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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                        Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                                 April 23, 2003

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                             First Financial Bancorp
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          California                                    94-2822858
(State or other jurisdiction of             (IRS Employer Identification Number)
Incorporation or organization)

                                     0-12499
                              (Commission File No.)

           701 South Ham Lane
            Lodi, California                                      95242
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)

                                 (209) 367-2000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

         Exhibit No.   Description

         99.1          Press release issued by First Financial  Bancorp on April
                       23, 2003,  furnished in  accordance  with Item 12 of this
                       Current Report on Form 8-K

Item 9.  Regulation FD disclosure

         The  following   information   is  furnished   under  this  Item  9  in
satisfaction  of Item 12,  "Disclosure  of Results of  Operations  and Financial
Condition."

         On April 23, 2003, First Financial  Bancorp  announced its earnings for
the first  quarter of the 2003 fiscal  year. A copy of the press  release  dated
April 23, 2003, describing first quarter earnings is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

         This information is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K and
is being presented under Item 9 as provided in the Commission's interim guidance
regarding Form 8-K Item 12 filing requirements (Release No. 34-47583).





                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                 First Financial Bancorp


                                                 By: /s/ Allen R. Christenson
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 Allen R. Christenson
                                                 Senior Vice President
                                                 Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 23, 2003





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit           Description
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  99.1            Press Release dated April 23, 2003