EXHIBIT 99.1

First Financial Bancorp Reports First Quarter 2009 Financial Results

§ Net income available to common shareholders of $5.2 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.14  

§ Capital and liquidity positions remain strong       –Total regulatory capital exceeded the minimum requirement by $159 million  

§ Provision expense exceeded net charge-offs by 15%  

§ Average total loans increased $119 million from first quarter 2008 and $23 million from fourth quarter 2008       –Average commercial loans increased $274 million from first quarter 2008 and $66 million from fourth       quarter 2008  

§ Average total deposits increased $42 million or 6% on an annualized basis from fourth quarter 2008

Cincinnati, Ohio – April 29, 2009 – First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC) today reported first quarter 2009 net income of $5.7 million, and net income available to common shareholders of $5.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted common share. This compares with net income of $2.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2008, and net income of $7.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2008. Net income available to common shareholders reflects net income, less dividends paid to the U.S. Treasury on its $80 million investment in First Financial perpetual preferred securities that were issued as part of the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (CPP).

The following table presents First Financial’s return on average assets and return on average common shareholders’ equity for the first quarter of 2009 and the fourth and first quarters of 2008.

Table I
		Quarter
			1Q-09				4Q-08				1Q-08
Return on Average Assets			0.62	%			0.23	%			0.89	%
Return on Average Common Shareholders' Equity			7.67	%			2.97	%			10.66	%

During the fourth quarter of 2008, First Financial increased its loan loss reserve in response to a higher level of net charge-offs and the continued deterioration in U.S. economic conditions. This resulted in a decrease to fourth quarter 2008 net income and earnings per diluted share, on an after-tax basis, of $4.9 million, or $0.13 per share, respectively.

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First Financial is also reporting pre-tax, pre-provision income this quarter, which excludes provision expense and applicable securities gains and losses. The company believes this metric is useful as it demonstrates a more representative comparison of operational performance without the volatility of credit quality that is typically present in times of economic stress, as has been the case over the past several quarters. The following table presents pre-tax, pre-provision income, including and excluding applicable securities gains and losses for the first quarter of 2009 and the fourth and first quarters of 2008.

Table II		($ in thousands)
		Quarter
			1Q-09				4Q-08				1Q-08
Pre-Tax Income		$	8,768			$	2,455			$	10,881
Excluding Provision Expense			4,259				10,475				3,223
Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Income		$	13,027			$	12,930			$	14,104
Securities Gains (Losses)			11	1			(137	)1			1,605	2
Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Income, excluding Securities Gains (Losses)		$	13,016			$	13,067			$	12,499

1 Gains (losses) related to the company's investment in 200,000 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) perpetual preferred series V shares.

2 Includes a $1,585 gain associated with the partial redemption of Visa, Inc. common shares.

Commenting on the company’s results, Claude Davis, First Financial Bancorp’s president and chief executive officer, stated, “We are pleased with our profitability this quarter including strong loan and deposit growth and a relatively stable net interest margin given the very difficult economic environment we are experiencing. The unprecedented level of economic stress has caused our credit quality to weaken and we expect credit losses to be a challenge throughout 2009 for us and the entire industry. Our historically conservative underwriting practices, market discipline and proactive management of resolution strategies for problem credits have produced asset quality ratios that continue to be better than our industry peers.

“We continue to invest in and grow our business. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we opened a new banking center in Crown Point, Indiana, and a new regional banking center in the Dayton, Ohio market. In February, we expanded our presence in the Cincinnati market with the opening of a new banking center in the suburb of Madeira. We are excited about our expansion within the Cincinnati market, and look forward to further expansion throughout our franchise.

“Despite the numerous challenges facing the financial services industry, we remain focused on serving our clients,” added Mr. Davis. “While the economy is expected to remain challenging throughout 2009, the strength of our balance sheet, including our strong capital and liquidity levels, positions us to continue to meet the daily needs of our clients. First Financial stands ready to benefit as economic conditions improve.”

For additional information on First Financial’s comparable financial results, please refer to the discussions that follow detailing revenue and expense fluctuations.

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. In some instances, financial data may not add up due to rounding.

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CREDIT QUALITY

The following table presents First Financial’s key credit quality metrics.

Table III		($ in thousands)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2009				December 31,  2008				September 30, 2008				June 30, 2008				March 31, 2008
Total Nonperforming Loans		$	24,892			$	18,185			$	14,038			$	15,366			$	15,253
Total Nonperforming Assets		$	28,405			$	22,213			$	18,648			$	19,129			$	17,621
Nonperforming Assets as a % of:
Period-End Loans, Plus Other Real Estate Owned			1.04	%			0.83	%			0.70	%			0.71	%			0.67	%
Total Assets			0.75	%			0.60	%			0.53	%			0.55	%			0.53	%
Nonperforming Loans as a % of Total Loans			0.91	%			0.68	%			0.53	%			0.57	%			0.58	%
Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses		$	36,437			$	35,873			$	30,353			$	29,580			$	29,718
Allowance for Loan & Lease Losses as a % of:
Period-End Loans			1.33	%			1.34	%			1.14	%			1.11	%			1.14	%
Nonaccrual Loans			147.6	%			199.5	%			219.5	%			199.7	%			202.3	%
Nonperforming Loans			146.4	%			197.3	%			216.2	%			192.5	%			194.8	%
Total Net Charge-Offs		$	3,695			$	4,955			$	2,446			$	2,631			$	2,562
Annualized Net Charge-Offs as a % of Average
Loans & Leases			0.55	%			0.73	%			0.36	%			0.40	%			0.40	%

First quarter 2009 nonperforming loans increased $6.7 million to $24.9 million or 0.91% of total loans, from $18.2 million or 0.68% of total loans in the fourth quarter of 2008. This increase was largely attributable to deterioration within the commercial lending portfolio; however, this deterioration was not specific to any industry or geographic concentration. While the overall credit quality of the commercial lending portfolio has remained strong throughout most of the economic downturn, late in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continuing into the first quarter of 2009, the company began to see a higher level of borrowers experiencing additional stress related to the prolonged weak economic conditions. During the fourth quarter of 2008, in anticipation of continued economic deterioration, the company increased the provision for credit losses, which significantly increased the allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of period-end loans to 1.34% at December 31, 2008.

