<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-19-007891.txt : 20190225
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-19-007891.hdr.sgml : 20190225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190225101737
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-19-007891
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190225
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190225

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shank James R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001768838

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34762
		FILM NUMBER:		19628360

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST 5TH STREET, SUITE 2900
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001768838</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shank James R</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>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Internal Auditor</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Denise R. Manus, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>doc1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>James R. Shank  POA</TITLE></HEAD><BODY style="font-family:Bookman Old Style"><TABLE CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="588"><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><H1 ALIGN="RIGHT" STYLE="font-size:140%">EXHIBIT 24</H1></TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><H1 ALIGN="center" STYLE="font-size:140%">First Financial Bancorp /OH/</H1><H2 ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="font-size:120%">Power of Attorney<BR />
							for Executing Forms 3, 4 and 5</H2></TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><dd />Know
								all men by these presents, that the undersigned, director or officer, or
								both, of First Financial Bancorp /OH/, hereby constitutes
								and appoints each of Denise Manus, Terri Ziepfel,
								signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="center">
								(1)
						</TD><TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="2">
								execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity
								as an officer and/or director of First Financial Bancorp /OH/ (the "Company"),
								Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
								Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="center">
								(2)
						</TD><TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="2">
							do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may
							be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and
							timely file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
							and any stock exchange or similar authority; and
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="center">
								(3)
						</TD><TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="2">
							take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing
							which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the
							best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood
							that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned
							pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such
							terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
							discretion.
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><dd />The
								undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority
								to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary,
								or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein
								granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
								do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
								ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's
								substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of
								this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned
								acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity
								at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming,
								any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
								Exchange Act of 1934.
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><dd />This
								Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned
								is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
								undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities of First Financial Bancorp /OH/
								unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
								delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
						</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="3"><dd />IN
								WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of this 21<sup>st</sup>
								day of February, 2019</TD></TR><TR height="10"><td><div /></td></TR></TABLE><table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="1" WIDTH="588"><tr><td rowspan="2" width="64%" /><td style="border-bottom: solid black 1px" width="36%">
						/s/ James R. Shank</td></tr><tr><td>James R. Shank</td></tr></table></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
