	)%
Net interest income - tax equivalent		$	29,834		$	28,924		$	28,763		$	87,521			3.1	%
Net interest margin			3.68	%		3.72	%		3.78	%		3.72	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.73	%		3.78	%		3.85	%		3.79	%
Full-time equivalent employees			1,052			1,058			1,056			1,052

⁽¹⁾ The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.

N/M = Not meaningful.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		2007
		Fourth			Third			Second			First			Full
		Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Year
Interest income
Loans, including fees		$	45,709		$	46,606		$	45,291		$	45,064		$	182,670
Investment securities
Taxable			3,641			3,667			3,762			3,891			14,961
Tax-exempt			859			863			911			909			3,542
Total investment securities interest			4,500			4,530			4,673			4,800			18,503
Federal funds sold			1,224			1,048			1,241			1,756			5,269
Total interest income			51,433			52,184			51,205			51,620			206,442
Interest expense
Deposits			20,238			20,528			19,409			19,009			79,184
Short-term borrowings			1,211			1,041			984			996			4,232
Long-term borrowings			466			532			542			559			2,099
Subordinated debentures and capital securities			439			666			669			653			2,427
Total interest expense			22,354			22,767			21,604			21,217			87,942
Net interest income			29,079			29,417			29,601			30,403			118,500
Provision for loan and lease losses			1,640			2,558			2,098			1,356			7,652
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses			27,439			26,859			27,503			29,047			110,848
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts			5,330			5,396			5,296			4,744			20,766
Trust and wealth management fees			4,989			4,721			4,526			4,160			18,396
Bankcard income			1,165			1,422			1,424			1,240			5,251
Net gains from sales of loans			295			203			184			162			844
Gain on sale of merchant payment processing portfolio			5,501			0			0			0			5,501
Gain on sale of mortgage servicing rights			0			0			0			1,061			1,061
Gains on sales of investment securities			0			367			0			0			367
Other			2,982			2,341			2,702			3,377			11,402
Total noninterest income			20,262			14,450			14,132			14,744			63,588
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			16,508			17,288			17,134			18,961			69,891
Pension settlement charges			2,222			0			0			0			2,222
Net occupancy			2,842			2,728			2,484			2,807			10,861
Furniture and equipment			1,742			1,684			1,708			1,627			6,761
Data processing			825			1,010			818			845			3,498
Marketing			523			407			642			869			2,441
Communication			903			664			798			865			3,230
Professional services			1,109			964			1,063			1,006			4,142
Other			4,698			3,980			4,793			4,230			17,701
Total noninterest expenses			31,372			28,725			29,440			31,210			120,747
Income before income taxes			16,329			12,584			12,195			12,581			53,689
Income tax expense			5,628			4,211			4,023			4,146			18,008
Net income		$	10,701		$	8,373		$	8,172		$	8,435		$	35,681
ADDITIONAL DATA
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.29		$	0.22		$	0.21		$	0.22		$	0.93
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.29		$	0.22		$	0.21		$	0.22		$	0.93
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.17		$	0.16		$	0.16		$	0.16		$	0.65
Book value per common share		$	7.40		$	7.26		$	7.18		$	7.29		$	7.40
Return on average assets			1.27	%		1.00	%		1.00	%		1.04	%		1.08	%
Return on average shareholders' equity			15.37	%		12.03	%		11.61	%		11.94	%		12.73	%
Interest income		$	51,433		$	52,184		$	51,205		$	51,620		$	206,442
Tax equivalent adjustment			561			564			580			576			2,281
Interest income - tax equivalent			51,994			52,748			51,785			52,196			208,723
Interest expense			22,354			22,767			21,604			21,217			87,942
Net interest income - tax equivalent		$	29,640		$	29,981		$	30,181		$	30,979		$	120,781
Net interest margin			3.79	%		3.88	%		3.97	%		4.12	%		3.94	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.86	%		3.95	%		4.05	%		4.20	%		4.01	%
Full-time equivalent employees			1,057			1,078			1,158			1,166			1,057

⁽¹⁾ The tax equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and assumes a 35% tax rate. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis. Therefore, management believes, these measures provided useful information to investors by allowing them to make peer comparisons. Management also uses these measures to make peer comparisons.