The first quarter 2009 provision expense, although lower than the fourth quarter level, represented approximately 115% of first quarter 2009 total net charge-offs. The allowance for loan and lease losses increased to $36.4 million at March 31, 2009, from $29.7 million at March 31, 2008, and $35.9 million at December 31, 2008. The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of period-end loans remained stable at March 31, 2009 at 1.33%.

First quarter 2009 net charge-offs included a $1.1 million charge-off of a single commercial credit related to a borrower in the hotel industry.

The quarter’s higher level of nonperforming loans adversely impacted the company’s nonperforming loan coverage ratios in the first quarter of 2009. The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of nonaccrual and nonperforming loans was 147.6% and 146.4%, respectively, compared with 199.5% and 197.3%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2008, and 202.3% and 194.8%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2008. Although the first quarter 2009 allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of nonaccrual and nonperforming loans has decreased from prior periods, based on historical information available, the company believes that it continues to compare favorably with the industry and its peers on these ratios. The company expects that the uncertain and challenging economic conditions are likely to continue to impact borrowers in all lending categories throughout the remainder of 2009, and possibly into 2010. Assuming further decay in economic conditions over the next several quarters, First Financial would expect that the level of nonperforming assets would continue to increase.

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Total loans 30 to 89 days past due at March 31, 2009 were $20.4 million, or 0.75% of period end loans, compared with $22.6 million, or 0.84% at December 31, 2008, and $20.3 million, or 0.78% at March 31, 2008. Management closely monitors these trends and ratios and currently considers the level of delinquent loans consistent with its expectation of the total loan portfolio’s behavior.

The allowance for loan and lease losses increased approximately $0.6 million from the fourth quarter 2008 level. A higher level of reserves reflects the company’s expectations of a continuing decline in economic conditions and the uncertainty surrounding the timing of an economic recovery. 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 $36.4 million allowance for loan and lease losses at March 31, 2009 or 1.33% of period end loans is adequate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in its lending portfolio.

Other real estate owned decreased $0.5 million to $3.5 million at March 31, 2009, from $4.0 million at December 31, 2008, and increased $1.1 million from $2.4 million at March 31, 2008. The linked quarter decrease was a result of net dispositions and valuation adjustments, and the year-over-year increase was a result of net additions in residential real estate.

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

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

All regulatory capital ratios exceeded the amounts necessary to be classified as “well-capitalized” at March 31, 2009. In addition, total regulatory capital exceeded the “minimum” requirement by approximately $159.1 million, on a consolidated basis. The following table presents the regulatory capital ratios for First Financial Bancorp and its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, at March 31, 2009. The capital levels for First Financial Bank do not include the additional capital that the company received from the U.S. Treasury in December 2008, under its CPP.

Table IV		FFBC				First  Financial  Bank				Regulatory  "well-capitalized" minimum
Leverage Ratio			9.51	%			8.26	%			5	%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio			12.16	%			10.58	%			6	%
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio			13.39	%			12.07	%			10	%
EOP Tangible Equity / EOP Tangible Assets			8.60	%			N/A				N/A
EOP Tangible Common Equity / EOP Tangible Assets			6.54	%			N/A				N/A
N/A = not applicable

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Earlier this year, in an effort to build capital and further strengthen the balance sheet, the company reduced its quarterly cash dividend from $0.17 per common share to $0.10 per common share – a move that preserved approximately $2.6 million in tangible equity in the first quarter of 2009. First Financial remains committed to maintaining a strong capital base and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that its capital position remains sound throughout this period of uncertainty.

U.S. TREASURY CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM

On December 23, 2008, First Financial completed the sale of $80.0 million in perpetual preferred securities to the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program (CPP), a component of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). As a participant in the program, First Financial is reporting the use of this capital.

Use of Capital

First Financial has both short- and long-term plans for use of the CPP proceeds. In anticipation of the receipt of the $80.0 million in capital, the company began purchasing agency-guaranteed, mortgage-backed securities during the fourth quarter 2008. This investment portfolio – specifically designated as the CPP Investment Portfolio – totaled approximately $225.4 million at March 31, 2009, compared with $121.9 million at December 31, 2008. The ratio of investments to capital, or leverage on the CPP capital, was 2.8 times the proceeds received at March 31, 2009, and at December 31, 2008, was 1.5 times the proceeds received. During the first quarter 2009, the fixed-income market experienced a significant increase in pricing for agency-guaranteed, mortgage-backed securities. This was as a result of a Federal Reserve program designed to support the purchase of mortgage-related assets as part of their efforts to stimulate the mortgage financing sector. As a result, the company added selectively to the CPP Investment Portfolio.

Earnings from the CPP Investment Portfolio have had, and the company expects will continue to have, a positive effect on net interest income, and should also exceed the quarterly dividends payable to the U.S. Treasury on their investment in the preferred shares.

Funding

Upon receipt of the CPP funds in late December 2008, funding to support the CPP Investment Portfolio was evaluated in order to take advantage of the low interest rate environment. While several duration-matched funding alternatives were analyzed during the first quarter, the portfolio is currently funded with short-term borrowings to maximize the return on net interest income. This strategy is employed in the context of the company’s total interest-rate risk-management process and is re-evaluated continually in the context of expected market behavior.

Increased Lending Activities

Total loans at March 31, 2009, increased $53.3 million from December 31, 2008. Commercial lending period-end balances were up $73.1 million, which more than offset the decline in period-end balances in the consumer lending portfolios. The decline in certain consumer lending balances is a result of the First Financial’s strategy to transition its lending emphasis from consumer-oriented lending to commercial-oriented lending. However, during the first quarter of 2009, the company originated $47.9 million in residential mortgage loans compared with $21.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, and $30.9 million in the first quarter of 2008. As part of the company’s originate-and-sell business model, those loans are not included in the period-end consumer loan balances. While First Financial has not emphasized the residential mortgage lending part of its business over the past several years, the company does plan to focus on expanding within this area in the future, including maintaining its originate-and-sell strategy.

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It is expected that as additional lending opportunities become available, the cash flows from the CPP Investment Portfolio will provide sufficient liquidity and capital support for redeployment into loans.

First Financial has evaluated several ways to increase lending volume consistent with the intent of the CPP program and is working with its third-party servicer for residential mortgage loans to evaluate appropriate foreclosure modification solutions.

Preferred Stock Dividend

During the first quarter of 2009, First Financial paid a pro-rated dividend of $0.6 million for the period ending February 15, 2009, to the U.S. Treasury on their investment in the company’s preferred shares. Future quarterly dividends will be $1.0 million, reflecting a full calendar quarter.

NET INTEREST INCOME & NET INTEREST MARGIN

Table V		($ in thousands)
		Quarter
			1Q-09				4Q-08				1Q-08
Net Interest Income		$	30,928			$	30,129			$	28,249
Net Interest Margin			3.61	%			3.67	%			3.78	%
Net Interest Margin
(fully tax equivalent)			3.65	%			3.71	%			3.85	%

First quarter 2009 end-of-period and average total deposits increased from the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result of growth in lower-cost transaction deposit accounts, particularly commercial balances. The continued transition in the deposit mix from higher-cost certificates of deposits to lower-cost transaction-based accounts, combined with higher average earning asset balances and a lower cost of short-term funding had a positive impact on the net interest margin during the quarter, but was more than offset by the impact of lower overall earning interest rates on loans.

First Financial’s balance sheet, excluding the impact of the increased size of its investment portfolio and the corresponding short-term funding, remains asset sensitive.

First quarter 2009 net interest income increased $2.7 million from the first quarter of 2008, and $0.8 million from the fourth quarter of 2008 due to increases in both end-of-period and average total loans primarily driven by higher commercial lending volume, and growth in the investment securities portfolio.

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

§ First quarter 2009 noninterest income was $12.0 million, compared with $14.9 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $12.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The following table presents a summary of items impacting noninterest income for the first quarter of 2009 and the first and fourth quarters of 2008.

Table VI		($ in thousands)
		Quarter
			1Q-09				4Q-08				1Q-08
Gain on Sale of Propery & Casualty Liability Portion of Insurance Business		$	574			$	-			$	-
Gain on Sales of Investment Securities (VISA)			-				-				1,585
Impact to Noninterest Income		$	574			$	-			$	1,585

First quarter 2009 results included a $0.6 million gain, before associated employee-related costs, from the sale of the property and casualty liability portion of the company’s insurance business. As previously disclosed, this transaction closed on March 31, 2009.

First quarter 2009 noninterest income declined $2.8 million from the first quarter of 2008 and $0.6 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding the items mentioned above, first quarter 2009 noninterest income declined $1.8 million from the first quarter of 2008 and $1.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. The year-over-year and linked-quarter declines were primarily due to the impact of fewer days during the quarter, lower service charges on deposit accounts, particularly lower overdraft/non-sufficient funds fees, and decreases in bank card income and trust and wealth management fees. These fee income categories were negatively impacted by current economic conditions and their effect on consumer spending activity, as well as volatility in the investment and equity markets. A decline in income from bank-owned life insurance, which was impacted by volatility in the fixed-income markets, also contributed to the linked-quarter and year-over-year declines in noninterest income. The following table presents a breakout of overdraft/non-sufficient funds fees and trust and wealth management fees for the first quarter of 2009 and the first and fourth quarters of 2008.

Table VII		($ in thousands)
		Quarter
			1Q-09				4Q-08				1Q-08
Overdraft/Non-Sufficient Fund Fees		$	2,785			$	3,445			$	3,329
Other Deposit Fees			1,294				1,307				1,278
Total Service Charges on Deposit Accounts		$	4,079			$	4,752			$	4,607
Trust Fees			2,946				3,284				3,913
Investment Advisory Fees			343				461				709
Total Trust & Wealth Management Fees		$	3,289			$	3,745			$	4,622

The decline in Total Trust and Wealth Management Fees is attributable to decreases in both investment advisory and trust fees, which were primarily driven by lower asset valuations from overall market declines. Since June 30, 2008, assets under management by the company’s wealth management division have declined by approximately $472.9 million or 23.4% to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2009, primarily as a result of equity market declines.

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NONINTEREST EXPENSE

§ First quarter 2009 noninterest expense was $29.9 million, compared with $29.0 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $29.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

First quarter 2009 noninterest expense, which includes severance payments of $0.2 million related to the previously mentioned sale of the property and casualty liability portion of the company’s insurance business, increased slightly over both the first and fourth quarters of 2008. The linked-quarter increase was primarily due to a $0.1 million increase in FDIC deposit insurance premiums, as well as seasonal fluctuations related to payroll and benefit plans, offset by lower marketing costs. The year-over-year increase was a result of a $0.2 million increase in FDIC deposit insurance premiums, combined with higher professional fees and medical and pension-related costs, as well as increased marketing costs primarily related to deposit gathering initiatives. The FDIC is currently evaluating further increases in deposit insurance premiums for all participating institutions later in 2009, including a possible special assessment in the second or third quarter of the year.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense was $3.0 million and the effective tax rate was 34.6% for the first quarter of 2009, compared with income tax expense of $3.5 million and an effective tax rate of 32.6% for the first quarter of 2008, and income tax expense of $0.4 million and an effective tax rate of 15.1% for the fourth quarter of 2008. The lower effective tax rate for the fourth quarter 2008 was due to the marginal impact of lower pre-tax earnings.

LOANS

First Quarter 2009 versus First Quarter 2008

§ Average total loans increased $118.7 million or 4.6%.

§ Average commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans increased $274.4 million, or 16.6%.

First Quarter 2009 versus Fourth Quarter 2008

§ Average total loans increased $23.0 million, or 3.4% on an annualized basis.

§ Average commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans increased $65.7 million, or 14.1% on an annualized basis.

First Financial experienced strong loan growth during the first quarter of 2009, primarily within its commercial lending portfolios. Overall declines in certain period-end and average loans are a result of the company’s strategy to de-emphasize certain consumer-based lending activities.

INVESTMENTS

In early 2008, First Financial began increasing the size of its investment portfolio. Since the end of the first quarter of 2008, the portfolio has grown approximately $380.7 million on a net basis. Approximately $112.9 million of securities were purchased during the first quarter of 2009. The portfolio selection criteria avoids securities that are backed by sub-prime assets and also those containing assets that would give rise to material geographic concentrations. At March 31, 2009, the company held approximately 86.1% of its available-for-sale securities in residential mortgage-related investments, substantially all of which are held in highly-rated, agency-backed pass-through instruments, including collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs). All CMOs held by the company are AAA rated by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or similar rating agencies. First Financial does not own any interest-only, principal-only, or other high-risk securities.

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Securities available-for-sale at March 31, 2009, totaled $732.9 million, compared with $345.1 million at     March 31, 2008, and $659.8 million at December 31, 2008. The total investment portfolio represented     20.1% and 11.7% of total assets at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and 18.7% of total assets at December 31, 2008.

