Exhibit 32.2

                             FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
              CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


     In connection  with the Quarterly  Report of First  Financial  Bancorp (the
"Company")  on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),  I, Allen
R. Christenson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant
to  18  U.S.C.  Section  1350,  as  adopted  pursuant  to  Section  906  of  the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Company.




May 12, 2004                                /s/ Allen R. Christenson
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Chief Financial Officer