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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)
                                  July 25, 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
                           July 25, 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 July 25, 2003,  First Financial  Bancorp  announced its earnings for
the second  quarter  and year to date for the 2003  fiscal  year.  A copy of the
press release dated July 25, 2003, 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: July 25, 2003




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit       Description

  99.1        Press Release dated July 25, 2003