First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) 8-K/A Financial Statements and Exhibits

EXHIBIT 16.1

August 26, 2015

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated August 25, 2015, of First Financial Bancorp. and are in agreement with the statements contained in the first two paragraphs on page 2 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP