<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-013872.txt : 20180403
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-013872.hdr.sgml : 20180403
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180403191901
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-013872
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180403
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180403

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bardwell Kathleen
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001532367

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34762
		FILM NUMBER:		18735383

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 BLACKBERRY DRIVE
		CITY:			HUDSON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44236

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000708955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				311042001
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8773229530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001532367</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bardwell Kathleen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>255 EAST 5TH STREET, SUITE 2900</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23187</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23187</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received pursuant to the merger agreement between First Financial Bancorp. (&quot;First Financial&quot;) and MainSource Financial Group, Inc. (&quot;MainSource&quot;), dated July 25, 2017 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), pursuant to which MainSource was merged with and into First Financial on April 1, 2018 (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as of the Effective Time, (i) each issued and outstanding share of MainSource's common stock converted into the right to receive 1.3875 shares of First Financial common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares (the &quot;Merger Consideration&quot;), and (ii) each outstanding restricted share and each outstanding performance share unit fully vested and was cancelled and converted automatically into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of each share of MainSource's common stock underlying such award, less applicable tax withholdings. On the trading day immediately preceding Effective Date, the closing price of MainSource's common stock was $40.65 per share and the closing price of First Financial's common stock was $29.35 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Billie L. Meents, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
