FORM 10-Q

[x]

[x] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended            September 30, 2003MARCH 31, 2004

OR

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[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___ to ____

Commission file number 0-12379

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

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FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

See notes to consolidated financial statements

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FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003MARCH 31, 2004
(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

The consolidated financial statements for interim periods are unaudited; however, in the opinion of the management of First Financial Bancorp. (Bancorp), all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements of Bancorp, a bank and savings and loan holding company, include the accounts of Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiaries -— First Financial Bank, N.A., Community First Bank & Trust, Indiana Lawrence Bank, Fidelity Federal Savings Bank, Citizens First State Bank, Heritage Community Bank, The Clyde Savings Bank Company, Sand Ridge Bank, First Financial Bancorp Service Corp., First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust I and First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust II (both established to facilitate the issuance of trust preferred securities), and First Financial Capital Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisory company. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 20022003 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the First Financial Bancorp. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.2003.

Certain reclassifications of prior year’s amounts have been made to conform to current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on earnings.

NOTE 2: FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK

In the normal course of business, Bancorp offers a variety of financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to its customers to aid them in meeting their requirements for liquidity and credit enhancement and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include standby letters of credit and commitments outstanding to extend credit. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States do not require these financial instruments to be recorded in the consolidated balance sheets, statements of earnings, changes in shareholders’ equity or cash flows. However, a discussion of these instruments follows.

Bancorp’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for standby letters of credit and commitments outstanding to extend credit is represented by the contractual amounts of those instruments. Bancorp uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Following is a discussion of these transactions.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by Bancorp to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Bancorp’s portfolio of standby letters of credit consists primarily of

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performance assurances made on behalf of customers who have a contractual commitment to produce

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or deliver goods or services. The risk to Bancorp arises from its obligation to make payment in the event of the customers’ contractual default. As of September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, Bancorp had issued standby letters of credit aggregating $33,580$41,716 compared to $33,167$42,229 issued as of December 31, 2002.2003. Management conducts regular reviews of these instruments on an individual customer basis, and the results are considered in assessing the adequacy of Bancorp’s allowance for loan losses. Management does not anticipate any material losses as a result of these letters of credit.

Loan commitments are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Bancorp evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on an individual basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by Bancorp upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. The collateral held varies, but may include securities, real estate, inventory, plant, or equipment. Bancorp had commitments outstanding to extend credit totaling $498,429$475,744 at September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 and $464,777$480,632 at December 31, 2002.2003. Management does not anticipate any material losses as a result of these commitments.

NOTE 3: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Bancorp discloses comprehensive income in the “Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity”. Disclosure of the reclassification adjustments for the nine and three months ended September 30,March 31, 2004 and 2003 and 2002 are shown in the table below.

NOTE 4: ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVES

Bancorp follows the provisions of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” in accounting for its derivative activities. Bancorp has interest rate swaps that are accounted for as fair value hedges under SFAS No. 133. Bancorp utilizes interest rate swap agreements to effectively modify its exposure to interest rate risk by converting certain fixed rate assets to a floating rate. The use of these interest rate swaps allows Bancorp’s subsidiary banks to offer a long-term fixed-rate loan to commercial borrowers. The interest rate swaps allow Bancorp to convert the fixed interest rate to a variable rate that better suits its funding position. The swap agreements involve the receipt of floating rate amounts in exchange for fixed interest payments over the life of the agreements without an exchange of the underlying principal amount. The swaps

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are accounted for under the short-cut method. These contracts are designated as hedges of specific assets. The net interest receivable or payable on swaps is accrued and recognized as an adjustment to the interest income or expense of the

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hedged asset. At March 31, 2004 and 2003, Bancorp had interest rate swaps with a notional value of $12,175 at September 30, 2003$12,122 and $5,012 at December 31, 2002.$7,845, respectively. The fair value of the swaps was an unrealized loss of $305$415 and $295 at September 30,March 31, 2004 and 2003, and no unrealized gain or loss at September 30, 2002.respectively. This amount is included with other assets on the balance sheet. A corresponding fair value adjustment was also included on the balance sheet as a hedged item.

Bancorp is exposed to losses if a counterparty fails to make its payment under a contract in which Bancorp is in the receiving position. Although collateral or other security may not be obtained, Bancorp minimizes its credit risk by monitoring the credit standing of each counterparty and believes that each will be able to fully satisfy its obligation under the agreement.

NOTE 5: CORPORATION-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CAPITAL SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY TRUST

The corporation-obligated mandatorily redeemable capital securities (the “capital securities”) of subsidiary trust, which appears on the balance sheet, are commonly known as Trust Preferred Securities. The subsidiary trusts holdtrust holds solely the junior subordinated debt securities of Bancorp (the “debentures”). Capital securities were issued in the third quarter of 2003 by a statutory business trust—trust — First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust II and the third quarter of 2002 by another statutory business trust—trust — First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust I. Bancorp owns 100% of the common equity of both of the trusts. The trusts were formed with the sole purpose of issuing the capital securities and investing the proceeds from the sale of such capital securities in the debentures. The debentures held by the truststrust are the sole assets of the trusts.trust. Distributions on the capital securities are payable quarterly at a variable rate of interest, which is equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures and are recorded as interest expense of Bancorp. The interest rate is variable and is subject to change every three months. The base index is three month LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate). On March 31, 2004, the rates on Trust I and Trust II were 4.51% and 4.21%, respectively. Bancorp has the option to defer interest for up to five years on the debentures. However, the covenants prevent the payment of dividends on common stock if the interest is deferred. The capital securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the debentures. Bancorp has entered into agreements which, taken collectively, fully or unconditionally guarantee the capital securities subject to the terms of the guarantees. The debentures qualify as Tier I capital under Federal Reserve Board guidelines. The debentures issued in 2003 are first redeemable, in whole or in part, by Bancorp on July 15,September 30, 2008 and mature on July 15,September 30, 2033. The amount outstanding, net of offering costs, as of September 30, 2003 isMarch 31, 2004 was $20,000. The debentures issued in 2002 are first redeemable, in whole or in part, by Bancorp on September 25, 2007 and mature on September 25, 2032. The amount outstanding, net of offering costs, as of September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 was $10,000.

