<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <CASH> 205,417 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 4,771 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 10,005 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 30,441 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 30,993 <LOANS> 3,093,209 <ALLOWANCE> 40,238 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,051,120 <DEPOSITS> 3,019,662 <SHORT-TERM> 454,509 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 35,588 <LONG-TERM> 163,902 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 374,310 <OTHER-SE> 3,149 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,051,120 <INTEREST-LOAN> 136,443 <INTEREST-INVEST> 17,631 <INTEREST-OTHER> 467 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 154,541 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 53,702 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 68,578 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 85,963 <LOAN-LOSSES> 4,583 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 25 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 59,775 <INCOME-PRETAX> 42,607 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 28,219 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,219 <EPS-BASIC> 0.60 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.60 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.66 <LOANS-NON> 15,586 <LOANS-PAST> 2,875 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 676 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 39,340 <CHARGE-OFFS> 4,892 <RECOVERIES> 1,207 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 40,238 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 40,238 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0