The company has recorded, as a component of equity in accumulated other comprehensive income, an   unrealized after-tax gain on the investment portfolio of approximately $10.6 million at March 31, 2009, compared with an unrealized after-tax gain of $3.6 million at March 31, 2008, and an unrealized after-tax gain of $6.9 million at December 31, 2008.

The following table presents a summary of the total investment portfolio at March 31, 2009.

Table VIII
($ in thousands, excluding book price)																						Base
		% of				Book				Book				Book				3/31/2009				Gain/
		Total				Value				Yield				Price				Market Value				(Loss)
Agency's			5.4	%		$	41,534				5.31	%		$	99.78			$	103.66			$	1,554
CMO's (Agency)			22.3	%			170,397				4.62	%			100.87				103.00				3,526
CMO's (Private)			0.0	%			85				2.04	%			100.00				98.04				(2	)
MBS's (Agency)			63.8	%			488,448				4.87	%			101.01				103.50				11,790
Agency Preferred			0.0	%			72				-				0.36				0.36				-
Subtotal			91.5	%		$	700,536				4.83	%		$	100.89			$	103.38			$	16,868
Municipal			4.4	%		$	33,699				7.15	%		$	99.17				100.28			$	376
Other *			4.1	%			31,382				4.41	%			100.91				99.45				(461	)
Subtotal			8.5	%		$	65,081				5.83	%		$	100.01			$	99.88			$	(85	)
Total Investment Portfolio			100.0	%		$	765,617				4.92	%		$	100.82			$	102.40			$	16,783
						Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)																$	16,783
						Aggregate Gains																$	17,836
						Aggregate Losses																$	(1,053	)
						Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss) % of Book Value																	2.19	%

* Other includes $28.0 million of regulatory stock

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DEPOSITS

First Quarter 2009 compared with First Quarter 2008

§ Average total deposits declined $10.4 million, or 0.4%.

§ Average transaction and savings deposits increased $66.8 million, or 4.1%.

§ Average time deposits declined $77.1 million, or 6.3%.

First Quarter 2009 compared with Fourth Quarter 2008

§ Average total deposits increased $42.1 million, or 6.1% on an annualized basis.

§ Average transaction and savings deposits increased $51.5 million, or 12.6% on an annualized basis.

§ Average time deposits declined $9.4 million, or 3.2% on an annualized basis.

The decline in average total deposits from the first quarter of 2008 is attributable to a decrease in average total interest-bearing deposits primarily due to the runoff of time deposits resulting from disciplined pricing and the company’s strategy to generate lower-cost transaction-based accounts. The increase in average total deposits from the fourth quarter of 2008 is a result of recent deposit-pricing strategies and other initiatives designed to grow and retain more transaction-based retail and commercial deposits. Average commercial transaction deposits increased $36.6 million and average commercial time deposits increased $6.0 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. First Financial continues to employ prudent pricing disciplines for all deposits.

Conference Call & Webcast

As previously announced, a conference call and webcast to discuss First Financial’s first quarter 2009 results will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009, 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/Investor). 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 429741).

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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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. 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 impact of recent upheaval in the financial markets and the effectiveness of domestic and international governmental actions taken in response, such as the U.S. Treasury’s TARP and the FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, and the effect of such governmental actions on First Financial, its competitors and counterparties, financial markets generally and availability of credit specifically, and the U.S. and international economies, including potentially higher FDIC premiums arising from participation in the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program or from increased payments from FDIC insurance funds as a result of depository institution failures; 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 and debt markets; First Financial’s success in recruiting and retaining the necessary personnel to support business growth and expansion and maintain sufficient expertise to support increasingly complex products and services; the cost and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation; uncertainties arising from First Financial’s participation in the TARP, including impacts on employee recruitment and retention and other business practices, and uncertainties concerning the potential redemption of the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock investment under the program, including the timing of, regulatory approvals for, and conditions placed upon, any such redemption; 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 2008 Form 10-K and other public documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These documents are available at no cost within the investor relations section of First Financial’s website at www.bankatfirst.com/investors and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, which will be filed with the SEC no later than May 11, 2009.

About First Financial Bancorp

First Financial Bancorp is a Cincinnati, Ohio based bank holding company with $3.8 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 82 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 $1.6 billion in assets under management. Additional information about the company, including its products, services, and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com/investors.

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,
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2009				2008				2008				2008				2008
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net interest income		$	30,928			$	30,129			$	29,410			$	28,414			$	28,249
Net income		$	5,735			$	2,084			$	5,732			$	7,808			$	7,338
Net income available to common shareholders		$	5,157			$	2,084			$	5,732			$	7,808			$	7,338
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.14			$	0.06			$	0.15			$	0.21			$	0.20
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.14			$	0.06			$	0.15			$	0.21			$	0.20
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.10			$	0.17			$	0.17			$	0.17			$	0.17
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
Return on average assets			0.62	%			0.23	%			0.66	%			0.93	%			0.89	%
Return on average shareholders' equity			6.63	%			2.89	%			8.24	%			11.26	%			10.66	%
Return on average common shareholders' equity			7.67	%			2.97	%			8.24	%			11.26	%			10.66	%
Return on average tangible common shareholders' equity			8.57	%			3.32	%			9.21	%			12.57	%			11.91	%
Net interest margin			3.61	%			3.67	%			3.68	%			3.72	%			3.78	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.65	%			3.71	%			3.73	%			3.78	%			3.85	%
Ending equity as a percent of ending assets			9.29	%			9.42	%			7.89	%			7.96	%			8.36	%
Ending common equity as a percent of ending assets			7.24	%			7.31	%			7.89	%			7.96	%			8.36	%
Ending tangible common equity as a percent of: Ending tangible assets			6.54	%			6.52	%			7.13	%			7.18	%			7.55	%
Risk-weighted assets			8.38	%			8.32	%			8.86	%			8.97	%			9.31	%
Average equity as a percent of average assets			9.29	%			8.04	%			7.96	%			8.29	%			8.39	%
Average common equity as a percent of average assets			7.22	%			7.82	%			7.96	%			8.29	%			8.39	%
Average tangible common equity as a percent of average tangible assets			6.51	%			7.05	%			7.18	%			7.50	%			7.58	%
Book value per common share		$	7.36			$	7.16			$	7.40			$	7.34			$	7.41
Tangible book value per common share		$	6.59			$	6.38			$	6.62			$	6.57			$	6.64
Tier 1 Ratio (2)			12.16	%			12.38	%			9.80	%			9.99	%			10.20	%
Total Capital Ratio (2)			13.39	%			13.62	%			10.89	%			11.06	%			11.31	%
Leverage Ratio (2)			9.51	%			10.00	%			7.95	%			8.21	%			8.32	%
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS
Loans (3)		$	2,717,097			$	2,690,895			$	2,709,629			$	2,648,327			$	2,596,483
Investment securities			758,257				574,893				467,524				422,463				343,553
Other earning assets			0				1,737				3,137				4,095				65,799
Total earning assets		$	3,475,354			$	3,267,525			$	3,180,290			$	3,074,885			$	3,005,835
Total assets		$	3,777,510			$	3,566,051			$	3,476,648			$	3,361,649			$	3,298,663
Noninterest-bearing deposits		$	416,206			$	412,644			$	402,604			$	394,352			$	379,240
Interest-bearing deposits			2,405,700				2,367,121				2,380,037				2,400,940				2,453,028
Total deposits		$	2,821,906			$	2,779,765			$	2,782,641			$	2,795,292			$	2,832,268
Borrowings		$	566,808			$	474,655			$	394,708			$	256,409			$	157,899
Shareholders' equity		$	350,857			$	286,582			$	276,594			$	278,803			$	276,815
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Allowance to ending loans			1.33	%			1.34	%			1.14	%			1.11	%			1.14	%
Allowance to nonaccrual loans			147.57	%			199.51	%			219.47	%			199.70	%			202.29	%
Allowance to nonperforming loans			146.38	%			197.27	%			216.22	%			192.50	%			194.83	%
Nonperforming loans to total loans			0.91	%			0.68	%			0.53	%			0.57	%			0.58	%
Nonperforming assets to ending loans, plus OREO			1.04	%			0.83	%			0.70	%			0.71	%			0.67	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets			0.75	%			0.60	%			0.53	%			0.55	%			0.53	%
Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized)			0.55	%			0.73	%			0.36	%			0.40	%			0.40	%

(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) March 31, 2009 regulatory capital ratios are preliminary.

(3) Includes loans held for sale.

-12-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		2009				2008
		First				Fourth				Third				Second				First				Full				% Change				% Change
		Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Year				Linked Qtr.				Comparable Qtr.
Interest income
Loans, including fees		$	33,657			$	37,864			$	39,754			$	39,646			$	42,721			$	159,985				(11.1	)%			(21.2	)%
Investment securities
Taxable			8,690				6,697				5,349				4,387				3,521				19,954				29.8	%			146.8	%
Tax-exempt			434				519				631				792				791				2,733				(16.4	)%			(45.1	)%
Total investment securities interest			9,124				7,216				5,980				5,179				4,312				22,687				26.4	%			111.6	%
Federal funds sold			0				6				22				40				565				633				(100.0	)%			(100.0	)%
Total interest income			42,781				45,086				45,756				44,865				47,598				183,305				(5.1	)%			(10.1	)%
Interest expense
Deposits			9,803				12,015				13,608				14,635				17,739				57,997				(18.4	)%			(44.7	)%
Short-term borrowings			507				1,186				1,720				1,130				792				4,828				(57.3	)%			(36.0	)%
Long-term borrowings			1,306				1,395				707				384				406				2,892				(6.4	)%			221.7	%
Subordinated debentures and capital securities			237				361				311				302				412				1,386				(34.3	)%			(42.5	)%
Total interest expense			11,853				14,957				16,346				16,451				19,349				67,103				(20.8	)%			(38.7	)%
Net interest income			30,928				30,129				29,410				28,414				28,249				116,202				2.7	%			9.5	%
Provision for loan and lease losses			4,259				10,475				3,219				2,493				3,223				19,410				(59.3	)%			32.1	%
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses			26,669				19,654				26,191				25,921				25,026				96,792				35.7	%			6.6	%
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts			4,079				4,752				5,348				4,951				4,607				19,658				(14.2	)%			(11.5	)%
Trust and wealth management fees			3,289				3,745				4,390				4,654				4,622				17,411				(12.2	)%			(28.8	)%
Bankcard income			1,291				1,457				1,405				1,493				1,298				5,653				(11.4	)%			(0.5	)%
Net gains from sales of loans			384				321				376				188				219				1,104				19.6	%			75.3	%
Gains on sales of investment securities			0				0				0				0				1,585				1,585				N/M				(100.0	)%
Income (loss) on preferred securities			11				(137	)			(3,400	)			(221	)			20				(3,738	)			(108.0	)%			(45.0	)%
Other			2,979				2,510				2,359				2,683				2,524				10,076				18.7	%			18.0	%
Total noninterest income			12,033				12,648				10,478				13,748				14,875				51,749				(4.9	)%			(19.1	)%
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			17,653				17,015				16,879				15,895				17,073				66,862				3.7	%			3.4	%
Net occupancy			2,817				2,635				2,538				2,510				2,952				10,635				6.9	%			(4.6	)%
Furniture and equipment			1,802				1,748				1,690				1,617				1,653				6,708				3.1	%			9.0	%
Data processing			818				840				791				814				793				3,238				(2.6	)%			3.2	%
Marketing			640				935				622				474				517				2,548				(31.6	)%			23.8	%
Communication			671				704				601				749				805				2,859				(4.7	)%			(16.6	)%
Professional services			953				912				729				1,061				761				3,463				4.5	%			25.2	%
State intangible tax			668				435				697				688				686				2,506				53.6	%			(2.6	)%
Other			3,912				4,623				3,793				4,161				3,780				16,357				(15.4	)%			3.5	%
Total noninterest expenses			29,934				29,847				28,340				27,969				29,020				115,176				0.3	%			3.1	%
Income before income taxes			8,768				2,455				8,329				11,700				10,881				33,365				257.1	%			(19.4	)%
Income tax expense			3,033				371				2,597				3,892				3,543				10,403				717.5	%			(14.4	)%
Net income			5,735				2,084				5,732				7,808				7,338				22,962				175.2	%			(21.8	)%
Dividends on preferred stock			578				0				0				0				0				0				N/M				N/M
Net income available to common shareholders		$	5,157			$	2,084			$	5,732			$	7,808			$	7,338			$	22,962				147.5	%			(29.7	)%
ADDITIONAL DATA
Net earnings per common share - basic		$	0.14			$	0.06			$	0.15			$	0.21			$	0.20			$	0.62
Net earnings per common share - diluted		$	0.14			$	0.06			$	0.15			$	0.21			$	0.20			$	0.61
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.10			$	0.17			$	0.17			$	0.17			$	0.17			$	0.68
Return on average assets			0.62	%			0.23	%			0.66	%			0.93	%			0.89	%			0.67	%
Return on average shareholders' equity			6.63	%			2.89	%			8.24	%			11.26	%			10.66	%			8.21	%
Interest income		$	42,781			$	45,086			$	45,756			$	44,865			$	47,598			$	183,305				(5.1	)%			(10.1	)%
Tax equivalent adjustment			363				360				424				510				514				1,808				0.8	%			(29.4	)%
Interest income - tax equivalent			43,144				45,446				46,180				45,375				48,112				185,113				(5.1	)%			(10.3	)%
Interest expense			11,853				14,957				16,346				16,451				19,349				67,103				(20.8	)%			(38.7	)%
Net interest income - tax equivalent		$	31,291			$	30,489			$	29,834			$	28,924			$	28,763			$	118,010				2.6	%			8.8	%
Net interest margin			3.61	%			3.67	%			3.68	%			3.72	%			3.78	%			3.71	%
Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) (1)			3.65	%			3.71	%			3.73	%			3.78	%			3.85	%			3.77	%
Full-time equivalent employees			1,063				1,061				1,052				1,058				1,056				1,061