N/M = Not meaningful.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Sep. 30,			Jun. 30,			Mar. 31,			Dec. 31,			Sep. 30,			% Change			% Change
		2008			2008			2008			2007			2007			Linked Qtr.			Comparable Qtr.
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	90,341		$	106,248		$	102,246		$	106,224		$	92,414			(15.0	)%		(2.2	)%
Federal funds sold			0			4,005			2,943			106,990			71,700			(100.0	)%		(100.0	)%
Investment securities trading			198			3,598			3,820			0			0			(94.5	)%		N/M
Investment securities available-for-sale			492,554			421,697			345,145			306,928			307,908			16.8	%		60.0	%
Investment securities held-to-maturity			5,037			5,316			5,414			5,639			5,467			(5.2	)%		(7.9	)%
Other investments			34,976			34,632			34,293			33,969			33,969			1.0	%		3.0	%
Loans held for sale			2,437			2,228			4,108			1,515			5,763			9.4	%		(57.7	)%
Loans
Commercial			819,430			814,779			789,922			785,143			774,059			0.6	%		5.9	%
Real estate - construction			203,809			186,178			172,737			151,432			155,495			9.5	%		31.1	%
Real estate - commercial			814,578			769,555			726,397			706,409			684,931			5.9	%		18.9	%
Real estate - residential			424,902			499,002			519,790			539,332			556,255			(14.8	)%		(23.6	)%
Installment			106,456			115,575			126,623			138,895			149,881			(7.9	)%		(29.0	)%
Home equity			276,943			263,063			254,200			250,888			245,853			5.3	%		12.6	%
Credit card			27,047			26,399			25,528			26,610			24,904			2.5	%		8.6	%
Lease financing			92			111			258			378			500			(17.1	)%		(81.6	)%
Total loans			2,673,257			2,674,662			2,615,455			2,599,087			2,591,878			(0.1	)%		3.1	%
Less
Allowance for loan and lease losses			30,353			29,580			29,718			29,057			29,136			2.6	%		4.2	%
Net loans			2,642,904			2,645,082			2,585,737			2,570,030			2,562,742			(0.1	)%		3.1	%
Premises and equipment			81,989			79,380			78,585			78,994			78,214			3.3	%		4.8	%
Goodwill			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261			0.0	%		0.0	%
Other intangibles			872			641			659			698			828			36.0	%		5.3	%
Accrued interest and other assets			132,107			128,874			132,054			130,068			141,890			2.5	%		(6.9	)%
Total Assets		$	3,511,676		$	3,459,962		$	3,323,265		$	3,369,316		$	3,329,156			1.5	%		5.5	%
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Interest-bearing		$	580,417		$	575,236		$	610,154		$	603,870		$	611,764			0.9	%		(5.1	)%
Savings			608,438			615,613			617,059			596,636			595,664			(1.2	)%		2.1	%
Time			1,118,511			1,167,024			1,206,750			1,227,954			1,253,383			(4.2	)%		(10.8	)%
Total interest-bearing deposits			2,307,366			2,357,873			2,433,963			2,428,460			2,460,811			(2.1	)%		(6.2	)%
Noninterest-bearing			404,315			419,045			405,015			465,731			389,070			(3.5	)%		3.9	%
Total deposits			2,711,681			2,776,918			2,838,978			2,894,191			2,849,881			(2.3	)%		(4.8	)%
Short-term borrowings
Federal funds purchased and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase			45,495			25,932			27,320			26,289			26,749			75.4	%		70.1	%
Federal Home Loan Bank			215,000			237,900			6,500			0			0			(9.6	)%		N/M
Other			53,000			54,000			53,000			72,000			74,500			(1.9	)%		(28.9	)%
Total short-term borrowings			313,495			317,832			86,820			98,289			101,249			(1.4	)%		209.6	%
Long-term debt			152,568			41,263			42,380			45,896			55,317			269.7	%		175.8	%
Other long-term debt			20,620			20,620			20,620			20,620			20,620			0.0	%		0.0	%
Accrued interest and other liabilities			36,092			28,039			56,698			33,737			30,386			28.7	%		18.8	%
Total Liabilities			3,234,456			3,184,672			3,045,496			3,092,733			3,057,453			1.6	%		5.8	%
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock			391,249			390,545			389,986			391,962			391,355			0.2	%		(0.0	)%
Retained earnings			80,632			81,263			79,818			82,093			77,745			(0.8	)%		3.7	%
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(6,285	)		(8,236	)		(3,800	)		(7,127	)		(7,569	)		(23.7	)%		(17.0	)%
Treasury stock, at cost			(188,376	)		(188,282	)		(188,235	)		(190,345	)		(189,828	)		0.0	%		(0.8	)%
Total Shareholders' Equity			277,220			275,290			277,769			276,583			271,703			0.7	%		2.0	%
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		$	3,511,676		$	3,459,962		$	3,323,265		$	3,369,316		$	3,329,156			1.5	%		5.5	%

