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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)
                                November 14, 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
                        November 14, 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 November 14, 2003, First Financial  Bancorp  announced its earnings for
the third quarter and year to date for the 2003 fiscal year. A copy of the press
release dated November 14, 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: November 14, 2003


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit           Description
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  99.1            Press Release dated November 14, 2003