(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.

-13-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,				% Change				% Change
		2009				2008				2008				2008				2008				Linked Qtr.				Comparable Qtr.
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	79,563			$	100,935			$	90,341			$	106,248			$	102,246				(21.2	)%			(22.2	)%
Federal funds sold			0				0				0				4,005				2,943				N/M				(100.0	)%
Investment securities trading			72				61				198				3,598				3,820				18.0	%			(98.1	)%
Investment securities available-for-sale			732,868				659,756				492,554				421,697				345,145				11.1	%			112.3	%
Investment securities held-to-maturity			4,701				4,966				5,037				5,316				5,414				(5.3	)%			(13.2	)%
Other investments			27,976				27,976				34,976				34,632				34,293				0.0	%			(18.4	)%
Loans held for sale			6,342				3,854				2,437				2,228				4,108				64.6	%			54.4	%
Loans
Commercial			850,111				807,720				819,430				814,779				789,922				5.2	%			7.6	%
Real estate - construction			251,115				232,989				203,809				186,178				172,737				7.8	%			45.4	%
Real estate - commercial			859,303				846,673				814,578				769,555				726,397				1.5	%			18.3	%
Real estate - residential			360,013				383,599				424,902				499,002				519,790				(6.1	)%			(30.7	)%
Installment			91,767				98,581				106,456				115,575				126,623				(6.9	)%			(27.5	)%
Home equity			298,000				286,110				276,943				263,063				254,200				4.2	%			17.2	%
Credit card			26,191				27,538				27,047				26,399				25,528				(4.9	)%			2.6	%
Lease financing			45				50				92				111				258				(10.0	)%			(82.6	)%
Total loans			2,736,545				2,683,260				2,673,257				2,674,662				2,615,455				2.0	%			4.6	%
Less
Allowance for loan and lease losses			36,437				35,873				30,353				29,580				29,718				1.6	%			22.6	%
Net loans			2,700,108				2,647,387				2,642,904				2,645,082				2,585,737				2.0	%			4.4	%
Premises and equipment			85,385				84,105				81,989				79,380				78,585				1.5	%			8.7	%
Goodwill			28,261				28,261				28,261				28,261				28,261				0.0	%			0.0	%
Other intangibles			500				1,002				872				641				659				(50.1	)%			(24.1	)%
Accrued interest and other assets			143,420				140,839				132,107				128,874				132,054				1.8	%			8.6	%
Total Assets		$	3,809,196			$	3,699,142			$	3,511,676			$	3,459,962			$	3,323,265				3.0	%			14.6	%
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Interest-bearing		$	622,263			$	636,945			$	580,417			$	575,236			$	610,154				(2.3	)%			2.0	%
Savings			705,229				583,081				608,438				615,613				617,059				20.9	%			14.3	%
Time			1,137,398				1,150,208				1,118,511				1,167,024				1,206,750				(1.1	)%			(5.7	)%
Total interest-bearing deposits			2,464,890				2,370,234				2,307,366				2,357,873				2,433,963				4.0	%			1.3	%
Noninterest-bearing			427,068				413,283				404,315				419,045				405,015				3.3	%			5.4	%
Total deposits			2,891,958				2,783,517				2,711,681				2,776,918				2,838,978				3.9	%			1.9	%
Short-term borrowings
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase			162,549				147,533				45,495				25,932				27,320				10.2	%			495.0	%
Federal Home Loan Bank			160,000				150,000				215,000				237,900				6,500				6.7	%			2361.5	%
Other			40,000				57,000				53,000				54,000				53,000				(29.8	)%			(24.5	)%
Total short-term borrowings			362,549				354,533				313,495				317,832				86,820				2.3	%			317.6	%
Long-term debt			136,832				148,164				152,568				41,263				42,380				(7.6	)%			222.9	%
Other long-term debt			20,620				20,620				20,620				20,620				20,620				0.0	%			0.0	%
Accrued interest and other liabilities			43,477				43,981				36,092				28,039				56,698				(1.1	)%			(23.3	)%
Total Liabilities			3,455,436				3,350,815				3,234,456				3,184,672				3,045,496				3.1	%			13.5	%
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock			78,075				78,019				0				0				0				0.1	%			N/M
Common stock			394,887				394,169				391,249				390,545				389,986				0.2	%			1.3	%
Retained earnings			77,695				76,339				80,632				81,263				79,818				1.8	%			(2.7	)%
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(8,564	)			(11,905	)			(6,285	)			(8,236	)			(3,800	)			28.1	%			(125.4	)%
Treasury stock, at cost			(188,333	)			(188,295	)			(188,376	)			(188,282	)			(188,235	)			(0.0	)%			(0.1	)%
Total Shareholders' Equity			353,760				348,327				277,220				275,290				277,769				1.6	%			27.4	%
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		$	3,809,196			$	3,699,142			$	3,511,676			$	3,459,962			$	3,323,265				3.0	%			14.6	%

N/M = Not meaningful.

-14-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

										Quarterly Averages
		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2009				2008				2008				2008				2008
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	85,650			$	87,307			$	89,498			$	81,329			$	86,879
Federal funds sold			0				1,737				3,137				4,095				65,799
Investment securities			758,257				574,893				467,524				422,463				345,303
Loans held for sale			5,085				1,876				2,080				3,034				3,122
Loans
Commercial			825,399				809,869				819,199				805,122				781,358
Real estate - construction			242,750				220,839				192,731				179,078				162,008
Real estate - commercial			858,403				830,121				797,143				747,077				708,779
Real estate - residential			372,853				417,499				490,089				508,837				530,567
Installment			94,881				102,814				110,933				121,000				132,876
Home equity			291,038				280,900				270,659				257,954				251,706
Credit card			26,641				26,902				26,692				26,043				25,745
Lease financing			47				75				103				182				322
Total loans			2,712,012				2,689,019				2,707,549				2,645,293				2,593,361
Less
Allowance for loan and lease losses			37,189				29,710				29,739				29,248				28,860
Net loans			2,674,823				2,659,309				2,677,810				2,616,045				2,564,501
Premises and equipment			84,932				83,307				81,000				78,933				78,969
Goodwill			28,261				28,261				28,261				28,261				28,261
Other intangibles			595				613				639				652				680
Accrued interest and other assets			139,907				128,748				126,699				126,837				125,149
Total Assets		$	3,777,510			$	3,566,051			$	3,476,648			$	3,361,649			$	3,298,663
LIABILITIES
Deposits
Interest-bearing		$	642,934			$	611,129			$	609,992			$	590,464			$	623,206
Savings			620,509				604,370				611,713				617,029				610,449
Time			1,142,257				1,151,622				1,158,332				1,193,447				1,219,373
Total interest-bearing deposits			2,405,700				2,367,121				2,380,037				2,400,940				2,453,028
Noninterest-bearing			416,206				412,644				402,604				394,352				379,240
Total deposits			2,821,906				2,779,765				2,782,641				2,795,292				2,832,268
Short-term borrowings
Federal funds purchased and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase			127,652				98,690				36,476				25,771				26,261
Federal Home Loan Bank			218,100				150,867				206,741				114,654				614
Other			56,078				53,044				53,836				53,758				66,154
Total short-term borrowings			401,830				302,601				297,053				194,183				93,029
Long-term debt			144,358				151,434				77,035				41,606				44,250
Other long-term debt			20,620				20,620				20,620				20,620				20,620
Total borrowed funds			566,808				474,655				394,708				256,409				157,899
Accrued interest and other liabilities			37,939				25,049				22,705				31,145				31,681
Total Liabilities			3,426,653				3,279,469				3,200,054				3,082,846				3,021,848
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock			78,038				7,805				0				0				0
Common stock			394,500				391,601				390,861				390,237				391,079
Retained earnings			77,317				81,932				82,636				81,045				79,951
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(10,677	)			(6,462	)			(8,594	)			(4,211	)			(4,977	)
Treasury stock, at cost			(188,321	)			(188,294	)			(188,309	)			(188,268	)			(189,238	)
Total Shareholders' Equity			350,857				286,582				276,594				278,803				276,815
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		$	3,777,510			$	3,566,051			$	3,476,648			$	3,361,649			$	3,298,663

-15-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

NET INTEREST MARGIN RATE / VOLUME ANALYSIS (1)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Quarterly Averages
		Mar. 31, 2009								Dec. 31, 2008								Mar. 31, 2008								Linked Qtr. Income Variance												Comparable Qtr. Income Variance
		Balance				Yield				Balance				Yield				Balance				Yield				Rate				Volume				Total				Rate				Volume				Total
Earning assets
Investment securities		$	758,257				4.88	%		$	574,893				4.99	%		$	343,553				5.05	%		$	(222	)		$	2,130			$	1,908			$	(157	)		$	4,969			$	4,812
Federal funds sold			-				0.00	%			1,737				1.37	%			65,799				3.45	%			(6	)			-				(6	)			(565	)			-				(565	)
Gross loans (2)			2,717,097				5.02	%			2,690,895				5.60	%			2,596,483				6.62	%			(4,165	)			(42	)			(4,207	)			(10,558	)			1,494				(9,064	)
Total earning assets			3,475,354				4.99	%			3,267,525				5.49	%			3,005,835				6.37	%			(4,393	)			2,088				(2,305	)			(11,280	)			6,463				(4,817	)
Nonearning assets
Allowance for loan and lease losses			(37,189	)							(29,710	)							(28,860	)
Cash and due from banks			85,650								87,307								86,879
Accrued interest and other assets			253,695								240,929								234,809
Total assets		$	3,777,510							$	3,566,051							$	3,298,663
Interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing deposits		$	2,405,700				1.65	%		$	2,367,121				2.02	%		$	2,453,028				2.91	%		$	(2,263	)		$	51			$	(2,212	)		$	(7,743	)		$	(193	)		$	(7,936	)
Borrowed funds
Short-term borrowings			401,830				0.51	%			302,601				1.56	%			93,029				3.42	%			(800	)			121				(679	)			(675	)			390				(285	)
Long-term debt			144,358				3.67	%			151,434				3.66	%			44,250				3.69	%			(10	)			(79	)			(89	)			(6	)			906				900
Other long-term debt			20,620				4.66	%			20,620				6.96	%			20,620				8.04	%			(121	)			(3	)			(124	)			(175	)			-				(175	)
Total borrowed funds			566,808				1.47	%			474,655				2.47	%			157,899				4.10	%			(931	)			39				(892	)			(856	)			1,296				440
Total interest-bearing liabilities			2,972,508				1.62	%			2,841,776				2.09	%			2,610,927				2.98	%			(3,194	)			90				(3,104	)			(8,599	)			1,103				(7,496	)
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits			416,206								412,644								379,240
Other liabilities			37,939								25,049								31,681
Shareholders' equity			350,857								286,582								276,815
Total liabilities & shareholders' equity		$	3,777,510							$	3,566,051							$	3,298,663
Net interest income (1)		$	30,928							$	30,129							$	28,249							$	(1,199	)		$	1,998			$	799			$	(2,681	)		$	5,360			$	2,679
Net interest spread (1)							3.37	%							3.40	%							3.39	%
Net interest margin (1)							3.61	%							3.67	%							3.78	%

(1) Not tax equivalent.