N/M = Not meaningful.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Quarterly Averages															Year-to-Date Averages
		Sep. 30,			Jun. 30,			Mar. 31,			Dec. 31,			Sep. 30,			Sep. 30,
		2008			2008			2008			2007			2007			2008			2007
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	89,498		$	81,329		$	86,879		$	84,771		$	85,576		$	85,915		$	91,468
Federal funds sold			3,137			4,095			65,799			106,922			81,669			24,266			103,236
Investment securities			467,524			422,463			345,303			350,346			349,686			411,967			360,316
Loans held for sale			2,080			3,034			3,122			3,689			2,245			2,743			3,050
Loans
Commercial			819,199			805,122			781,358			776,286			766,028			801,956			726,753
Real estate - construction			192,731			179,078			162,008			154,208			139,291			177,993			119,446
Real estate - commercial			797,143			747,077			708,779			693,038			681,920			751,168			661,394
Real estate - residential			490,089			508,837			530,567			542,204			566,618			509,759			591,923
Installment			110,933			121,000			132,876			145,787			155,478			121,564			171,750
Home equity			270,659			257,954			251,706			248,071			239,585			260,145			233,598
Credit card			26,692			26,043			25,745			25,271			24,586			26,162			24,116
Lease financing			103			182			322			431			557			202			685
Total loans			2,707,549			2,645,293			2,593,361			2,585,296			2,574,063			2,648,949			2,529,665
Less
Allowance for loan and lease losses			29,739			29,248			28,860			29,503			28,278			29,284			27,845
Net loans			2,677,810			2,616,045			2,564,501			2,555,793			2,545,785			2,619,665			2,501,820
Premises and equipment			81,000			78,933			78,969			78,992			79,102			79,639			79,468
Goodwill			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261			28,261
Other intangibles			639			652			680			749			915			657			2,475
Accrued interest and other assets			126,699			126,837			125,149			129,305			136,561			126,230			130,245
Total Assets		$	3,476,648		$	3,361,649		$	3,298,663		$	3,338,828		$	3,309,800		$	3,379,343		$	3,300,339
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Interest-bearing		$	609,992		$	590,464		$	623,206		$	607,009		$	632,890		$	607,895		$	628,536
Savings			611,713			617,029			610,449			604,063			586,065			613,059			569,991
Time			1,158,332			1,193,447			1,219,373			1,250,392			1,231,875			1,190,267			1,222,188
Total interest-bearing deposits			2,380,037			2,400,940			2,453,028			2,461,464			2,450,830			2,411,221			2,420,715
Noninterest-bearing			402,604			394,352			379,240			399,304			385,653			392,104			397,451
Total deposits			2,782,641			2,795,292			2,832,268			2,860,768			2,836,483			2,803,325			2,818,166
Short-term borrowings
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase			36,476			25,771			26,261			28,952			29,385			29,528			36,625
Federal Home Loan Bank			206,741			114,654			614			0			0			107,699			0
Other			53,836			53,758			66,154			77,772			58,914			57,901			51,361
Total short-term borrowings			297,053			194,183			93,029			106,724			88,299			195,128			87,986
Long-term debt			77,035			41,606			44,250			50,532			57,860			54,380			59,792
Other long-term debt			20,620			20,620			20,620			20,620			30,369			20,620			30,741
Total borrowed funds			394,708			256,409			157,899			177,876			176,528			270,128			178,519
Accrued interest and other liabilities			22,705			31,145			31,681			23,915			20,606			28,489			22,029
Total Liabilities			3,200,054			3,082,846			3,021,848			3,062,559			3,033,617			3,101,942			3,018,714
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock			390,861			390,237			391,079			391,606			390,898			390,726			391,773
Retained earnings			82,636			81,045			79,951			81,615			77,428			81,216			75,335
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(8,594	)		(4,211	)		(4,977	)		(6,670	)		(15,097	)		(5,937	)		(14,192	)
Treasury stock, at cost			(188,309	)		(188,268	)		(189,238	)		(190,282	)		(177,046	)		(188,604	)		(171,291	)
Total Shareholders' Equity			276,594			278,803			276,815			276,269			276,183			277,401			281,625
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		$	3,476,648		$	3,361,649		$	3,298,663		$	3,338,828		$	3,309,800		$	3,379,343		$	3,300,339

