<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1997 FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 7,813 4,748 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 4,900 1,100 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 60,201 35,124 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 1,716 1,789 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1,785 1,888 <LOANS> 63,541 53,879 <ALLOWANCE> 1,313 1,207 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 147,850 104,913 <DEPOSITS> 133,891 92,207 <SHORT-TERM> 0 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 1,098 817 <LONG-TERM> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 7,455 7,324 <OTHER-SE> 5,406 4,565 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 147,850 104,913 <INTEREST-LOAN> 6,612 5,613 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,519 2,233 <INTEREST-OTHER> 461 199 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 10,592 8,045 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 3,785 2,992 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,785 3,254 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 6,807 4,791 <LOAN-LOSSES> (60) 310 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 6,796 4,654 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,494 894 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,494 894 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,015 640 <EPS-PRIMARY> .77 .49 <EPS-DILUTED> .73 .48 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.65 5.15 <LOANS-NON> 340 898 <LOANS-PAST> 65 52 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 1,207 959 <CHARGE-OFFS> 290 334 <RECOVERIES> 456 272 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 1,313 1,207 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 1,313 1,207 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 806 671