<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from September
30, 1995 financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000708955
<NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          93,539
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           5,512
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 8,006
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    248,540
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         105,849
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           112,376
<LOANS>                                      1,455,892
<ALLOWANCE>                                     19,364
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,969,389
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,641,050
<SHORT-TERM>                                    85,977
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             21,801
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       100,549
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     120,012
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,969,389
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 94,305
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               17,509
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   352
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               112,166
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              42,747
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              46,123
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           66,043
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,151
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 300
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 46,795
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 33,325
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      33,325
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,475
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.91
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.56
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,522
<LOANS-PAST>                                       881
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 1,478
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                18,904
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,483
<RECOVERIES>                                       881
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               19,364
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0