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

NET INTEREST MARGIN RATE / VOLUME ANALYSIS (1)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Quarterly Averages																		Year-to-Date Averages
		Sep. 30, 2008						Jun. 30, 2008						Sep. 30, 2007						Sep. 30, 2008						Sep. 30, 2007
		Balance			Yield			Balance			Yield			Balance			Yield			Balance			Yield			Balance			Yield
Earning assets
Investment securities		$	467,524			5.09	%	$	422,463			4.93	%	$	349,686			5.14	%	$	411,967			5.02	%	$	360,316			5.20	%
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks
Federal funds sold			3,137			2.79	%		4,095			3.93	%		81,669			5.09	%		24,266			3.45	%		103,236			5.24	%
Gross loans (2)			2,709,629			5.84	%		2,648,327			6.02	%		2,576,308			7.18	%		2,651,692			6.15	%		2,532,715			7.23	%
Total earning assets			3,180,290			5.72	%		3,074,885			5.87	%		3,007,663			6.88	%		3,087,925			5.98	%		2,996,267			6.92	%
Nonearning assets
Allowance for loan and lease losses			(29,739	)					(29,248	)					(28,278	)					(29,284	)					(27,845	)
Cash and due from banks			89,498						81,329						85,576						85,915						91,468
Accrued interest and other assets			236,599						234,683						244,839						234,787						240,449
Total assets		$	3,476,648					$	3,361,649					$	3,309,800					$	3,379,343					$	3,300,339
Interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing deposits		$	2,380,037			2.27	%	$	2,400,940			2.45	%	$	2,450,830			3.32	%	$	2,411,221			2.55	%	$	2,420,715			3.26	%
Borrowed funds
Short-term borrowings			297,053			2.30	%		194,183			2.34	%		88,299			4.68	%		195,128			2.49	%		87,986			4.59	%
Long-term debt			77,035			3.65	%		41,606			3.71	%		57,860			3.65	%		54,380			3.68	%		59,792			3.65	%
Other long-term debt			20,620			6.00	%		20,620			5.89	%		30,369			8.70	%		20,620			6.64	%		30,741			8.65	%
Total borrowed funds			394,708			2.76	%		256,409			2.85	%		176,528			5.03	%		270,128			3.05	%		178,519			4.97	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities			2,774,745			2.34	%		2,657,349			2.49	%		2,627,358			3.44	%		2,681,349			2.60	%		2,599,234			3.37	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits			402,604						394,352						385,653						392,104						397,451
Other liabilities			22,705						31,145						20,606						28,489						22,029
Shareholders' equity			276,594						278,803						276,183						277,401						281,625
Total liabilities & shareholders' equity		$	3,476,648					$	3,361,649					$	3,309,800					$	3,379,343					$	3,300,339
Net interest income (1)		$	29,410					$	28,414					$	29,417					$	86,073					$	89,421
Net interest spread (1)						3.38	%					3.38	%					3.44	%					3.38	%					3.55	%
Net interest margin (1)						3.68	%					3.72	%					3.88	%					3.72	%					3.99	%

⁽¹⁾ Not tax equivalent.

⁽²⁾ Loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans are both included in gross loans.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

NET INTEREST MARGIN RATE / VOLUME ANALYSIS (1)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Linked Qtr. Income Variance									Comparable Qtr. Income Variance									Year-to-Date Income Variance
		Rate			Volume			Total			Rate			Volume			Total			Rate			Volume			Total
Earning assets
Investment securities		$	166		$	635		$	801		$	(57	)	$	1,507		$	1,450			(472	)	$	1,940		$	1,468
Federal funds sold			(12	)		(6	)		(18	)		(475	)		(551	)		(1,026	)		(1,378	)		(2,040	)		(3,418	)
Gross loans (2)			(1,214	)		1,322			108			(8,808	)		1,956			(6,852	)		(20,319	)		5,479			(14,840	)
Total earning assets			(1,060	)		1,951			891			(9,340	)		2,912			(6,428	)		(22,169	)		5,379			(16,790	)
Interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing deposits		$	(1,057	)	$	30		$	(1,027	)	$	(6,515	)	$	(405	)	$	(6,920	)	$	(12,783	)	$	(181	)	$	(12,964	)
Borrowed funds
Short-term borrowings			(18	)		608			590			(530	)		1,209			679			(1,379	)		2,000			621
Long-term debt			(6	)		329			323			(1	)		176			175			13			(149	)		(136	)
Other long-term debt			6			3			9			(208	)		(147	)		(355	)		(460	)		(503	)		(963	)
Total borrowed funds			(18	)		940			922			(739	)		1,238			499			(1,826	)		1,348			(478	)
Total interest-bearing liabilities			(1,075	)		970			(105	)		(7,254	)		833			(6,421	)		(14,609	)		1,167			(13,442	)
Net interest income (1)		$	15		$	981		$	996		$	(2,086	)	$	2,079		$	(7	)	$	(7,560	)	$	4,212		$	(3,348	)
Net interest spread (1)
Net interest margin (1)

⁽¹⁾ Not tax equivalent.

⁽²⁾ Loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans are both included in gross loans.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CREDIT QUALITY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Sep. 30,			Jun. 30,			Mar. 31,			Dec. 31,			Sep. 30,
		2008			2008			2008			2007			2007
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSS ACTIVITY
Balance at beginning of period		$	29,580		$	29,718		$	29,057		$	29,136		$	28,060
Provision for loan and lease losses			3,219			2,493			3,223			1,640			2,558
Gross charge-offs Commercial			1,568			946			545			1,433			1,008
Real estate - commercial			48			589			806			465			76
Real estate - residential			335			227			39			33			49
Installment			424			482			564			522			471
Home equity			135			525			651			285			189
All other			426			426			498			304			304
Total gross charge-offs			2,936			3,195			3,103			3,042			2,097
Recoveries
Commercial			179			166			144			342			145
Real estate - commercial			37			19			3			632			124
Real estate - residential			4			5			11			3			25
Installment			225			246			315			242			263
Home equity			0			30			0			19			12
All other			45			98			68			85			46
Total recoveries			490			564			541			1,323			615
Total net charge-offs			2,446			2,631			2,562			1,719			1,482
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses		$	30,353		$	29,580		$	29,718		$	29,057		$	29,136
NET CHARGE-OFFS TO AVERAGE LOANS AND LEASES (ANNUALIZED)
Commercial			0.67	%		0.39	%		0.21	%		0.56	%		0.45	%
Real estate - commercial			0.01	%		0.31	%		0.46	%		(0.10	)%		(0.03	)%
Real estate - residential			0.27	%		0.18	%		0.02	%		0.02	%		0.02	%
Installment			0.71	%		0.78	%		0.75	%		0.76	%		0.53	%
Home equity			0.20	%		0.77	%		1.04	%		0.43	%		0.29	%
All other			0.69	%		0.64	%		0.92	%		0.48	%		0.62	%
Total net charge-offs			0.36	%		0.40	%		0.40	%		0.26	%		0.23	%
COMPONENTS OF NONPERFORMING LOANS, NONPERFORMING ASSETS, AND UNDERPERFORMING ASSETS
Nonaccrual loans
Commercial		$	5,194		$	5,447		$	3,952		$	2,677		$	3,782
Real estate - commercial			3,361			3,592			4,415			5,965			5,343
Real estate - residential			3,742			4,461			4,529			3,063			2,147
Installment			417			438			544			734			745
Home equity			1,084			866			1,221			1,662			1,117
All other			32			8			30			12			8
Total nonaccrual loans			13,830			14,812			14,691			14,113			13,142
Restructured loans			208			554			562			567			574
Total nonperforming loans			14,038			15,366			15,253			14,680			13,716
Other real estate owned (OREO)			4,610			3,763			2,368			2,636			3,124
Total nonperforming assets			18,648			19,129			17,621			17,316			16,840
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more			241			245			372			313			222
Total underperforming assets		$	18,889		$	19,374		$	17,993		$	17,629		$	17,062
Total classified assets		$	58,284		$	54,511		$	55,302		$	49,372		$	53,997
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Allowance for loan and lease losses to
Nonaccrual loans			219.47	%		199.70	%		202.29	%		205.89	%		221.70	%
Nonperforming loans			216.22	%		192.50	%		194.83	%		197.94	%		212.42	%
Total ending loans			1.14	%		1.11	%		1.14	%		1.12	%		1.12	%
Nonperforming loans to total loans			0.53	%		0.57	%		0.58	%		0.56	%		0.53	%
Nonperforming assets to
Ending loans, plus OREO			0.70	%		0.71	%		0.67	%		0.67	%		0.65	%
Total assets			0.53	%		0.55	%		0.53	%		0.51	%		0.51	%