During the first quarter of 2004, Bancorp deconsolidated the accounts of these trust preferred entities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”. The deconsolidation of the net assets increased Bancorp’s consolidated debt obligation by $930, the difference representing Bancorp’s common ownership in the trusts. The deconsolidation has no impact on Bancorp’s liquidity position because it continues to be obligated to repay the debentures held by the trust preferred entities and guarantees repayment of the capital securities issued by the trusts.

The debentures currently qualify as Tier I capital under Federal Reserve Board guidelines. The Federal Reserve Board is $10,000.currently evaluating whether the capital securities will continue to qualify as Tier I capital due to the deconsolidation of the related trust preferred entities. If the Federal Reserve Board does not qualify the capital securities as Tier I capital, the effect of the change

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would be minimal to Bancorp’s regulatory capital ratios. Therefore, Bancorp would continue to have capital ratios that are well above the minimum regulatory requirements.

NOTE 6: STOCK OPTIONS

As of September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, Bancorp had two stock-based compensation plans. Bancorp accounts for those plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if Bancorp had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation.

8NOTE 7: EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

FASB Statement No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits”, requires additional disclosures about assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. The provisions of this Statement are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. The components for earlier interim periods presented for comparative purposes have been restated for the components of net benefit cost.

Bancorp sponsors a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees. Bancorp expects to contribute $5,691 to its pension plan in 2004. The following table sets forth information concerning amounts recognized in Bancorp’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

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Some of Bancorp’s subsidiaries maintain health care and, in limited instances, life insurance plans for current retired employees. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic postretirement benefit costs.

NOTE 7: ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In JanuaryOn December 8, 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (the Act) of 2003 was enacted. Bancorp elected the deferral provided by Financial Accounting Standards Board issued InterpretationStaff Position No. 46, “ConsolidationFAS 106-1. Any measures of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51” and applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. It appliesthe net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the first fiscal yearfinancial statements or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds such an interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The Interpretation requires the consolidation of entities in which an enterprise absorbs a majorityaccompanying notes do not reflect the effects of the entity’s expected losses, receives a majorityAct on the plan. Specific authoritative guidance on the accounting for the federal subsidy is pending and the guidance, when issued, could require Bancorp to change previously reported information. However, Bancorp anticipates the effect of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the entity. Currently, entities are generally consolidated by an enterprise when it has a controlling interest through ownership of a majority voting interest in the entity. Bancorp was requiredthis Act to adopt this pronouncement on July 1, 2003 and does not expect an impact from the adoption.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity” was issued in May of 2003 and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability. Bancorp currently classifies its corporation-obligated mandatorily redeemable capital securities as a liability. Therefore, this pronouncement has no impact on Bancorp’s financial statements.be immaterial.

NOTE 8: SUBSEQUENT EVENT

In October 2003, Bancorp’s Board of Directors authorized its subsidiary Heritage Community Bank, Columbus, Indiana, to pursue a strategy to reduce their non-performing assets through a loan sale. A pool of approximately $17 million in substandard loans, primarily from the Heritage Community Bank affiliate, is expected to be sold in December 2003. The remainder of the loans in the pool are owned by the parent company, First Financial Bancorp. The additional provision for loan loss

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expense reflecting the discount associated with the sale of loans is expected to approximate the anticipated gain from the sale of the Sunman office referenced in Note 9: Other Matters.

NOTE 9: OTHER MATTERS

During the third quarter of 2003, Bancorp’s subsidiary, Heritage Community Bank, Columbus, Indiana, signed an agreement with FCN Bank, NA, Brookville, Indiana, for the assumption of the deposits and the purchase of loans and facilities of Heritage Community Bank’s Sunman banking office. Subject to regulatory approval, the purchase is expected to be consummated in the fourth quarter of 2003.

Also, during the third quarter of 2003, the previously announced sale of a Community First Bank & Trust branch located in Chickasaw, Ohio, to Osgood State Bank was completed. This branch had $13,700 in deposits and no loans sold.

Under a previously approved program to repurchase common shares for general corporate purposes, Bancorp repurchased 1,111,700 shares during the first nine months of 2003.

Core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights are to be amortized over their useful lives. Core deposit balances are being amortized over varying periods, none of which exceeds 10 years.

On April 30, 2004, Bancorp’s subsidiary, Indiana Lawrence Bank, North Manchester, Indiana, signed an agreement with Community State Bank, Royal Center, Indiana, for the assumption of approximately $4,500 in deposits, the purchase of approximately $8,000 in loans, and the purchase of the facilities of the Kewanna, Indiana, office. The impact of this sale is expected to be immaterial. Subject to regulatory approval, the sale is expected to be consummated on or before June 30, 2004.

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ITEM 2-MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA