<SEC-DOCUMENT>0002002698-25-000116.txt : 20250319
<SEC-HEADER>0002002698-25-000116.hdr.sgml : 20250319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250319145609
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0002002698-25-000116
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	144
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250319
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250319

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000708955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		IRS NUMBER:				311042001
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		144
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34762
		FILM NUMBER:		25752221

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8773229530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		144

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST 5TH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>144
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001768838</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000708955</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-34762</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>255 EAST FIFTH STREET</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 900</com:street2>
        <com:city>CINCINNATI</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>45202</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8773229530</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Shank James R</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Merrill</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>8890 Lyra Dr 5th Flr</com:street1>
          <com:city>Columbus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>43240</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>7600</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>189359.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>95423752</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/19/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/02/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/02/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/05/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>466</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/05/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/07/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1446</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/07/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/01/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>948</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/01/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/02/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>811</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/02/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>na</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/07/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1027</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/07/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/01/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>949</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/01/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/07/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vest</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>First Financial Bancorp</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1950</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/07/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/19/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>James Shank</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