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

-16-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CREDIT QUALITY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2009				2008				2008				2008				2008
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSS ACTIVITY
Balance at beginning of period		$	35,873			$	30,353			$	29,580			$	29,718			$	29,057
Provision for loan and lease losses			4,259				10,475				3,219				2,493				3,223
Gross charge-offs
Commercial			2,521				2,168				1,568				946				545
Real estate - construction			0				0				0				0				0
Real estate - commercial			382				2,083				48				589				806
Real estate - residential			231				47				335				227				39
Installment			400				493				424				482				564
Home equity			218				238				135				525				651
All other			308				374				426				426				498
Total gross charge-offs			4,060				5,403				2,936				3,195				3,103
Recoveries
Commercial			60				165				179				166				144
Real estate - construction			0				0				0				0				0
Real estate - commercial			16				40				37				19				3
Real estate - residential			2				5				4				5				11
Installment			254				189				225				246				315
Home equity			0				0				0				30				0
All other			33				49				45				98				68
Total recoveries			365				448				490				564				541
Total net charge-offs			3,695				4,955				2,446				2,631				2,562
Ending allowance for loan and lease losses		$	36,437			$	35,873			$	30,353			$	29,580			$	29,718
NET CHARGE-OFFS TO AVERAGE LOANS AND LEASES (ANNUALIZED)
Commercial			1.21	%			0.98	%			0.67	%			0.39	%			0.21	%
Real estate - construction			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%
Real estate - commercial			0.17	%			0.98	%			0.01	%			0.31	%			0.46	%
Real estate - residential			0.25	%			0.04	%			0.27	%			0.18	%			0.02	%
Installment			0.62	%			1.18	%			0.71	%			0.78	%			0.75	%
Home equity			0.30	%			0.34	%			0.20	%			0.77	%			1.04	%
All other			4.18	%			4.79	%			5.66	%			5.03	%			6.63	%
Total net charge-offs			0.55	%			0.73	%			0.36	%			0.40	%			0.40	%
COMPONENTS OF NONPERFORMING LOANS, NONPERFORMING ASSETS, AND UNDERPERFORMING ASSETS
Nonaccrual loans
Commercial		$	8,652			$	6,170			$	5,194			$	5,447			$	3,952
Real estate - commercial			9,170				4,779				3,361				3,592				4,415
Real estate - residential			4,724				5,363				3,742				4,461				4,529
Installment			464				459				417				438				544
Home equity			1,681				1,204				1,084				866				1,221
All other			0				6				32				8				30
Total nonaccrual loans			24,691				17,981				13,830				14,812				14,691
Restructured loans			201				204				208				554				562
Total nonperforming loans			24,892				18,185				14,038				15,366				15,253
Other real estate owned (OREO)			3,513				4,028				4,610				3,763				2,368
Total nonperforming assets			28,405				22,213				18,648				19,129				17,621
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more			255				138				241				245				372
Total underperforming assets		$	28,660			$	22,351			$	18,889			$	19,374			$	17,993
Total classified assets		$	79,256			$	67,393			$	58,284			$	54,511			$	55,302
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Allowance for loan and lease losses to
Nonaccrual loans			147.57	%			199.51	%			219.47	%			199.70	%			202.29	%
Nonperforming loans			146.38	%			197.27	%			216.22	%			192.50	%			194.83	%
Total ending loans			1.33	%			1.34	%			1.14	%			1.11	%			1.14	%
Nonperforming loans to total loans			0.91	%			0.68	%			0.53	%			0.57	%			0.58	%
Nonperforming assets to
Ending loans, plus OREO			1.04	%			0.83	%			0.70	%			0.71	%			0.67	%
Total assets			0.75	%			0.60	%			0.53	%			0.55	%			0.53	%

-17-

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

CAPITAL ADEQUACY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,				Sep. 30,				Jun. 30,				Mar. 31,
		2009				2008				2008				2008				2008
PER COMMON SHARE
Market Price
High		$	12.10			$	14.30			$	14.80			$	13.88			$	13.81
Low		$	5.58			$	10.81			$	8.10			$	9.20			$	10.19
Close		$	9.53			$	12.39			$	14.60			$	9.20			$	13.45
Average common shares outstanding - basic			37,142,531				37,133,725				37,132,864				37,114,451				37,066,754
Average common shares outstanding - diluted			37,840,954				37,567,032				37,504,231				37,524,789				37,431,918
Ending common shares outstanding			37,474,422				37,481,201				37,476,607				37,483,384				37,488,229
REGULATORY CAPITAL		Preliminary
Tier 1 Capital		$	358,834			$	356,307			$	274,513			$	274,372			$	272,614
Tier 1 Ratio			12.16	%			12.38	%			9.80	%			9.99	%			10.20	%
Total Capital		$	395,271			$	392,180			$	304,866			$	303,952			$	302,332
Total Capital Ratio			13.39	%			13.62	%			10.89	%			11.06	%			11.31	%
Total Capital in excess of minimum requirement		$	159,133			$	161,896			$	80,806			$	84,147			$	88,553
Total Risk-Weighted Assets		$	2,951,721			$	2,878,548			$	2,800,753			$	2,747,559			$	2,672,242
Leverage Ratio			9.51	%			10.00	%			7.95	%			8.21	%			8.32	%
OTHER CAPITAL RATIOS
Ending shareholders' equity to ending assets			9.29	%			9.42	%			7.89	%			7.96	%			8.36	%
Ending common shareholders' equity to ending assets			7.24	%			7.31	%			7.89	%			7.96	%			8.36	%
Ending tangible shareholders' equity to ending tangible assets			8.60	%			8.70	%			7.13	%			7.18	%			7.55	%
Ending tangible common shareholders' equity to ending tangible assets			6.54	%			6.52	%			7.13	%			7.18	%			7.55	%
Average shareholders' equity to average assets			9.29	%			8.04	%			7.96	%			8.29	%			8.39	%
Average common shareholders' equity to average assets			7.22	%			7.82	%			7.96	%			8.29	%			8.39	%
Average tangible shareholders' equity to average tangible assets			8.59	%			7.28	%			7.18	%			7.50	%			7.58	%
Average tangible common shareholders' equity to average tangible assets			6.51	%			7.05	%			7.18	%			7.50	%			7.58	%

-18-