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CAPITAL ADEQUACY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

																	Nine months ended,
		Sep. 30,			Jun. 30,			Mar. 31,			Dec. 31,			Sep. 30,			Sep. 30,			Sep. 30,
		2008			2008			2008			2007			2007			2008			2007
PER COMMON SHARE
Market Price
High		$	14.80		$	13.88		$	13.81		$	13.89		$	15.12		$	14.80		$	16.76
Low		$	8.10		$	9.20		$	10.19		$	10.12		$	10.76		$	8.10		$	10.76
Close		$	14.60		$	9.20		$	13.45		$	11.40		$	12.78		$	14.60		$	12.78
Average shares outstanding - basic			37,132,864			37,114,451			37,066,754			37,370,618			38,383,228			37,104,793			38,820,545
Average shares outstanding - diluted			37,504,231			37,524,789			37,431,918			37,370,650			38,383,228			37,487,037			38,825,940
Ending shares outstanding			37,476,607			37,483,384			37,488,229			37,367,808			37,405,433			37,476,607			37,405,433
REGULATORY CAPITAL			Preliminary															Preliminary
Tier 1 Capital		$	274,513		$	274,372		$	272,614		$	274,046		$	269,961		$	274,513		$	269,961
Tier 1 Ratio			9.80	%		9.99	%		10.20	%		10.29	%		10.18	%		9.80	%		10.18	%
Total Capital		$	304,866		$	303,952		$	302,332		$	303,103		$	299,097		$	304,866		$	299,097
Total Capital Ratio			10.89	%		11.06	%		11.31	%		11.38	%		11.27	%		10.89	%		11.27	%
Total Capital in excess of minimum requirement		$	80,806		$	84,147		$	88,553		$	90,062		$	86,857		$	80,806		$	86,857
Total Risk-Adjusted Assets		$	2,800,753		$	2,747,559		$	2,672,242		$	2,663,007		$	2,652,999		$	2,800,753		$	2,652,999
Leverage Ratio			7.95	%		8.21	%		8.32	%		8.26	%		8.21	%		7.95	%		8.21	%
OTHER CAPITAL RATIOS
Ending shareholders' equity to ending assets			7.89	%		7.96	%		8.36	%		8.21	%		8.16	%		7.89	%		8.16	%
Ending tangible shareholders' equity to ending tangible assets			7.13	%		7.18	%		7.55	%		7.41	%		7.35	%		7.13	%		7.35	%
Average shareholders' equity to average assets			7.96	%		8.29	%		8.39	%		8.27	%		8.34	%		8.21	%		8.53	%
Average tangible shareholders' equity to average tangible assets			7.18	%		7.50	%		7.58	%		7.47	%		7.53	%		7.41	%		7.72	%
REPURCHASE PROGRAM (1)
Shares repurchased			0			0			0			34,300			1,469,700			0			1,965,700
Average share repurchase price		$	0.00		$	0.00		$	0.00		$	13.52		$	13.00		$	0.00		$	13.65
Total cost of shares repurchased		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	464		$	19,105		$	0		$	26,834

⁽¹⁾ Represents share repurchases as part of publicly announced plans.