<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000708955 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 100,805 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 6,385 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 4,451 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 299,419 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 86,319 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 91,152 <LOANS> 1,613,229 <ALLOWANCE> 21,605 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,175,381 <DEPOSITS> 1,811,404 <SHORT-TERM> 87,151 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 23,446 <LONG-TERM> 4,541 <COMMON> 107,111 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 141,728 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,175,381 <INTEREST-LOAN> 70,112 <INTEREST-INVEST> 12,516 <INTEREST-OTHER> 568 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 83,196 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 32,646 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 33,856 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 49,340 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,370 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (3) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 33,917 <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,715 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 24,715 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,871 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.28 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.28 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.89 <LOANS-NON> 3,931 <LOANS-PAST> 1,198 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 20,659 <CHARGE-OFFS> 880 <RECOVERIES> 339 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 21,605 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 21,605 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0