<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000708955
<NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                         171,741
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          13,290
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                   451
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    544,759
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          31,880
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            32,485
<LOANS>                                      3,062,511
<ALLOWANCE>                                     40,192
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,972,272
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,050,787
<SHORT-TERM>                                   373,546
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             31,897
<LONG-TERM>                                    142,856
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       374,237
<OTHER-SE>                                      (1,051)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,972,272
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 67,110
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                8,485
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   172
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                75,767
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              28,011
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              33,172
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           42,595
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,361
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  14
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 28,421
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,965
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      13,870
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,870
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.30
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.57
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,019
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,252
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   637
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                39,340
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,089
<RECOVERIES>                                       580
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               40,192
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            40,192
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0