<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1995 <CASH> 92,734 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 4,517 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 198 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 211,556 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 120,765 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 126,377 <LOANS> 1,410,150 <ALLOWANCE> 18,904 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,893,341 <DEPOSITS> 1,590,695 <SHORT-TERM> 80,402 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 20,992 <LONG-TERM> 0 <COMMON> 97,676 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 103,576 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,893,341 <INTEREST-LOAN> 29,988 <INTEREST-INVEST> 6,081 <INTEREST-OTHER> 93 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 36,162 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 13,035 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,495 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 21,667 <LOAN-LOSSES> 393 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 13 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 15,661 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,486 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 10,486 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,369 <EPS-PRIMARY> $ .60 <EPS-DILUTED> $ .60 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.23 <LOANS-NON> 3,457 <LOANS-PAST> 700 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,173 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 18,609 <CHARGE-OFFS> 367 <RECOVERIES> 269 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 18,904 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,904 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0